An estimated two million people in the UK are thought to be living with undiagnosed  ADHD, and being unlucky in love online could be a tell-tale sign of the condition. In fact  researchers found that over a fifth of singletons with ADHD are more likely to be feel  overwhelmed by dating apps and three in four ADHD daters report feeling misunderstood  using them. In addition, a third of people admitted to struggling with small talk on dating  apps. 

But now, a team of researchers and behavioural scientists are trying to make it easier for  people with ADHD to address these issues.  

NHS statistics show more than 230,000 people in England take ADHD meds to combat  their inattentiveness and hyperactivity. Prescription rates jumped by a fifth in 2023 — the  biggest annual rise since records began in 2015. Research suggests that the increase has  largely been fuelled by a rise in women in their 20s and 30s using the apps, although rates  are still increasing in children.  

ADHD — Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder — is a behavioural condition defined by  inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness which affects around 5% of children in the  US. In the UK, 3.6% of boys and 0.85% of girls suffer from the condition. Symptoms  typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as children grow. Most cases  are diagnosed between 6 and 12 years old. Adults can also suffer, but there is less  research available. 

Symptoms can include:  

• Constant fidgeting  
• Poor levels of concentration 
• Excessive movement or talking 
• Acting without thinking 
• Being unable to deal with stress  
• Having little or no sense of danger  
• Making careless mistakes 
• Mood swings 
• Forgetfulness  
• Difficulty organising tasks 
• Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones 
• An inability to listen or carry out instructions  

ADHD’s exact cause is unclear, but it’s thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a  person’s brain function and structure and premature babies and those with epilepsy or  brain damage are more at risk.  

ADHD is also linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, Tourette’s and epilepsy. There is no  cure, but a combination of medication and therapy can relieve symptoms and make day to-day life easier.  

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Researchers examined 9,000 people with an ADHD diagnosis on their experiences with  online dating. They found people with ADHD were 22% more likely to feel overwhelmed by  dating apps compared to neurotypical daters. Daters with the condition were also 38%  more likely to find it difficult to keep conversations going. 

Assessing why they felt overwhelmed, 43% confessed they often forgot to respond to  matches, who then frequently assumed their slow response meant they were not  interested.  

31% of ADHD daters were more likely than neurotypical daters to report they didn’t like  small talk. Those users might fare better if they were up-front about communication and  dating styles. The researchers suggested moving from a digital conversation to an in person date after around three days of chatting.  

Approximately half of 18 to 34 year-olds are thought to have used more than the 1,400  dating apps available in the UK, but a recent Forbes survey found that 79% of Gen Z’ers  claimed to have experienced ‘burnout’ thanks to online dating.  

In March 2024, NHS England announced it would launch a new task force to examine the  concerning rise in adults and children being diagnosed with ADHD. Experts warned that  rogue private clinics are over-diagnosing ADHD and have questioned the widespread  prescribing of powerful stimulant drugs to treat it.  

The booming market is thought to have been fuelled by celebrities such as model and  plastic surgery addict Katie Price and Love Island star Olivia Atwood talking about their  ADHD ordeals, complaining of waits of up to ten years for an assessment on the NHS.  Social media sites are also full of users telling how medication helped to calm them down,  control their fidgeting and boost their concentration. Earlier this year, one psychologist  warned a rise in ADHD awareness had distorted society’s understanding of neurodiversity  and what constitutes ‘typical’ behaviour. 

Dr Lisa Williams, director of The Autism Service, which operates 29 clinics across England  and Wales, said “If we’re not more careful, diagnoses like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and ADHD are going to be meaningless, with every other person we meet having been labelled as such. The more we broaden and blur what diagnoses like ASD and ADHD look like, the more people will ‘fit’ into the category and the less specialist care is available for people living with a true developmental disability.”  

However, experts have also argued that ADHD was only officially listed in the UK as a  disorder that affects adults in 2008. Before that, it was regarded as a problem that children  grew out of and the result was that rather than being over diagnosed, some experts claim  many adults are now being told they have ADHD and that their symptoms had not been  recognised as such. 

