Location:

AZHA is nestled in a great location at KM 34 on the Sokhna-Suez Road with a wide beachfront stretching approximately 700m. Located only 20 minutes away from Egypt’s anticipated new capital, the development covers nearly 1.6 million m2.

Features:

AZHA brings a new vitality to the authentic lifestyle of city resort living, featuring spacious and inspiring residential villas, a thoughtfully designed modern resort, signature restaurants, serene spa and community centers, and a host of exceptional amenities. Amenities include a 275,000m² swimmable lagoon; over 20,000m² of greenery between entry and central park; Downtown AZHA: a mixed-used village including retail, residential and hospitality; AZHA Hotels: 2 beach hotels and 3 boutique hotels; state-of-the-art Beach Clubhouse and sports facility, branded villas, serviced apartments and villas

Available units for sale now and measurements:

Standalone Villas from around 248m² to 310m².

Twin Villas around 185m².

1 bedroom chalet from around 69m² to 71m².

2 bedroom chalet from around 97m² to 125m².

3 bedroom chalets from around 123m² to 155m².

Finishing specifications:

Fully finished with kitchen and ACs

Date of delivery:

Delivery starts by end of 2018

Payment plans:

Instalments over 6 years

By Maeri Frances

Can we let you in on a little secret? We know that there are men out there who regularly check out their monthly horoscope in our magazines. Without giving any names away, we dedicate this to you! If you know your rising sign, don’t forget that it can have an influence on how you appear to others as well.

Aries: 21st March – 20th April

You are not the first sign in the zodiac for nothing. If anyone can come up with a plan, it has to be you. Ruled by the fiery planet Mars, you don’t back down from a challenge, or a fight, and can have a hair-trigger temper at times. Ardent and passionate about what you do, your macho enthusiasm can inspire others. This suits you, as you can then delegate and get cracking on something new.
Best points: Self-confident, energetic
Worst points: Impatient, impulsive
Famous Aries men: Russell Crowe (actor), Quentin Tarantino (director), Eric Clapton (musician), Hassan Fathy (architect), Leonardo Da Vinci (artist/inventor)

Taurus: 21st April – 21st May

Comfort loving, sensual and dependable, you may not be the most flexible person to deal with. But hey, your stubborn side can also make you really reliable; so don’t sweat the small stuff. You can be a hopeless romantic, a gourmand and lover of the finer things in life. Nobody can question your taste. You are generally patient, but if someone pushes those buttons a bit too hard your rage is truly a spectacle to behold. Doesn’t happen often though…
Best points: Affectionate, supportive
Worst points: Materialistic, possessive
Famous Taurus men: Adel Emam (actor), Al Pacino (actor), David Beckham (football player), George Clooney (actor), Rami Malek (actor)

Gemini: 22nd May – 21st June

Versatile, easily bored, inventive and a bundle of fun. Bipolar, many faceted, or maybe two-faced? Who cares? The main thing is that you are great to spend time with. Both witty and quick-witted, your mind can be razor sharp, with a quick tongue to match. You are usually at the heart of any social group, but don’t like being pinned down for too long. You are blessed with an agile mind but can be superficial at times; lengthy discourses are not your cup of tea.
Best points: Ingenious, lively
Worst points: Evasive, inconsistent
Famous Gemini men: Che Guevara (revolutionary), Clint Eastwood (actor), Donald Trump (US presidential candidate), Johnny Depp (actor), Kanye West (musician)

Cancer: 22nd June – 22nd July

Intuitive, caring, protective, and great family men, you Cancer guys are the answer to many a maiden’s prayers. You feel deeply, and can be sensitive and a bit moody at times. Maybe it’s the connection with the Moon, it seems that Cancer men seem to know how to empathize with the fairer sex as well. Can be great chefs, and are generally happy anywhere near the sea. Can be excellent at handling finances, their own or anyone else’s.
Best points: Imaginative, sympathetic
Worst points: Touchy, dependent
Famous Cancer men: Carlos Santana (musician), Danny Glover (actor), Ernest Hemingway (writer), Franz Kafka (writer), Harrison Ford (actor)

