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With all the access teenagers today have to the internet and social media, they may see more distressing news stories than even their parents. Palestinian militant group Hamas – deemed a terrorist group by the UK Government – invaded Israel on Saturday from Gaza, with rocket attacks by air as well as military in boats. Since then, Israel has sealed the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip off from food, fuel, medicine and other supplies, while launching retaliatory air strikes on the territory, which is home to 2.3 million people. The most recent numbers suggest 900 people have been killed in Israel, 700 in the Gaza territory and the West Bank, and many hostages have been taken. Hamas has pledged to kill captured Israeli hostages if attacks target civilians in Gaza. The conflict has sparked protests by pro-Palastine and pro-Israel groups in the UK and prompted political division on social media. Teenagers are likely to be exposed to a lot of the news, internet discussion and perhaps distressing images of conflict. So how should parents approach this? Talk about it at home Dr Jeri Tikare, clinical psychologist at Kooth, a digital mental health platform, believes parents should be as truthful as they can with their teenagers. “This means that it is important for us to not to hide things away from them. It is better for them to hear it from us (their people of safety) as opposed to reading it or hearing it from others,” he says. “Also bearing in mind the curious nature of the mind. It is inevitable that for things that they do not understand, they might research and look for answers. “It can be helpful if they get their information from a reliable source which can feel contained and reassuring. But share information at a level that is developmentally right and just enough to help the young person feel contained and safe.” Check yourself As the parent, learn the basics of what is going in the conflict yourself from reputable sources so you can have balanced, informed conversations with your child. “It can also be useful to be aware of our own reactions as parents or primary caregivers,” he says. “One of the ways young people learn and develop is via observing and then modelling adult behaviour. Hence, they can pick up anxieties or worries displayed by parents.” Validate and normalise expressing emotion If your teen is particularly affected by distressing news stories about war and conflict, Tikare encourages parents to give their teenagers the opportunity to express how they are feeling in different ways – such as writing, drawing, stories, songs, and things that feel helpful for the young person. “Some find a feelings box helpful,” he adds. “It might also be helpful to introduce them to some simple relaxation techniques such as taking three deep, slow breaths, breathing in for a count of three and out for three.” Be there for them Giving your teenager the space, time and encouragement to open up about how they feel on any subject – world news or otherwise – is key. “I know that life can be hard, busy and sometimes young people are aware of this and might not want to disturb you,” Tikare says. “Therefore, it might be helpful to make a conscious effort to let them know that you are mindful of how difficult it can be and reassure them that you are available to talk about things. “Giving them extra love and attention at this time can be helpful, especially at difficult times like this.” Discuss social media Tikare acknowledges that television, social media and other platforms “can be very distressing and exacerbating” for teenagers. But you may not be able to prise your child away from posting on their social media accounts altogether. “It would depend on the motivation behind posting and where they are posting,” Tikare says. “Posting about the feelings experienced around the conflict in a supportive and possibly moderated space, with people sharing similar feelings associated with the conflict, can help normalise the experience and leave them feeling less alone. “On the other hand, it could also expose them to content and comments that could potentially trigger distress.” So be sure to make them aware of the content they may come across online. Read More Autumn décor ideas for a seasonal refresh Why you shouldn’t tidy your garden too much in autumn World Mental Health Day: 5 ways to beat anxiety and change your life Alternative veg to grow for next season How to spot if your child is struggling with their mental health – and what to do next Does your pillowcase make a difference to your skin and hair health?

