Table of contents for 09-Sep-2021 in Pick Me Up!

As a child, my youngest son was a huge challenge. Sean was born on 20 July 1997 and from the get-go, I had my hands full with him. He was constantly crying and pulling things. And boy did he hit the terrible twos hard. He would have the worst tantrums until he got what he wanted and regularly attacked his siblings, Charlotte, now 27, and Adam, now 26. I couldn’t understand why he was like it. The eldest two were such calm, lovely children and rarely misbehaved. But Sean was completely out of control. When he was three-years-old, he spat at my mum Christina, 74, after we asked him to put his Christmas presents upstairs. And when he was only four, he threw our beloved cat out of the window.…

This week, our tip of the week will receive a great product from Addis! Creating a clean and neat space can help makeover a room with minimal cost yet maximum impact. This 50L recycling hub is the ultimate solution for storing all of your recycling items in one unit. To embrace your space and love your home visit addis.co.uk Always prepared Keeping up with all the birthdays amongst my children’s friends used to be a headache. So now I keep a box of different aged cards ready for when I know that a party invite is coming up. Lucy Lastic, Gloucester Sharp idea To clean up a rusty knife, stick the blade into an onion and leave it for about an hour. Abbie Cairns, Colchester Peeling good Wearing work shoes…

INSTANT appointment With Dr Harriet Bradley, from free digital GP service Livi (livi.co.uk) Sweat central Q Since I started on medication for anxiety, I’ve felt a lot better mentally, but I’ve noticed I’ve been sweating an awful lot. I don’t want to come off the medication as it’s helping, but what can I do about the sweating? Harriet, Huddersfield A Excessive sweating is a common side effect of many medications used to treat anxiety. Thankfully, there are many things you can try to help. Frequent use of a deodorant and avoidance of tight clothing and manmade fabrics, like polyester, can improve symptoms. You can buy products containing aluminium salt, usually spray or roll-ons, which helps control excessive sweating – your pharmacist can guide you to these. If you are still…

Glow from the inside out with the help from oil extracted from the Evening Primrose plant seed, Rigel. These seeds contain up to 33 per cent more GLA, which is good for overall health as well as helping to support beautifully nourished and smooth looking skin.…

Who said you needed to hit the high street to get the latest fashion trends? It’s right here in your local Asda. George have been killing it recently with their seasonal ranges, and at affordable prices, too! Here are some of our recent favourites. Top tip Great for transitioning into autumn Top tip Shackets are perfect for layering Top tip Ankle boots are set to be back in fashion this year!…

ARIES 21 March–20 April 2 - 8 September You learn over the coming days that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination. Those you trusted, you parted ways with when they let you down, but it has made space for better friends and supporters. Don’t be sad. Be glad you learnt now before they did some real damage. This week marks a special new beginning for your sign. Enjoy it! Call: 09058 170 710* LEO 24 July–23 Aug Don’t forget to love yourself as well as others. Your stars tell me you have been dropping your standards. Yes, you are tired, but that does not mean you should be walked over. Give yourself a gift of some sort; be it mental or physical. You’ve spent too much time…

However, after a few days, he was gripped to his phone again, and didn’t speak to me. And just a week later, Sean snapped once again. We ordered a takeaway, and after I dished up, I realised I’d forgot the cutlery. ‘Please can you go and get the knives and forks?’ I asked Sean as he was sat right by the kitchen door. ‘No, you get them,’ he groaned at me. ‘Sean, you’re next to the door,’ I said, exhausted. His anger bubbled and he continued to refuse to move. Sighing, I gave up and went to get them myself. Only, as I walked into the kitchen, I felt Sean smack me round the back of the head and I crashed to the floor. ‘What are you doing?’ I cried…

Exercise is not only good for our physical health, but our mental health too. Fitness app Shreddy’s resident personal trainer, Lianna Swan, shares six top tips on weight training. 1. Warm up and cool down This will reduce your risk of injury and allow you to push harder during your workout. 2. Start with bodyweight and work your way up Master your form whilst using only bodyweight before adding any extra weight. 3. Create a routine Don’t get over-excited and start lifting heavy every day. Create a lifting plan and set aside specific days for your weighted work. 4. Don’t lift too heavy It’s so important to listen to your body and not push yourself too hard when you first start lifting. 5. Track your reps Stay within a higher…