Leo: 23rd July – 21st August

We can hear that regal roar from here. King of any domain you choose, nobody should dispute your charismatic air. Even if you are not the boss, you probably behave as if you were. Big-hearted, generous to a fault at times, you love to put on a show. Not always willing to share the limelight, you are a great raconteur, and add a dramatic flair to most things you do. You have creative genius at times, and are generally good with kids. After all, you are still one at heart, right?
Best points: Dignified, proud
Worst points: Autocratic, vain
Famous Leo men: Antonio Banderas (actor), Carl Jung (psychoanalyst), Fidel Castro (leader), Henry Ford (entrepreneur), Mick Jagger (musician)

Virgo: 22nd August – 23rd September

Are you the quiet guy in the corner over there? You may look calm and detached, but we can be sure that you haven’t missed a detail of what is going on. Mr. Virgo can be called a fussy eater and a neat-freak too, although many go to the opposite extreme. Whichever camp you fall in, your surroundings and diet do seem to have a big influence on your mental and physical health. You often run the risk of over-working, or mental burnout. There’s also a kind heart buried under that slightly nerdy exterior, you just need show it a bit more often.
Best points: Modest, intelligent
Worst points: Critical, perfectionist
Famous Virgo men: Tom Ford (fashion designer/film director), Freddie Mercury (musician), Hugh Grant (actor), Johann von Goethe (statesman/writer), Michael Jackson (musician)

Libra: 24th September – 23rd October

Gracious, stylish, debonair… ok, what else are you waiting for? Alright, often devastatingly handsome as well, Libra is a fixture on all the right guest lists. You have perfectly honed manners; can be counted on to charm every woman in the room, from tots to dowagers. Being ruled by Venus, the sign of beauty, you also have a strong artistic and creative streak, whether you use it or merely collect objets d’art. A tad lazy at times, but at least you are decorative.
Best points: Diplomatic, romantic
Worst points: Indecisive, flirtatious
Famous Libra men: Amr Diab (singer), Eugene O’Neill (playwright), Matt Damon (actor), Luciano Pavarotti (tenor), Bruce Springsteen (musician)

Scorpio: 24th October – 22nd November

Brooding, mysterious, enigmatic, and magnetic, you have people guessing all the time. And that’s the way you like to keep it. Not one to share your secrets, you can keep people at a distance, while somehow managing to convince them that they are part of your inner sanctum. Powerful and manipulative, you have finely tuned intuition, and can sense a mood or pick up on a lie in a flash. Nobody is going to fool you easily – just let them try!
Best points: Magnetic, passionate
Worst points: Jealous, controlling
Famous Scorpio men: Bill Gates (entrepreneur), Leonardo DiCaprio (actor), Martin Scorsese (film director), Mohamed El Khatib (Egyptian football player), Pablo Picasso (artist)

Sagittarius: 23rd November – 22nd December

Honest, blunt, occasionally tactless, you generally place truth above all else. Unless of course a little creative fact-tailoring serves your purposes better. You can be counted on to support worthy causes, fight against injustice, and protect the weak. Actually, just think of any superhero and you have Sagittarius nailed. Sagittarians are great sportsmen and team players, so if you are not working out in the gym you are probably glued to the latest football match. Your good humour makes you popular, so long as you skip the practical jokes.
Best points: Funny, optimistic
Worst points: Irresponsible, reckless
Famous Sagittarius men: Brad Pitt (actor), Jimmy Hendrix (musician), Pablo Escobar (drug lord), Steven Spielberg (film director), Walt Disney (entrepreneur)

Capricorn: 23rd December – 20th January

Single-minded at times, you are usually on a trajectory to the top. Your ability to think long term, and act strategically is second to none; ambition could be your middle name. Born for the boardroom… Practical to a fault at times, you may be considered callous or cold-hearted. However, those who really know you will have seen your softer side. You are responsible, organized, efficient… yes, but also unexpectedly cuddly when the right mood hits. Ladies, take note!
Best points: Responsible, determined
Worst points: Unemotional, stingy
Famous Capricorn men: Al Capone (gangster), Denzel Washington (actor), Elvis Presley (actor/musician), Mel Gibson (actor), Muhammed Ali (boxer)