There are four reasons depression feels even worse at this time of year, but there are things you can do about it!

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that occurs as the days ge shorter and colder. The cause of SAD is thought to be because the shorter days set off chemical changes in the brain lead to symptoms of real depression. There are various ways that you can overcome seasonal depression, often referred to as the ‘winter blues.’

There are four things that can make seasonal depression worse:

1. Christmas holiday movies and TV shows unconsciously persuade us that should have an unrealistic level of celebration with perfect gifts and gourmet meals. The problem is, real life isn’t like that, so you have to let yourself off the hook, focus on what really matter and forget the rest.

2. Seasonal depression can be made worse simply because you’re not getting enough sunlight! The shorter and darker days can wreak havoc on mental health, so it’s important to go outside while the sun is shining because that will help boost your mood.

3. Reflecting on the past year can also help lift your spirits. It’s easy to dwell on the thing that didn’t go as planned, so try to shit your focus on what you did accomplish.

4. The holidays can be a reminder of loved ones who have passed away and these feelings of loss can make the days harder as you might dwell more on grief and loss. So instead, try to find ways of honouring them — you could light a candle, share a story, or start a ne tradition in their memory. Believe it or not, it’s okay to have a little cry, or laugh, or both!

An average brain starts to decline from age 60, but it is possible to slow this decline down.

Some brain aging results from everyday habits, such as repetitive routines, lack of social interaction, stress, not enough exercise, lack of quality sleep, and an unhealthy lifestyle.

Engaging with other people keeps areas of the brain linked to language processing and comprehension healthy. Conversing also triggers the release of neurotransmitters that stimulate the creation of new brain cells. As you grow older, social networks may decrease, making it harder to make new friends, and this decline can lead to social isolation, which will speed up brain degeneration by depriving it of stimulation.

Studies have shown that people who are socially isolated have a lower volume of grey matter in areas of the brain linked to learning and thinking… and a 26% higher risk of dementia. Additionally, social isolation also raises the risk of complications such as heart disease, depression, inflammation and premature death, whereas regular socialisin through companionship can counteract this.

Repetitive behaviour can also cause cognitive decline. Humans are creatures of habit, and doing the same thing day after day could prematurely age your brain. Repeating skills you already have without engaging the brain outside its comfort zone can decrease brain health and lead to premature brain aging.

On the other hand, taking up activities like learning a musical instrument or foreign language can counteract this because learning new skills trigger the growth of new brain cells and improves areas of the brain linked to reasoning, problem solving and both short and long-term memory. Studies also found that speaking two or more languages, even a second language learned in adulthood, can also slow cognitive decline. Those learning
complex skills also show improvements in overall memory.

Conversely, chronic or long-term stress can raise the risk of cognitive decline, which can be triggered in old age by concerns over finances, friends, or family members. Long-ter stress also raises the risk of inflammation levels that could damage brain cells. Stress ca also cause higher levels of the hormone cortisol, which has been linked to problems with memory and can lead to premature aging and the risk of dementia.

To reduce stress, some therapists recommend creating short-term states of acute stress such as taking a sauna or cold shower, breathing exercises or meditation.

Fast takeaway foods and ready meals may be a convenient option for a quick meal, but doctors warn that relying on these can prematurely age the brain because of their high salt content and risk of weight gain. Ultra-processed foods can raise the risk of cognitive decline, partly because they are high in salt, and some studies warn that high salt levels can impair cognitive function in older adults because they can disrupt blood flow to th brain.

These meals also risk weight gain, associated with a risk of poor cognitive health and dementia. Experts recommend consuming ready meals less often, or at least eating them with vegetables cooked at home to lower the risk.

Regular sleep is hugely important for brain health. Ideally, seven to nine hours of sleep every night is the ideal. High quality, uninterrupted refreshing sleep helps feelings of wellbeing while deep sleep is restorative. Around 40% of older adults fail to get enough quality sleep.

During sleep, the events of the day are collated and stored in order of importance in our memory. Beta-amyloid — the sticky protein that wreaks havoc on the brains of people with Alzheimer’s — is also cleared during sleep. But when we don’t have enough sleep, these processes are interrupted. In short, poor quality sleep can lead to problems concentrating or recalling information the following day, and this, over time, can accelerate brain aging.