Drink it in Alcohol intake has increased across the board recently and as a result, alcohol-related deaths are also on the rise. Superintendent Pharmacist Phil Day says that; ‘Over the last 18 months deaths from alcoholic liver disease have increased by an unprecedented 21 per cent compared with a 2.9 per cent increase between 2018 and 2019. ‘Try to pace yourself, consider alternating your drinks with non-alcoholic ones, and be aware of how many units are in your drinks,’ Phil advises. 31% That’s how few of us in the UK realise that immunity is closely linked to gut health.…

Buzz off Wasp or bee stings can be very stressful for dogs and their owners but in most cases, emergency medical attention is not required. Dr Jessica May, UK lead vet at the video vet service FirstVet gives her advice on the matter. ‘Dogs who have an allergic reaction or are stung around the neck or head may develop swelling that affects their breathing. ‘If this happens then they should be taken to the vet as soon as possible,’ Dr Jessica May says. ‘When dealing with a dog that has been stung you should check if the stinger is still present and if you can see it, remove it either with tweezers or by scraping across the site of the sting with a flat object. ‘Clean the site by wiping…

Having a bunch of flowers delivered to your door, getting taken out for dinner every weekend and texts that they are thinking about you 24/7 may sound like the start of a loving relationship. But it may also be a sign of love bombing. We have been led to believe through movies and romance novels that finding a partner who showers you in gifts and undivided attention is something you should look for. We want Prince Charming to sweep us off our feet and show us they care. While affection and generosity can be a sign of a caring partner, in some cases, they can also be a sign of something more sinister. ‘Love bombing is an attempt to influence and manipulate a partner by repeated demonstrations of attention and…

Fire Hydrant Bin, £55.00, redcandy.co.uk Sling this with your yellow taxis, tater tots, Levis, yearbooks and slurpies, and get ready for an all American takeover! Garbage has never been more fun. Cat Hammock, £25, redcandy.co.uk The life of a cat can be quite tough. Give your furry friend a life of leisure and let them kick their paws up and chill out on this swinging hammock. Meow, this is the life! T-Rex Wooden Lamp, £32, redcandy.co.uk The thought of a T-Rex used to make us shiver in our booties, until we met Timmy the T-Rex. We knew from the moment we laid eyes on this dino, with his little blue scarf, that he wasn’t like his carnivorous comrades.…

If your letter makes Star Letter of the week, you will receive some beautiful blooms from Flying Flowers. With over 30 years’ experience of helping celebrate life’s special moments and FREE delivery by post, a gorgeous bouquet by Flying Flowers is a lovely way to celebrate sharing smiles and happiness. See flyingflowers.co.uk for more details.…

Sitting in front of the doctor during my 18-week pregnancy scan, in November 2020, I could tell he looked slightly concerned. ‘It appears you have twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS),’ the doctor told me. I remembered back to when I was told that I had MCDA twins during my first scan - meaning they were twins that shared a placenta which made them higher risk babies. But I didn’t think anything would come of it as I’d already had two healthy children, Isabelle, eight, and Noah, four. ‘What does that mean?’ I asked, worried. He explained it is to do with abnormal connecting blood vessels in the placenta, which results in an imbalanced blood flow between the twins. This means one baby has a greater volume of blood than the other.…

Relationship counsellor and narcissistic abuse expert, Emma Davey is the founder of My Trauma Therapy where you can find support. (mytraumatherapy.co.uk) Worried about her Q I’m worried that my mum’s new boyfriend is too controlling, I hardly see her now after being so close, but she says she’s fine. What can I do? Sam, Stockport AIt’s incredibly hard seeing a loved one change before your very eyes. The best course of action for you is to stay close, ring her every day, or pop in unexpectedly just to say hello and have a cuppa with her. Let him know that you are not going away no matter what and keep being there for her. Your mum will reach out to you in the end, just be patient with her. Not…