Aquarius: 21st January – 22nd February

Everyone’s buddy, a truly egalitarian soul, you are loved by many, but understood by few. Is it because you see yourself as just a part of the universe, an interconnected cog in the big wheel? Not one to be hemmed in or pinned down, your free spirit is happy to spend time furthering good causes, on life-changing innovations, technology or anything but household routine and changing nappies. You can make a great spouse, just lay out the guidelines from the get go.
Best points: Democratic, humanitarian
Worst points: Eccentric, detached
Famous Aquarius men: Abraham Lincoln (US president), Christian Dior (fashion designer), Cristiano Ronaldo (football player), Ed Sheeran (musician), Omar Gaber (Egyptian football player)

Pisces: 24th February – 20th March

Born to be loved. Emotional, sensitive, imaginative, day-dreamer that you are, it seems that you can give you heart away too easily at times. You have the ability to enchant and mesmerise, drawing friends and loved ones into your mystical idea of the world. Even though you can play the 9-5 life as well as anyone, you have a special rapport with art, film, music, books, and theatre; anything that can transport you to a place where your spirit can roam free.
Best points: Kind-hearted, idealistic
Worst points: Dreamer, escapist
Famous Pisces men: Albert Einstein (scientist), Bruce Willis (actor), Daniel Craig (actor), Justin Bieber (musician), Steve Jobs (entrepreneur)

By Harim Humayun

A happy-go-lucky chap with an enormous goal and the will to do it with style; Mahmoud Hussein has the urge to climb mountains (not just figuratively) to raise awareness for Crohn’s disease. Just back from his ascent to the summit to Mount Kilimanjaro, we sit down over a cup of coffee for some insight into the motivation behind it all.

CWM: Tell us about how this all started…

MH: Just to be clear, I have Ulcerative Colitis (UC). The difference between that and Crohn’s disease is that UC affects the large intestine while Crohn’s affects the whole digestive system. The thing is people don’t know how you get it or how you can get rid of it; you can only manage the illness. There are different levels with UC, with level 4 being the harshest; I had level 4. I had flare-ups that lasted like a week or two and you have bloody stool, you vomit everything, bad diarrhea, you cannot sleep, and painful stomach aches. So I had seven months of this, the flare-ups.

I was 17 when I was diagnosed. I had no idea what was going on with me. I remember being at my friend’s birthday party and I assumed I had stomach flu or something. I lost 5 kilos in one week. I was getting the wrong medication, I couldn’t move or sleep. My family was afraid, I was afraid. I was getting worse by the day; I could only eat a spoon of jello a day, that’s all I could digest. I was basically in and out of hospitals.

I stayed 8 months with the disease and then I had the colostomy. With UC, I was kind of lucky because you get to a point where if you can’t live with it you can do a colostomy; which is basically removing part of the colon or all of it, I removed all of it. It has to be done in stages. This is the thing in Egypt, everyone that I have been in touch with who have Crohn’s or UC, were all misdiagnosed in the beginning, including me.

How have you tackled it?

I managed to get my life in some sort of routine while managing this disease, I started school again, but I had to take time off now and then whenever I relapsed. Then I had the surgery, which is difficult and everyone was advising me not to do it. One doctor simply put it into perspective, he said if you cannot live with it, then just take the risk and do it. In the end, I was not the one making this decision, it was my parents and it worked out for the best, two years of my life had already been affected by this disease.

Do you feel that you have achieved things that you would not have tackled without having to cope with the illness?