Around 40% of adults aged 75 years and over get little physical activity, and this also raises the risk of cognitive decline. Around 40% of adults aged 75 years and older are inactive.

Lack of exercise can also reduce cognitive function. Around 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week, such as walking, swimming or dancing, is healthy, but older adults struggle to hit this level. Physical exercise, especially cardiovascular exercise, is important for keeping the brain youthful.

Exercise can increase growth hormones in the brain, helping to promote brain health. 

Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain, stimulates the growth of new brain cells, reduce inflammation, an helps to prevent mental decline. It can also strengthen muscles an reduce the risk of falls, a common cause of death in the elderly. So try your best to get at least some exercise. Joining clubs or societies will get you out of the house more often and help you meet new friends and engage in more activities, all of which will help you to
live longer.

We spend a quarter of our waking time on our smartphone. Colourful, eye-catching Apps, are constantly competing for taps. Popular Apps like Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, X, Messenger, Spotify and more… have deliberately designed their logos to attract our attention to them.

Research shows that from childhood, we love pressing buttons. Which is why WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger are made to look like buttons. X, has a big X marking the spot, like a treasure map, unconsciously reminding us of buried treasure… after all, ‘X marks the spot!’ The fact is, attractive icons make us more likely to use the App, as do shapes like circles, rounded edges, or shading, making App icons feel like buttons, which makes people want to press them.

Spotify looks like a fingerprint reader and YouTube h as a PLAY icon in the middle and both instinctively attract taps. Facebook’s rounded ‘f’ in a square looks like a button, making you unconsciously want to tap it, while Amazon’s smiley arrow suggests a friendly delivery service. Instagram has a camera icon which reminds people of the nostalgia of old style Polaroid cameras. The bright colours make it look fun and exciting. Messenger, WhatsApp and Spotify feature circles which taps into an innate childhood desire to touch spots. Elon Musk renamed Twitter, changing the logo from a bird to an X, possibly a strategy to draw our fingers.

At Nottingham Trent University, Psychology Professor Dr Daria J Kuss said that many apps such as X use simple and recognisable symbols and icons which are familiar to us. Phone Apps are designed in a way that grabs attention and stands out to ensure users engage with it. Dr Jay Olson — postdoctoral scholar at McGill University’s Department of Psychology in Canada, said changing App icons ‘can definitely influence behaviour. Some companies do A/B testing of different App icons.’

So why is it we like pushing buttons? Research suggests we like pushing buttons from childhood, even when we know we’re not supposed to. In the late 1800s, it was found children would push buttons like honking horns and ringing doorbells — especially when their parents didn’t want them to.

It’s thought pleasurable tactile sensations are gained from the touch of a button. By pressing them repeatedly in our daily lives, we’ve been conditioned to expect buttons to give is what we want, and this may explain why we get so frustrated when buttons don’t work. For example, they may test two different designs of an icon in the App Store and then keep whichever one leads to the most downloads.

WhatsApp is a good example of a highly clickable app because the circular speech button in the centre has been made to look like a button.

Professor Rachel Plotnick, a cultural theorist at Indiana University Bloomington, and author of ‘Power Button: A History of Pleasure, Panic and the Politics of Pushing‘ believes that buttons ‘encourage consumerism’ and become ubiquitous from an early age. Users can re- order their favourite items with the push of a button. In this new age of push-button instant gratification, all we have to do is tap a button to call a taxi or an Uber, express feelings with emojis, apply for a jobs and communicate. Organising our lives with just the push of a button is easy!

Social media companies like Facebook, WhatsApp, Spotify, and YouTube are all exploiting this cultural fascination with buttons and our desire to push them may make it a lot more difficult to stop. Research carried out in 2024 by Ofcom revealed that the average

Briton spends 4hours 20minutes on their phones every day. Women spend 4hours 36minutes online per day and men 4hours 3minutes.

Meanwhile, a 2022 study reported in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health linked compulsive use of a smartphone with burnout. Burnout is defined as a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion that can occur when people experience long-term stress and constant pressure. Certainly incidences of burnout are increasing.

