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Emotional control is something everyone learns over time. Everyone deals with things differently, some people have a difficult time controlling their emotions, while others find it easier to compartmentalize and figure out a solution. However, having an emotional breakdown/meltdown is completely different then feeling stressed or panicked. An emotional meltdown is when you feel so overwhelmed that you can't control your feelings. It's like hitting a breaking point.
You might cry a lot, get really angry, or feel panicky. WebMD explains that it's not a medical problem, but it's a sign you're under a lot of stress. Everyone has meltdowns sometimes, especially when life gets tough. It doesn't mean you're weak or broken. It just means you're human. Meltdowns happen when your needs aren't being met, like needing more rest or help. It's your body's way of saying something's wrong. You can learn to handle stress better and have fewer meltdowns.
Many things can cause a meltdown. Not sleeping enough makes you grumpy and stressed. Skipping meals makes you feel shaky and unable to focus. Doing too much at once makes you feel overwhelmed. Big changes in your life, like a new job or a breakup, can make you feel wobbly. Not talking about problems with people you care about can also make things worse. If you have meltdowns often, think about what makes them happen. Maybe you need to eat more regularly or learn to talk about your feelings. Some things are easy to fix, and some take more time.
When you feel a meltdown coming, stop and take a breath. Your face might get hot, your hands cold, and your breathing fast. Pay attention to how you feel. Don't try to fix the problem right away. First, calm down. Your brain can't think clearly when you're upset. Try grounding techniques, like feeling your feet on the floor or touching your fingertips together. Deep breathing helps too. Breathe in for four seconds, hold for four, breathe out for four, and pause for four. Do this until you feel calmer. You can't change the problem right away, but you can change how you react to it.
After a meltdown, you might feel embarrassed, ashamed, or relieved. Don't just ignore it. Think about why it happened. Did you try to do too much? Learn from it. If you're embarrassed, ask yourself why. It's okay to have feelings. If you felt relieved, it means you needed to let your feelings out. But try to express them in a healthy way before you have a meltdown. You don't have to apologize for how you feel, but you might need to apologize for how you acted. If you yelled or threw things, say sorry and make a plan to do better next time. If you have meltdowns often, talk to a therapist. Be kind to yourself; everyone gets overwhelmed sometimes.
You can learn to stop meltdowns before they start. Make time to relax every day. Do things you enjoy, like exercising or reading. Listen to your body. If you feel tense, tired, or have headaches, you're probably stressed. Do something to relax. Don't ignore bad feelings. Talk about them. Naming your feelings helps you control them. Ask for help from friends and family. They can help you with tasks or just listen. Spend time in nature; it's calming. Do things that make you laugh and have fun. If you're still feeling overwhelmed, talk to a therapist. They can teach you ways to cope with stress.
Credits: Canva
Hundreds of thousands of children are set to receive an additional vaccine under the NHS routine childhood immunisation programme. Health officials have confirmed it will be given alongside the existing MMR jab, which protects children in England against measles, mumps and rubella.
The decision follows advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation and will see the current MMR jab replaced with a combined MMRV vaccine. This single injection protects against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox. Studies estimate that chickenpox in childhood leads to around £24 million a year in lost earnings and productivity across the UK. Alongside reducing this impact, the rollout is expected to save the NHS about £15 million each year in treatment costs linked to the illness.
Dr Claire Fuller, National Medical Director for NHS England, said: “This marks a very positive step for children and families, offering protection against chickenpox for the first time and strengthening the range of routine vaccinations we already give to help shield children from serious diseases.
“From now on, the combined vaccine covering measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox will be offered at children’s routine vaccination appointments. This will help keep children healthier, prevent illness caused by these highly infectious viruses, and support the NHS shift from treating sickness to preventing it, while keeping more children safe and in school.”
Recent figures show that around half of children will have chickenpox by the age of four, with nine in ten catching it before they turn ten. Children who develop chickenpox are usually advised to stay away from school until all spots have crusted over, which typically happens about five days after the rash appears.
With the new vaccine in place, fewer children are expected to miss time at nursery or school. This should also reduce the amount of work parents need to take off to look after them.
Protection against chickenpox is being offered through a new combined vaccine known as MMRV, which replaces the existing MMR jab. The MMRV vaccine protects against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella, the virus that causes chickenpox.
Specialists say adding the varicella vaccine to the NHS childhood immunisation schedule will significantly cut the number of people who get chickenpox, resulting in far fewer severe cases.