I wanted to climb mountains at a very young age, before I became ill. I used to watch climber and adventurer Omar Samra who he has been such an inspiration. And then I was sick and he came to my school where I won a competition to go to Saint Catherine with him and I was supposed to travel with him. They had to postpone it due to the revolution. When he sent the email to set the date again, I was in the hospital, weighed about 35 kg and just had my colostomy. I remember thinking that I must go on this adventure! I told my parents and they right out refused. After this I started going to the gym, working on my lower body strength because that is what was going to get me where I wanted to go.

Tell us about some of your travels and adventures.

So far my biggest adventure has been the climb of Mount Kilimanjaro (19, 339 feet). I always wanted to climb mountains; it is a great mental and physical challenge. But after my illness and fighting it, I thought why not do it for a cause. Because while I was sick, I searched for people in similar position and illness as mine but there were very few and none in the Middle East. I wanted to relate to someone who has UC or Crohn’s so I actually want to do the 7 summits to raise awareness about the disease. My next adventure is climbing Mount Elbrus (18, 510 feet) in the coming summer.

What were the high and low points of your Mt. Kilimanjaro climb?

The route I took was 6 days – the Machame route. You can do it in 6 or 7 or 8 days, I chose 6 days as it is more challenging. I kind of regretted it halfway through as I had altitude sickness. I was unable to keep anything down and I ended up getting food poisoning also on the 3^rd day. We spent around 15/16 hours hiking, really hectic day and all I could have was tea. I have no idea how I managed it. There were people just turning back around. But I had a goal and I kept moving, albeit at a slow pace.

So I managed to summit. I and my teammates had a very emotional moment up there. I just started crying, I couldn’t control it. It was an enormous sense of accomplishment. I had been working on getting there for 2 years, to go through so much and get there has been a satisfying feeling.

When did you decide to set up your Doaa page, and what are your goals?

The page is named after my mother. The whole point of the summit was to raise awareness about UC and Crohn’s. Right now it is only a Facebook page and climbing Kilimanjaro was only the first step. It is a platform for people who have UC and Crohn’s to get in touch with each other and to know that you are not alone. We do not have the stats in Egypt, but I assume there are plenty of people out there who have Crohn’s and UC and have been misdiagnosed. On the page, you can share your story, get in touch with me or meet me in person. I am looking to raise funds as the surgeries needed are really expensive. I have been in touch with a lot of doctors that are willing to help out.

How important is it to you to be a support and inspiration for young people, irrespective of any health issues?

Inspiration is such a big word. People have been so supportive ever since I started to tackle the illness and since starting the page. I am just very grateful for all the love and good wishes. It gets to a point where it motivates me to do more, to accomplish more. I believe that motivation comes from within and it was such a challenge to summit, it was really intense. I wanted to do it because at one point in my life I was helpless and climbing that mountain was my way of knowing that I could do anything.

Do check out the DOAA initiative page and help raise awareness: https://www.facebook.com/DoaaFoundation/about/?entry_point=page_nav_about_item&ref=page_internal

Top Tips For Improving your Memory

By Nadia El Dasher

There was a time in my life that I remembered every friend’s and family member’s phone numbers, when I didn’t rely on my phone GPS to get around, and when my desk wasn’t buried under a pile of to-do lists. When did my memory become so unreliable? Is it simply a matter of ageing, or is there anything that we can do to improve our memory?

A simple Google search reveals a slew of solutions, from eating right, to physical and mental exercises but a certain source stood out to me the most, a TED talk by Joshua Foer titled Feats of Memory Anyone Can Do. Foer unravels the inner workings of memory by examining the United States Memory Championship, and interviewing its contestants.

The techniques he discovered all came down to a concept in psychology referred to as “elaborative encoding”. When two people are told to remember a single word “baker”, the one who is told to simply remember that there is a man whose name is Baker is less likely to remember the word than the person who is told to remember that there is a man who is a baker.

The reason behind this is that while the name Baker doesn’t really mean anything to us, but the common noun baker comes with a visualization of a baker, we can imagine his uniform, his actions, etc. It’s akin to the difference between a 2D image and a 3D image. Foer goes on to say,“the idea… is to create this imagined edifice in your mind’s eye, and populate it with images of the things that you want to remember — the crazier, weirder, more bizarre, funnier, raunchier, stinkier the image is, the more unforgettable it’s likely to be.”