Knowledge of these facts might help those whose lives are ruled by this extreme access to technology. One thing is certain… it’s drastically changed life on planet earth, and not necessarily for the better. Instant gratification is becoming a human right, but not for the 14 year-old children in Nigeria who toil for 14 hours a day for a wage of $1.40 cents per day digging up the lithium and coltan that underpins it all.

Why are bad boys so irresistible to women? Why can’t women resist their charms, and why do they always go back to them? Gen Z, have declared declared ‘baby-girl’ guys with soft features and vulnerable personalities are the most attractive celebrity crushes, it seems that nice boys are out, and bad boys are back. Surely it can’t just be down to looks. Could it be their appeal is linked to some ‘primal’ human instinct?

The appeal of the ‘bad boy’ is down to a mix of condence, mystery, and excitement. Bad boys often give o a kind of unshakable self–assurance. They break the rules, and that unpredictability can make them feel exciting and dierent from safe or predictable partners. A bad boy is simply one who has little or no regard for convention. 

The psychological reasoning is a part of human nature and instinct. Sometimes girls and women are drawn to a challenge – the idea that they can tame the wild beast, the wild boy, becoming his saviour.

On a deeper level, it taps into something primal. Bad boys often project traits such as dominance, resilience, and independence, which can be linked to evolutionary instincts about strong, capable and protective mates. Even if they’re not the right choice for longterm stability, they spark an emotional and physical response that’s hard to resist. 

Human instinct includes curiosity and variety. Normal steady relationships don’t provide the same excitement. The mystery of the bad boy is in itself attractive. The psychological principle of intermittent reinforcement tempt partners to return to bad boys because their rewards create a stronger emotional attachment and makes them hard to leave. 

Most often, the celebrity bad boy is tall, dark and handsome. He also may have a ‘dark past’ or a ‘dark side’ as well as an element of mystery, making him seem slightly out of reach, but not impossible to change! Often, the ‘bad boy’ could be someone who’s had bad things happen to him – he drinks, smokes, steals, and takes risks. He’s also handsome, and ‘a player.’ He says all the right things and he plays with your head and your feelings, but you love the way he makes you feel whenever you’re with him. 

Bad boys more often than not have a rugged, well-groomed appearance – almost like they’ve mastered how to draw attention to themselves without trying. But ultimately, it’s about how they carry themselves with condence and charm that make girls and women feel special when they’re with them – even if later, their actions don’t reect their image. 

Some women are drawn to that awful emotional rollercoaster. Being treated badly can create a sense of longing or a need to ‘earn’ their aection, which can be intoxicating.

Where the bad boy keeps you guessing, that unpredictability can be exciting. One reason is that women often believe they can tame the wild, unpredictable spirit of an absolute monster, and it’s possible this is connected to the mothering instinct in most women.

On Taylor Swift’s album, The Tortured Poets Department, she seems to reect on dating the ‘bad boy’ Matty in her song I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can), singing ‘They shake their heads, saying, ‘God help her’ when I tell ’em he’s my man / But your good Lord doesn’t need to lift a nger / I can x him, no really I can / And only I can.’

Another track, ‘But Daddy I Love Him’ appears to show Taylor admitting she falls for bad boys, ‘slamming doors’ in the face of her critics. 

At the time, Glamour Magazine published an article headed ‘Matty Healy and the Allure of the British Bad Boy’, claiming that ‘Girls only want one thing… a cigarette–avoured, enthusiastically consensual snog with Matty Healy’… after all, he’s often seen pung on a cigarette or drinking from a hip ask while on stage, while his past struggles with drugs and alcohol are well known. With millions in the bank, a beautiful baby girl, and a stunning mansion and private jet holidays, the couple look to have it all, and this is the image that seems to appeal most to girls and young women. So what’s not to like?

Aside from the appeal of real life ‘bad boy’ celebrities, it seems women are also drawn to bad boys in the real world. Scientists from the University of Western Australia questioned more than 1,300 women from 47 countries about their preferences in men. The results showed that women prefer men who take risks – but only for short-term ings. In longterm partnerships, the disadvantages of being attracted to a habitual risk taker likely become wearing and so the attraction to risk takers, wains. 

