4 d. ago I’m taking beta blockers for my anxiety – and so are many of my friends. Is that a problem?

Dreading the thought of giving a speech, or stressed about a big work event? Your GP may prescribe beta blockers to reduce the effects of adrenaline on your heart. Here’s what happened when I took themI first took beta blockers two years ago, when I was asked to give a eulogy. Terrible at public speaking on a good day, let alone at a funeral, my first instinct was to refuse to do it. I had made a speech at a friend’s wedding 15 years before and my legs shook so violently throughout that I thought I would collapse. This isn’t a case of being overcritical or dramatic: I find it almost impossible to stand up in front of a crowd and talk. It is an ordeal, for all involved – or it was before I took beta blockers.Beta blockers are a prescription medication that blocks adrenaline and therefore temporarily reduces the body’s reaction to stress. Routinely given to patients with heart and circulatory conditions, including angina, atrial fibrillation and high blood pressure, as well as to prev...

Politics

7 d. ago ‘I’m still not tired of it’: the best books to read aloud to kids, according to parents

From wordless books to dynamic bestsellers and those that will give your kids a giggling fit, these are some of our readers favourites stories to share New research has shown a decline in the number of parents reading aloud to young children, with only 41% of 0 to four-year-olds now being read to regularly, down from 64% in 2012. The survey, conducted by publisher HarperCollins and book data company Nielsen, also found that less than half of parents find reading to kids fun.With this in mind, we asked parents to share recommendations of books they enjoy reading aloud. Add your own suggestions to the list in the comments below. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Repeat of Grenfell Tower fire warning issued as ministers 'left marking own homework'

MPs said it is 'completely unacceptable' that survivors and bereaved families of the 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster 'are still awaiting justice for that terrible day'

Events

1 week ago Promising young schoolgirl, 18, made terrible mistake that killed her days before graduation

Averiee Osmundson, 18, from Davis, Oklahoma, was killed instantly when her SUV veered off the road before rolling over 'an unknown amount of times.'

Events

2 w. ago ‘I punched another dad’ – your stories of the worst parent behaviour at kids’ football

From rocks being thrown at cars to spectators being given the red cards, readers share their experiences of the most shocking scenes at children’s soccer gamesThe first manager my son had, when he was seven, got the parents together and told us how shouting could affect our sons’ development and behaviour, not only as players but as human beings. Usually, I don’t behave so badly. The worst I’ve done is to complain to the referee and I’ve sworn once or twice. But mostly I’ve been civil. There was one time, though, when a game was interrupted because the other team had fielded ineligible nine-year-old players. There was a lot of swearing and shouting from managers and dads. My wife decided enough was enough and took our son from the field to go home. He was the team’s only keeper so without him there was no game and several of the other team’s dads taunted us, shouting: “Are you running?”, “Are you scared?”. My wife ignored them and headed for the exit but one of the dads pushed her. ...

Politics

4 w. ago ‘I miss those days terribly’: readers share their defining video store memories

With the arrival of a new video store in Brooklyn, we asked you to tell us about your most memorable anecdotesAfter a film had been in the cinema but before a film was on general sale (also called ‘Home Release’) there would be a window of perhaps a few months where the retail price of a single VHS tape would be about £100 [$133]. In a world of digital media that now feels mad, but it was obviously profitable for the rental shops to buy tapes at that price. Continue reading...

Events