And now it’s May.  With no sign of any easing of the lockdown restrictions, just rumour and speculation.  If you are in need of someone to talk to please remember we have a talk line for just that reason.  Details of the numbers are on the website.

 

This Monday’s webinar will be dealing with stress, with our guest speakers Tracey and Kev Field.  You can register for the webinar here.

 

To help with your physical fitness, we have another Pit Stop from Annabel.  This week Annabel is dealing with dehydration.

The human body is about 75% water.  Dehydration occurs when more water and fluids leave the body than enter it.  Even low levels of dehydration can cause headaches, lethargy, and constipation. As ADI’s we need to replenish the fluids to keep us active and hydrated. I always have a flask of coffee in the car and take a water bottle to work. I usually have a quick drink in the short time in between lessons.

Water is constantly lost throughout the day as we breathe, sweat, urinate and do the other! Individuals more at risk of dehydration include sports people and older adults.  The first symptoms of dehydration include thirst, darker urine and less volume when you pee. Urine color is one of the best indicators of your hydration level – clear urine means that you are well hydrated and darker urine means that you aren’t.
Moderate dehydration, symptoms include, dry mouth, lethargy, weakness in muscles, headache and dizziness.

Severe dehydration (loss of 10-15 percent of the body’s water) could be extreme versions of the symptoms above and lack of sweating, sunken eyes, shriveled and dry skin and low blood pressure.

Causes
Sometimes, it is not possible to consume enough fluids because we are too busy and lack the facilities (I think we all know that one……).  Additional causes of dehydration include, diarrhea, sweating, diabetes and vomiting.

Complications
If dehydration is not checked, it can lead to serious complications; these could include seizures, kidney problems, heat injury and low blood sugar.

Treatments
Dehydration must be treated by replenishing the fluid level in the body. Drinking clear fluids such as water, clear broths, frozen water or ice pops and sports drinks. Severe dehydration will require intravenous fluids in order to rehydrate. People who are dehydrated should avoid drinks containing caffeine.

Prevention
Prevention is really the most important treatment for dehydration. Consuming plenty of fluids and foods that have high water content e.g., fruits and vegetables should be enough for most people.  As some of us are conducting more exercise than we usually would, we need to make fluid replenishing a priority and try not to exercise at the hottest part of the day.

Looking forward to our next Pit Stop – Heart Rate training zones.

 

And some wise words from Woody –

The news is often bad, although if we took every headline as face value we would probably no longer be here.

The news reminds me of a famous quote I’ve seen attributed to many different people ” I’ve lived a life full of troubles although most of them never happened” .
You see we actually experience negative emotions without realising it.

Every news article is real in your subconscious mind
Every sad story plays life as a movie in your subconscious mind.

You see the subconscious mind silently goes about it’s business without you being aware.

It runs like a washing machine silently turning and creating your minds future.

Sometimes the machine programme turns into the spin cycle and your subconscious thoughts spin faster and faster a mixture of all you’ve read seen and experienced all undetected spinning, sometimes it spins too fast and we go out of control, this is often when we are anxious scared and stressed.

When we are in this high state of stress the cycle of thoughts spinning faster and faster we have an inbuilt programme to reset.

All we have to do is pay attention to our breath, that’s it, breath slowly, notice the breath and after a few minutes the thoughts stop spinning so fast and we go back to normal.

Many people will be experiencing this feeling at the moment.

The subconscious is fed by what you choose to follow, it doesn’t know if it’s real or not it just does what you feed it.

You can choose what setting you want simply by choosing what you follow.

Choose negative things and the subconscious will continue to operate on the fast spin programme.

Choose positivity and the cycle of thoughts will be calmer and clearer.

You have the choice to choose your setting

Stay safe, kind and be positive

Woody
Please feel free to share.

 

And finally – Dr Radha’s five mental health tips for lockdown

 

Stay safe and enjoy whatever you’re doing.

 

 

 

Whilst our newsflashes are normally a benefit of membership of the ADINJC, during this national emergency we want to share information as widely as possible, so please feel free to pass this on.  We are stronger together.

 

The NJC continues to be dedicated to help you in these challenging times and we hope you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy.  Please feel free to contact us for help and support.

 

ADINJC’s helpline is 0800 8202 444

The Secretary’s number is 07855 453414

HMRC Helpline:  0800 0159 559

Citizens Advice Bureau – https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/health/coronavirus-what-it-means-for-you/

Samaritans: 116 123

You can sign up to receive Government updates on Coronavirus relating to driving tests here.

The ADINJC is a national association run by ADIs on a not-for-profit basis.  We work tirelessly to inform, represent and support our members, and to promote the interests of our profession.