The women were asked to rate how attractive they found descriptions of various men, for both short and long-term relationships. The descriptions included details about the man’s risk–taking tendencies and occupation, such as ‘Dave is a teacher and in his spare time, he enjoys rock climbing and abseiling. He likes the adrenaline rush.’ 

The results revealed that women who rated themselves healthy and lived in countries with a higher life expectancy found high risk–taking men more attractive as short–term mates. 

However… women who said they enjoyed risky activities themselves, as well as bisexual women, were also found to rate risk–taking men more highly for both short and long-term relationships. 

Relationship experts however advise the importance of getting to know someone ‘for who they really are’. 

Dating app Plenty of Fish resident expert Eva Gallagher said that “A person who exudes mystery and charm can seem appealing at rst, but this type of attraction is often short–lived. So it’s important to seek authenticity and dive deeper when looking for a connection, and make sure you’re getting to know someone for who they really are, not for the bad–boy persona they’re portraying or that you are perceiving…

‘Bad boys have always had a certain attraction about them, but their resurgence might say something about the cultural moment we’re in. Scientically, several researchers have found that women are drawn to rugged men, like the Jason Momoa or Leonardo DiCaprio types, especially in periods of uncertainty. Bad boys project this sense of freedom and deance, which can feel refreshing when the world feels overwhelming.

Cultural cycles often revive trends, and the resurgence of the ‘bad boy’ in popular media may be partly a reaction to more sanitised or predictable portrayals of masculinity in recent years. Figures that oer a modern twist on the trope blending the traditional ‘bad boy’ mystique with vulnerability or humour, can feel fresh and relatable, resonating with an audience that craves complexity and authenticity in their cultural icons.”

Despite the popular image, not all psychopaths become killers. Most people nd psychopaths intriguing, even charming, but can’t quite work out why!

Common traits include supercial charm, a grandiose notion of self-worth, the need for stimulation and impulsiveness, pathological lying, the ability to manipulate others and a lack of remorse and empathy.

One reason could be down to sometimes quirky or incongruous behaviour because psychopaths tend to do a lot of acting to deceive, even mimicking normal reactions or even quickly changing their views and reactions as the situation demands, sometimes even displaying an air of superiority.

Psychopaths strive to be ‘the most interesting person in the room’, latching on to mutual interests and exuding charm by the bucketload. The psychopath’s responses also give away another common trait — a grandiose notion of their own self-worth and occasionally exhibiting unconvincing emotional responses, with slip-ups including tone of voice and body language. Psychopaths are unable to understand emotions such as fear and love, but they can mimic them.

Psychopaths display dierent traits depending on their disorder, but common signs include supercial charm and the ability to manipulate others. But generally psychopaths’ ’emotions’ are shallow and short-lived and there is a manipulative ulterior motive to showing them. Psychopaths possess a nely tuned ability to manipulated others… and take pleasure in doing so. 

But beneath the charm, which is always insincere, often oering to do favours and share secrets to gain your complete trust, their true goal is you complete and utter destruction.

No one is born a psychopath or with any other psychological disorder, but some children are born at high risk for developing psychopathy due to inherited or genetic factors. Only 1% of the population are aected by psychopathy, the personality disorder characterised by anti-social behaviour and extreme lack of empathy or remorse.

Key behaviours indicate psychopathy – people who score highly for psychopathy nd diculty seeing the bigger picture or the ner details. For instance, in a social situation, in a business meeting or social gathering, psychopaths quickly lose interest in details – that’s if they’ve noticed them in the rst place! People who can stand higher levels of pain are more likely to be psychopathic. 

Psychopaths also have diculty regulating their focus of attention. Over two experiments, the researchers recruited 236 participants of between 18 and 40 years of age residing in the UK, who participated in eye-movement experiments. via computer. 

Several studies reveal that the biggest psychopaths tend not to move their heads when having conversations. It’s thought this is to hide clues about their personality, but psychopaths have a severe form of antisocial personality which ranges from occasional bad behaviour to repeatedly breaking the law and committing serious crimes. 