So we must actively engage with our environment in order to remember, and there are ways to exercise your memory thus improving it.

• Engage more than one of your senses

Reading out loud is both visual and auditory, which can aid the memorization process.

• Stop multitasking

Not only is multi-tasking associated with low efficiency in everyday activities, it also divides the brain’s limited attention making it harder to retain information.

• Visualize uncommon scenarios

At the beginning of Foer’s talk he asks the audience to close their eyes and visualize the story he is about to tell. This activates different parts of your brain, which aids the process of remembering. While imagining an uncommon scenario will also aid the memorization process since the bizarre both stands out and requires us to re-examine.

• Consolidate

According to Foer’s talk it is easier to remember something if it is memorized in a story-like fashion, which is similar to using mnemonic devices.

• Clench your fists

Research indicates that balling up the right hand into a fist makes it easier to memorize numbers and lists. Neuropsychologist, Dr Joanna Iddon, adds that in order to retrieve the information, you clench the left fist as a means of activating that region of the brain.

• Experiment with retrieval practice

A study by Morris et al. in 2005 showed that, unlike other forms of memory improvement, almost every member of the population can benefit from retrieval practice – the exercise of reminding yourself to remember. The more difficult the subject is to remember, the more practice you’ll need.

• Rest

It may seem obvious, but getting enough sleep is a powerful tool for boosting brain function and, as a result, memory. Researcher Jack Mellor from the University of Bristol discovered that the brain organizes its everyday encounters during sleep, recording only the essentials to memory.

• Learn before you sleep

Studies have shown that information retention is most efficient if you do it right before sleeping.

• Eat chocolate

A team of healthcare professionals in Norway tested more than 2,000 people on memory, planning, attention as well as visual and spatial coordination after monitoring their dietary habits. The results showed that those who consumed 10 grams of chocolate per day got higher test results.

• Exercise

Aerobic exercise not only improves cognitive function, it’s also an approachable technique for enhancing memory. Exercise is also associated with the growth of the hippocampus, a sea horse-shaped part of the brain linked to memory.

• Learn new things

According to scientist Sandrine Thuret, learning increases the production of brain cells. Learning another language, in particular, can be exceedingly rewarding. Research by Dr. Thomas Bak at the Edinburgh University showed that being bilingual may improve the aging brain, even if the second language was picked up at adulthood.

• Reduce Stress

Thuret also states that stress can reduce the production of new brain cells, ultimately affecting memory. And the same can be said with regards to sleep deprivation and malnutrition.

• Socialize

A simple way to reduce stress and depression, both of which are associated with memory loss, is to increase social interactions.

• Inhale rosemary oil

A study conducted at Northumbria University demonstrated similarities between the effects of compounds in rosemary oil and drugs licensed to treat dementia.

• Meditate

According to a report in The Atlantic, students who meditated an hour a day for eight days did better on tests than those who did not.

Traditionally, forgetfulness is thought of as a side effect of growing old, however a 2013 poll found that millennials (18 to 34 year olds) are far more likely to forget their lunch, what day of the week it is, where they left their keys, and whether they showered or not than older age groups. In fact, the results showed that those 55 or older were more than two to three times more likely to remember the answers to these questions than millennials.

The easiest place to observe this phenomenon is at a social gathering where people from all walks of life can almost instantly forget names of other guests.

Perhaps the best place to start is with our lifestyles. By incorporating subtle changes at a young age not only will your memory improve, but you’ll be creating a suitable environment for the entirety of the brain to flourish.