Iwas out walking Freddie, my Maltese pooch, when I felt a familiar twinge. Oh God, not again. Bursting for a wee, I looked around for a toilet. But since the pandemic hit, all the public loos had closed. Crossing my legs, I quickly dashed home. But even though I felt like I was desperate to go, when I sat down on the toilet, nothing came out – just the horrible, burning, stinging sensation I’d come to dread. I’d always struggled with urinary tract infections (UTIs) but it had become worse after the menopause. Over the years I’d discovered ways to manage it, and I found drinking a lot of water helped, but that wasn’t always practical. I’d tried all the home remedies – cranberry juice, sachets – but it never…

QI brush my teeth morning and evening, but I still have really bad breath. What am I doing wrong? Craig, Brighton ABad breath, also known as halitosis, is common and can cause feelings of embarrassment for many people. But the good news is that we can often treat it ourselves. Ensuring that you’re brushing your teeth and tongue at least twice daily, as well as flossing regularly and using mouthwash all help to reduce any unpleasant odours produced from the breakdown of food particles within the inside of the mouth. Keeping well hydrated by drinking water and not smoking are important, too. In addition, you could try avoiding strong-smelling foods and spices to see if this helps prevent bad breath. If after trying these self-help techniques your bad breath persists,…

My hands were shaking, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I had come to Liverpool Women’s Hospital for my 20-week scan. Due to coronavirus, my partner Craig, 37, wasn’t allowed with me. I’d had a miscarriage the year before and was terrified of anything going wrong, and now, my biggest fears were coming true. ‘You’re nine centimetres dilated,’ the doctor told me. This can’t be right, I thought, images of my previous miscarriage flashing through my head. Doctors told me that I’d need stitches to try and stop the birth, but it came with risks. ‘The baby might not make it,’ the doctors warned me. It felt like my world had come crashing down. After the treatment, I was bleeding so heavily they had to keep my cervix together…

When Nadia met her abusive ex at 45 years old, she thought he was such a charming person. At the beginning of their relationship, all he did was compliment everything about her. He worshipped the ground she walked on. In fact, she began to think all the compliments were a little excessive. On top of that, she noticed he was buying her a lot of gifts. ‘We’d pass a shop, and I’d comment on something in the window. A couple of days later, he would present me with the very thing I’d seen – shoes, jewellery and other extravagant gifts,’ Nadia says. Of course, she was very flattered by his generosity, but as an independent woman who was used to taking care of herself and paying her own way, she…

SKIN DEEP Unearth the wonders of nature and its hidden skincare powers with Botanics new Pure Botanicals range. Enriched with their renowned plant-powered skincare, Botanics have designed three new serums to deliver potent, targeted benefits using plant-based alternatives to your beauty cabinet favourites. Available from Boots. Snow Mushroom Concentrated Serum, £7.99 Instantly nourishing and skin softening. This serum is formulated with snow mushroom, the natural alternative to hyaluronic acid, giving dehydrated skin an intense hit of moisture. The serum works to lock in moisture for all day hydration with a lightweight and non-greasy feel, and is fragranced with an essential blend with notes of amber and musk, to help enhance holistic wellbeing. 1% Bakuchiol Concentrated Serum, £7.99 Formulated with a natural alternative to retinol and using a percentage that is…

Summer might be drawing to a close, but that doesn’t mean the sun’s going away – and even when the weather seems a little cloudier and cooler, it’s still important to slap on the sun cream and protect your skin from the sun’s damaging rays. Clare O’Connor, senior research scientist of skin science for No7 Beauty Company, has the lowdown on what you need to know about UV… 1 Know the difference All sun care products are labelled with an SPF number and a UVA label, both of which are of equal importance. UVB tends to penetrate the upper layers of the skin only and is mainly associated with skin burning, whereas UVA is associated with longer term sun damage effects such as premature skin ageing as it penetrates deep…