Environmental inuences can increase or reduce the odds of developing psychopathy in people who are at risk due to inherited factors for example, a child’s chances of becoming a psychopath may be reduced if they grow up away from a psychopathic parent. 

At the Australian National University in Canberra, psychologists Stephanie C. Goodhew and Mark Edwards identied multiple personality traits, including higher levels of impulsivity, irresponsibility, egocentricity (being chiey occupied with one’s own interests), callousness (feeling no feeling or emotion, or lack of sympathy for others), untruthfulness, and antisocial behaviour.

Their psychopathic traits were measured using a questionnaire of 26 statements, for example – for anti-sociality – ‘I have been in a lot of shouting matches with other people’. 

Researchers also assessed their ‘attentional breadth’ which showed how good they are at mentally processing ‘global’ and ‘local’ information, where global information is the bigger picture and local information is the ner details. Participants were presented with images consisting of a large letter made up of multiple smaller letters, such as an image of a large T shape made up of lots of much smaller E shapes. As the image was presented, the participants had to say what letter they noticed rst by pressing the corresponding key on a computer keyboard. Choosing the large letter suggested they had a ‘broad’ attentional breadth. Choosing a small letter suggested they had a ‘narrow’ attentional breadth, meaning they were prone to focusing on the small details. 

The researchers found denite evidence that one of the psychopathic traits – people who scored higher for anti-sociality also tended to quickly increase their eld of vision to see the bigger picture. 

The complete study is published in the journal Personality and Individual Dierences.

Recovery from childhood trauma isn’t always an easy or straightforward process.

A lot of people suffer from childhood trauma without even realising it. Healing isn’t a straight path… one day, you’re on top of the world… the next, you’re down in the dumps for no apparent reason… and trauma flashbacks often appear unexpectedly… and in a variety of ways.

One sign of childhood emotional neglect is having difficulty when it comes to recognising and controlling emotions.

Preferring to be alone, finding it hard to form close relationships, developing an excessive attachment to possessions are all signs. So is setting unrealistically high standards for oneself and when you don’t meet them, experiencing feelings of inadequacy. Fear of asking for help, constantly doubting your worth and feeling inferior to others also suggests trauma from childhood emotional neglect.

Doubting your self worth, or feeling inferior to others, or berating yourself because you’re failing to reach overly high standards, or pushing yourself excessively at work or in other areas of your life to gain approval are also signs.

Trust, especially lack of trust, resulting in suspicion of other’s intentions, or feeling it difficult to rely on other people, or the treatment you endured as a youngster can still affect you in adulthood.

Going out of your way to avoid disagreements, feeling emotionally numb, and having difficulty setting boundaries are also signs… As is finding you prioritise others’ needs over your own Prioritising other’s needs over your own to gain acceptance and avoid rejection, or being overly harsh and critical of yourself, often replaying negative self-talk, starts to become habit forming, and keeping emotional distance in relationships to protect yourself from potential hurt starts to become a way of life.

Experiencing a persistent sense of lack of fulfilment in life and/or experiencing emotional numbness can be another sign.

When it comes to conflict people who have suffered childhood trauma will often go out of their way to avoid disagreement in order to gain acceptance and avoid rejection. Those suffering emotional neglect in childhood childhood may find that they have difficulty when it comes to setting boundaries.

Unresolved wounds from the past can shape how you interact and influence your reactions, expectations with other people, while also affecting how you handle conflict.

Unresolved issues may well lead to trust issues, fear of abandonment, or difficulty with intimacy. Not dealing with these will almost certainly affect your relationships and even present challenges.

Facing these past traumas can help you build healthier, more fulfilling connections in the future. So it is of vital importance you address them sooner rather than later, and Hypnosis offers a short cut to recovery.

Why is it important for people to feel liked by others? 

Popularity connects to the evolutionary need for social connection, belonging, and status — skills that are crucial for survival in both early and modern day human societies. 