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An 85-year-old whose life changed when he adopted a vegan diet in his 60s and then started to exercise in his 80s is now challenging himself to complete one million press-ups before his 90th birthday and 100 ultramarathons before his 100th birthday entirely “fuelled by plants”. Paul Youd, who lives with his wife Teresa, 75, in Taunton, Somerset, decided to take up running in his 40s, but gave up after six weeks as his knees were “so sore” due to his arthritis – he said “everything was painful” and he “couldn’t shake hands, change gears, pull up the duvet or hold a kettle”. The grandfather-of-five then bought a bicycle to reduce the strain on his joints, but it was not until he decided to eliminate meat in his 60s to “avoid mad cow disease” and later try a completely vegan diet that he said he noticed incredible health benefits, including reduced inflammation. Paul, a keen animal rights activist who formerly worked in the RAF and Royal Australian Air Force and later became a bread maker, teaching at local schools and launching his own blog called No Bread Is An Island, said he initially eliminated meat and cheese from his diet, before giving up all animal products. He then decided he wanted to learn how to do a press-up aged 80, and has since set himself a target of doing one million before he turns 90, completing more than 650,000 so far. Now, aged 85, he is on a mission to take part in 100 ultramarathons before his 100th birthday and is raising money for the vegan campaigning charity Viva!. “You don’t know what you’re capable of until you actually try it,” Paul said. “Try something and get outside of that comfort zone, otherwise it’s stultifying. “I’m living my best life – who’d have thought it? “I’m now 85 and I’m living my best life, I really am.” Paul worked in communications in the RAF and Royal Australian Air Force and as a radio officer in the Government Communications Headquarters – otherwise known as GCHQ – before taking early retirement in 1993. He then decided to train as a teacher, specifically to fulfil his passion for bread making, which he said is “a tool for family learning”, and ended up teaching until the Covid pandemic. It was at this point, aged 80, that Paul’s fitness journey began. “I looked at home exercises and started doing lots of those, but mainly press-ups, and I’ve been doing press-ups ever since really,” Paul explained. “I’ve got this challenge to do a million press-ups between the ages of 80 and 90.” Prior to the first lockdown, Paul could not perform one press-up – but he now does 1,000 every three days while listening to the news or a podcast, and has done more than 650,000 so far. After previously failing to take up running in his 40s owing to the pain caused by his arthritis – the common condition that causes pain and inflammation in a joint – he decided to try again in his 80s as he said his vegan diet, which he adopted in his 60s, had “changed (his) life”. A vegan diet is based on plants, such as vegetables, grains, nuts and fruits, the NHS says. Vegans do not eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs, and Paul said his mantra at the time was: “I don’t want another animal to die so that I can live.” Paul realised he was no longer in pain while chasing one of his grandsons around the dining room table, and this prompted him to start running around his garden. Soon enough, Paul improved his stamina and after three months he said he felt “confident to do a 10k every day, for 10 days, to raise money”. “I thought that I was going to get more tired as the week went on, but I didn’t,” Paul explained. “I got stronger and in the end I did 110k rather than the 100k I’d set myself.” The father-of-two said he quickly became “addicted” to running and wanted to “keep up this level of fitness”, so he was advised to look into ultramarathons – endurance running races or treks beyond the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42.2km). Paul then completed his first ultramarathon in July 2021 – the Devon Coast to Coast, which is approximately 100km long – and said he has been “hooked” ever since. He said he loves “the euphoria” and “freedom” he experiences while running. “I just thought, I can do this,” Paul said. “I realise I should have been a runner all along because I just fell into it, I love it. “It’s a feeling of freedom and it’s a feeling of accomplishment – I’ve gone out and done this. “I’ve never ever regretted going out and training … and sometimes you get to that state of mind where you think, gosh, I could run forever, and it’s a good feeling.” Paul has completed nine ultramarathons so far and has a collection of medals on display in his home, but wants to do 91 more before turning 100 – all supported by his family and wife Teresa, who says he is “determined”. Being a vegan and animal rights activist, he said his motivation to keep going is “the desire to see animals not hurt or tortured”. He added: “If I can do anything to mitigate or alleviate that, then I will.” Some of Paul’s ultramarathon races will be virtual, where he will cover the full distance using an app, while the others will be at a specified location. He completed a 250km simulated trip from Russia to Lapland before Christmas last year using the exercise tracking app Strava to measure his distance. To maintain his fitness levels, Paul runs or walks every weekday, covering a distance of 60km per week on average, and uses a kettlebell for strength and conditioning exercises. He said he takes no medication and wants to maintain his health for as long as possible, as he does not want to “bother the NHS or the care system”. He follows a strictly vegan diet and will usually have a fruit smoothie every day – comprising kale, spinach, dates, blueberries and bananas – along with flax seeds, nuts and “lots of leafy green vegetables, beans, lentils and legumes”. He also takes beetroot juice as a performance enhancer. Paul, who still bakes bread in his spare time, said he has realised “ultramarathons are within his comfort zone” – something he never thought he would say – and he would encourage anyone else to take up running or try a vegan diet as the results for him have been “remarkable”. “We can all do much more than we think we can,” Paul said. “If I’d have recognised the fact that we can all do more than we think we can many years ago, if I’d have done that, who knows what would have happened? “But I got there in the end.” Read More Robert De Niro reveals he’s welcomed seventh child at 79-years-old Woman flew 900 miles in wrong direction due to last-minute gate change Four ‘red flag’ bowel cancer symptoms that can show two years before diagnosis Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

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