References

How to Improve Concentration and Focus in Your Life

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/05/study-meditation-improves-memory-attention/275564/

http://sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/03/01/how-can-i-improve-my-concentration-and-my-memory/

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/memory-loss/art-20046518

https://www.ted.com/talks/sandrine_thuret_you_can_grow_new_brain_cells_here_s_how/transcript?language=en

https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-19/edition-10/how-toimprove-your-memory

https://www.ted.com/talks/joshua_foer_feats_of_memory_anyone_can_do/transcript?language=en

https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-19/edition-10/how-toimprove-your-memory

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2016/february/brain-sleep-learning.html

http://sharpbrains.com/blog/2007/03/01/how-can-i-improve-my-concentration-and-my-memory/

http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/25-tips-improve-your-memory-1864549

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/02/millennial-forgetfulness_n_3695512.html

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-33519453

Exploring the Benefits and Risks of HGH with Dr. Hussein Ghanem

It’s not a new thing. In fact, the search for an elixir or magic potion to ward off the physical effects of ageing is an eternal human quest. A new warrior in the battle against signs of ageing is HGH. HGH has been getting a lot of attention recently, so we chatted with leading dermatologist and andrologist Dr. Hussein Ghanem, to get the facts.

CWM:  Dr. Hussein, what is HGH?

HG: Growth hormone is important for growth in childhood and helps throughout life to maintain healthy tissues and organs. It’s produced by the pituitary gland that is located at the base of the brain. Production of growth hormone declines gradually starting middle age, which prompted some anti-ageing physicians to consider it as an anti-ageing treatment. It’s also important to remember that exercise is a potent physiological stimulus of GH secretion.

Why has this treatment become so popular now?

Media, internet sites and a few anti-ageing physicians popularized the point of view that replacement of HGH as its levels decrease with aging would help restore and preserve the declining muscle tone and bone mass. However, the majority of medical professionals remain skeptical, HGH is not approved by the FDA as an anti-ageing treatment, actually some concerns have been raised about its safety.

How long has HGH been in use?

Growth hormone was purified and synthesized in 1981 for use in growth hormone deficiency in children. It wasn’t long before it began being abused by competitors in sports around 1982, and several regulatory authorities have now banned it. Considerable research and development have been carried out and in 2005, and more advanced forms of (recombinant HGH) became available.

What conditions is HGH most commonly used for?

Solid medical indications for HGH use are mainly in children, where it’s prescribed for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency, short stature, and in boys and girls with certain congenital defects that could hamper growth, as well as acquired disorders like kidney failure.

Medical indications for the use of HGH include disorders like Short Bowel Syndrome, a condition in which nutrients are not properly absorbed due to severe intestinal disease or the surgical removal of a large portion of the small intestine, pituitary gland tumors leading to HGH deficiency, and loss of muscle associated with HIV/AIDS infection.

Expected benefits for adults who use HGH for a medical indication associated with HGH deficiency include: increased exercise capacity, increased bone density, increased muscle mass, and a decrease in body fat.

What are the new scientific methods used within HGH?

Studies of healthy adults taking human growth hormone are limited. Although it appears that human growth hormone can increase muscle mass and reduce the amount of body fat in healthy older adults, the increase in muscle doesn’t translate into increased strength. It isn’t clear if human growth hormone might provide other benefits to healthy adults.

In an ongoing study of very old people, those in their 90s with naturally low levels of human growth hormone appear to have a far better chance of living into their 100s compared with people who have above-average levels of the hormone

When used as an anti-ageing treatment what benefits can be expected?

Proposed benefits for HGH (that have not obtained FDA approval due to insufficient scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness in normal adults without HGH deficiency) include: increased muscle strength, better fracture healing, enhanced weight loss, stronger bones, reduced cardiovascular disease risk, improvement in erectile dysfunction, decreased obesity, better mood and cognitive function, and improved sleep.

How is the treatment administered?

HGH is given in the form of daily intramuscular injections.

What side effects are possible?

There are several side effects that have been clearly exhibited and linked to HGH treatment. These include, but are not limited to: high cholesterol levels, carpal tunnel syndrome, swelling due to fluid in the body tissues (edema), and nerve, muscle, or joint pain. Enlargement of breast tissue (gynecomastia) has been noted, particularly in men. There is an increased risk of diabetes and cancerous tumors (Hodgkin’s lymphoma), and people have complained of numbness and tingling of the skin.