Human beings are inherently social creatures so the need for belonging is one of our most fundamental psychological needs [as highlighted by Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs]. Being liked and accepted by others helps fulfil this need. When people feel they belong, they enjoy greater emotional stability, happiness, and self-esteem. 

Popularity serves as a signal one is included and valued within a social group. As well as to boosting self-esteem, popularity also offers evolutionary advantages. Today, that may result in better career opportunities, friendships and a better support networks. 

Being disliked on the other hand can lead to a fear of rejection and social exclusion, resulting in feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and in extreme cases, depression. The desire to be popular can also be the need for influence within a social group. 

However, an extreme desire to be liked or to seek popularity, often seen in adolescence, can be detrimental in the long run and lead people to make shallow connections with others. But overall, being popular makes a person feel positive about themselves and can boost self-esteem and confidence. 

But… it’s not always easy to know how to approach social situations. Being liked is rooted in your own self-belief and making sure you are the most ‘authentic’ version of yourself, and there are steps you can take to show people your best side, so here are some tips for being popular… 

Be authentic 

Others are drawn to those who are genuine and real. Showing your true self — without trying to impress by being someone you’re not — generally creates deeper, more meaningful connections. People can sense you’re not being authentic and will naturally dismiss you. And remember… talking too much about yourself without engaging others in conversation will lead others to regard you as a bore! 

Active listening When it comes to building relationships, pay attention to what other people are saying without interrupting, and ask questions that show genuine interest. If you make people feel they are valued, choosing to listen instead of trying to fill the space with your own voice works wonders! Positive body language Non-verbal cues, such as smiling, maintaining eye contact, and adopting an open posture make you seem approachable and friendly. Even small adjustments can positively improve how others perceive you. This includes you not even glancing at your watch or phone which shows disinterest! Non-verbal communication , such as making eye contact, adopting an open posture, or smiling or nodding, will make people more open to liking you.

Show empathy 

The ability to understand and share the feelings of others makes you relatable and compassionate, and empathy strengthens bonds, whether it’s with colleagues, or acquaintances. This kind of emotional engagement — showing empathy, kindness, building trust by being genuine, avoiding constant criticism or judgement — is likely to make people like you more. 

Master the art of conversation 

Being a good conversationalist isn’t just about talking, it’s about knowing when to listen, share, and connect. Finding common interests and maintaining a balance between speaking and listening is easy if you can just remember to do it. Whatever happens, don’t come over as being uninterested in others or not actively listening. 

Complements work wonders 

People love being around those who make them feel good. Compliment others sincerely, celebrate their achievements, and be supportive. When you help others shine, they will naturally like and gravitate towards you. 

Always be positive and optimistic 

A positive attitude is contagious! Where there is optimism, the mood of those around you lifts and makes people want to spend more time with you. Positive interactions — actively listening, giving the speaker your full attention, not interrupting and using positive but genuine language — are likely to make people like you more. But bragging or showing off will come across as self-centred or even arrogant. 

Develop emotional intelligence 

Try to understand other people’s emotions as well as your own. Emotional intelligence helps navigate social situations, resolve conflicts, and builds stronger relationships. Failing to show empathy or dismissing others feelings and opinions is a no-no of gigantic proportions. As is being frequently critical or judging others just leads to discomfort & defensiveness. And being negative or complaining can bring down the energy of conversations. 

Be generous with your time 

Offering your time and attention, whether it’s helping someone out or simply being present during conversations, strengthens connections. By the same token, being unreliable or often breaking promises will make others think you rather rude. 

Adaptability in social situations 

Being able to adjust your communication style or behaviour depending on the setting is all about being social aware, and this flexibility makes you more approachable in all sorts of situations. By the same token, a lack of social awareness, such as ignoring cues or overstaying your welcome, is not a constructive behaviour. 

Use humour as an ice-breaker 

Making people laugh lightens up any room. It breaks the ice and makes you more personable, even memorable… but don’t turn every conversation into a stand-up comedy routine.

Balance the give and take 

Relationships thrive when there’s a balance of give and take. People are drawn to those who are generous with their time, or attention, or help, but also allow space for others to do the same. Interrupting or dominating conversation makes others feel unheard or disrespected. 

Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable 

Being open about your own challenges or insecurities can deepen connections. No one expects you to be perfect and being open shows you are relatable. Being human makes others feel more comfortable being themselves when they’re with you. 

Positive self-regard 

People who have positive self-regard are more liked because someone with self-worth will be genuine and comfortable in social situations. They are more likely to be open yet able to place appropriate boundaries and say no. They won’t put themselves down and will be more likely to make healthy relationship choices. All these qualities attract people naturally without trying hard to be liked. 

The secret of being more popular is… don’t try too hard to be popular. People can spot a faker a mile off! The most likeable people are comfortable in their own skin and don’t constantly seek approval. On the other hand, being overly insecure or self-deprecating, which can make interactions feel draining, even embarrassing.

FACT: Heart attack symptoms can be different for women than they are for men.

The journal Circulation published the findings of a study of 515 women who had experienced heart attacks. Surprisingly, their most frequently reported symptoms didn’t include chest pain. Instead, they reported unusual levels of fatigue, sleep disturbances, and anxiety. Nearly 80% reported experiencing at least one symptom for more than a month before the attack and only 65% of the women said they’d call an ambulance if they thought they might be having a heart attack.

So the lesson is clear… Even if you’re not sure, get emergency care right away. Base your decision on what feels normal and abnormal and if you haven’t experienced symptoms like those before, don’t hesitate to get help! And if you don’t agree with your doctor’s conclusion, get a second opinion!

Symptoms of a heart attack in women include:

Unusual fatigue lasting for several days or sudden severe or profound fatigue and unexplained fatigue, or a sudden decrease in energy levels can also be a warning sign of a heart attack in women.

Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia, unusual restlessness, or waking up frequently during the night, can be warning signs of a heart attack in some women.

Anxiety, or a sense of impending doom, or a feeling that something is terribly wrong is also common during a heart attack.

Lightheadedness, feeling dizzy or faint is also a symptom of heart attack.

Feeling breathless or having difficulty catching your breath can also be a symptom of a heart attack. This may occur with or without chest pain.

Indigestion, nausea or vomiting can also be mistaken for other gastrointestinal issues.

Cold Sweats, clammy skin, and sweating can accompany a heart attack in women.

Pain or discomfort in areas other than the chest, such as the neck, jaw, shoulder, back, or stomach that radiate from the chest is often a more subtle symptom.

Pressure or pain in the centre of your chest, which may spread to your arm is definitely a warning sign. While chest pain is a common symptom in both men and women, women may experience different types of chest discomfort, sometimes described as a squeezing, fullness, pressure, or burning sensation in the chest that comes and goes.

Heart attacks in women over the age of 50

Women experience significant physical changes around the age of 50, the age when many women start to go through menopause. During this period of life, levels of the hormone Oestrogen, believed to help protect the health of your heart, begin to drop. After menopause, the risk of heart attack increases. Unfortunately, women who experience a heart attack are less likely to survive than men, so it becomes even more important to remain conscious of heart health after menopause.

Try to be aware of these symptoms and schedule regular health checkups with your doctor. There are additional symptoms of a heart attack that women over the age of 50 may experience. These symptoms include:

• severe chest pain

• pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach

• rapid or irregular heartbeat

• sweating

A silent heart attack is like any other kind of heart attack, except that it occurs without the usual symptoms. In other words, you may not even realise you’re having a heart attack!

Rsearch from Duke University Medical Center has estimated that as many as 200,000 Americans experience heart attacks each year without even knowing it. Unfortunately, these events cause heart damage and increase the risk of future attacks. Silent heart attacks are more common among people with diabetes and in those who’ve had previous heart attacks.

Symptoms that may indicate a silent heart attack include:

• mild discomfort in your chest, arms, or jaw that goes away after resting

• shortness of breath and tiring easily

• sleep disturbances and increased fatigue

• abdominal pain or heartburn

• skin clamminess

After a silent heart attack, you may experience more fatigue than before or find that exercise becomes more difficult. So try to get regular physical examinations to stay on top of your heart health. If you have cardiac risk factors, talk to your doctor about getting tests to check the condition of your heart.