While the vaccine does not guarantee lifelong immunity, it greatly lowers the chances of catching chickenpox or developing a serious form of the illness. Serious side effects, including severe allergic reactions, are extremely uncommon.
The vaccine is a live vaccine, meaning it contains a weakened form of the chickenpox virus. Because of this, it is not recommended for people with weakened immune systems due to conditions such as HIV or treatments like chemotherapy.
The change brings the UK in line with countries that already include routine chickenpox vaccination, such as Germany, Canada, Australia and the United States.
In the past, there were concerns that vaccinating children against chickenpox could lead to an increase in shingles later in life, but a large long-term study from the US has since shown this is not the case.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, which advises the government, recommended the introduction of the MMRV vaccine for all children in November 2023.
The government confirmed plans to roll out the MMRV vaccine in August 2025, after new figures showed that none of England’s main childhood vaccinations reached the 95 percent uptake target in 2024 to 2025.
According to the UK Health Security Agency, 91.9 percent of five-year-olds had received one dose of the MMR vaccine. This figure was unchanged from 2023 to 2024 and remains the lowest level recorded since 2010 to 2011.
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Atenolol is widely prescribed for conditions such as high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms. While it is suitable for many adults, some people need to be especially careful before starting the beta-blocker.
NHS guidance highlights that certain medical conditions and life stages mean a doctor should be consulted first. This includes people with low blood pressure, Raynaud’s phenomenon, or asthma, among others.
The NHS advises speaking to a doctor before taking atenolol if you fall into any of the following groups:
According to official NHS advice, atenolol works by slowing the heart rate, which helps the heart pump blood around the body more easily. In addition to treating blood pressure and heart rhythm problems, it is sometimes prescribed to help prevent migraines and ease symptoms of anxiety.
The NHS notes: “Atenolol is only available on prescription. It comes as tablets or a liquid that you swallow. It can also be given by injection, but this is usually only done in hospital.”
People who take other medicines should also check with a doctor before starting atenolol, as some drugs can affect how well it works or increase the risk of side effects. This applies not only to prescription medicines but also to herbal remedies, vitamins, and supplements.
You should speak to a doctor if you take:
The NHS also states: “There’s not enough information to say that herbal remedies and supplements are safe to take with atenolol. They’re not tested in the same way as pharmacy and prescription medicines, and they’re generally not tested for how they affect other medicines.”
The dose of atenolol you need depends on the condition being treated. For high blood pressure, the usual adult dose is between 25mg and 50mg once a day, but you should always follow your doctor’s instructions. Your medication packaging will also provide guidance on how to take it.
How long you stay on atenolol varies as well. For long-term conditions such as high blood pressure, it is often taken for many years and, in some cases, for life.
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Furosemide is commonly prescribed in the UK to help manage conditions such as heart failure and high blood pressure. The diuretic medication is used by people of all ages, including children and infants. In 2024 alone, it was dispensed around 11 million times, making it one of the 20 most frequently prescribed medicines in the country.
Although it is widely used, doctors stress that furosemide must be taken carefully and in line with medical advice, as misuse can lead to serious health problems.
To ensure safe use, the NHS has issued guidance urging certain people to speak to a doctor before taking furosemide. This is particularly important for anyone showing signs of dehydration, which can include feeling unusually thirsty, having a dry mouth, or noticing dark-coloured urine. Because furosemide increases urine output, it can raise the risk of fluid loss if not managed properly.
The NHS advises the following people to consult a doctor before using furosemide:
Beyond these groups, the NHS also says furosemide users should seek medical advice if:
Official NHS guidance explains that diuretics are often referred to as “water tablets” because they increase how often you urinate. This helps the body remove excess fluid.
“Furosemide is only available on prescription,” the NHS states. “It comes as tablets and a liquid that you swallow. It can also be given by injection, but this is usually only done in hospital.”
The NHS also warns that certain medicines can reduce how well furosemide works or increase the risk of side effects. This includes some commonly used over-the-counter treatments, such as paracetamol, co-codamol, and remedies for heartburn or indigestion.
Anyone prescribed furosemide is advised to speak to a doctor before taking:
Other medicines can also interfere with how furosemide works, including:
The NHS advises patients to tell their doctor if they are taking potassium supplements, as these can alter potassium levels in the blood and affect how furosemide works.
The health service also cautions against combining furosemide with herbal remedies or supplements. According to NHS guidance, there is not enough evidence to confirm they are safe to take alongside the drug.
Unlike prescription and pharmacy medicines, herbal products are not tested to the same standards and are generally not assessed for how they interact with other medications.
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