Are there any contra-indications?

Any allergy to HGH, and young men and women who already have normal levels of HGH.

Is it suitable for everyone?

The only agreement is on its use in cases with HGH deficiency, it’s not advisable for use by young adults, and its use as an anti-ageing medicine is controversial.

Can HGH be used for women?

Studies have shown that women have almost double the amount of growth hormone compared to men. One can assume that it wouldn’t be wise to give HGH to women who already have higher HGH levels. This might be surprising.  How come men who are bigger and stronger than women have less growth hormone? The answer is simple; men have testosterone levels that are hundreds of times higher than women.

What’s the bottom line?

If you have specific concerns about ageing, ask your doctor about proven ways to improve your health. Remember, healthy lifestyle choices — such as eating a healthy diet and including physical activity in your daily routine — can help you feel your best, as you get older.
Hussein Ghanem, M.D.
Consultant Dermatologist
DermaHealth Laser Clinic
Professor, Cairo University

By Francesca Sullivan

You have a demanding, high-pressure job but lately you can’t seem to make decisions or summon any interest or energy for projects at work. You are needed more than ever yet all you feel like doing is closing your phone and being alone. You feel unsupported and colleagues always seem to be doing the wrong thing. You’ve been having trouble sleeping and have lost your appetite for food, fun and life in general. If any of this sounds familiar, it could be that you are suffering classic symptoms of burnout.

Although it’s common for men in particular to go through such times without seeking professional counselling, help is at hand for those who need it. Cairo West Magazine interviewed Dr. Georgette Savvides, one therapist who helps sufferers handle burnout and get their lives back on an even keel.

CWM: What are the primary causes for men undergoing ‘burnout’?

GS: It’s important to acknowledge that stress and burnout are two separate things, even though long-term stress can be a prime cause of burnout. It may be work-related, but not necessarily; it could be financial, or to do with family or emotional problems. Burnout is also unrelated to gender; men and women can be equally affected.

What are the recognized symptoms?

In men, burnout tends to present as increasingly aggressive behaviour, irritability, short temper, volatility and loss of focus. Attention will go to the cause of the stress, but burnout can also result in disengagement and disorientation. Physical and emotional exhaustion are prime symptoms. If you are feeling overwhelmed, suffering from insomnia, finding it hard to concentrate and things are starting to pile up, these are some of the early warning signs. Physical effects can also be more serious and may include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, gastrointestinal pain, dizziness, fainting, and/or headaches. These should always be medically assessed even though the cause might point to increased stress.

Is burnout widely recognised and addressed, or do men just tend to try and cope?

The percentage of men seeking therapy for burn-out and stress-related issues has increased; men are becoming more open to the idea and I do see a certain number in my clinic. However, women are still far more likely than men to address such problems and look for professional help.

Is it caused by lack of motivation or interest in work?

Lack of motivation or interest in work is actually a prime symptom of burnout. If you feel demotivated and are looking for reasons to be absent from work this can be a tell-tale sign. In the early stages it might just seem like lack of enthusiasm or wanting to avoid projects and responsibilities; not answering emails or regularly coming into work late. Later it can lead to being short tempered with colleagues and cutting yourself off from people, including family and friends outside work, feeling apathetic and hopeless. In later stages, it can lead to depression.

Does mental attitude and personality type play a big role?

Research shows that Type A personalities (natural leaders, people who tend to overload themselves with responsibilities and have high expectations of themselves and others) are more prone to stress. Also people who tend to have a more negative outlook or perspective on situations. The more objective and realistic someone’s expectations are, the less they are likely to become over-stressed.

How can stress and burnout best be tackled?

If someone comes seeking help for stress management or burnout the job of the therapist is not to try to change them – you cannot change someone’s personality – but to challenge the belief system behind their behaviour. Entrenched attitudes to situations can be re-examined and coping mechanisms brought into play, such as learning new problem-solving techniques. Sometimes you may need to re-evaluate your goals to redress life imbalances. The therapist would also suggest ways to deal with the symptoms.

Do you have tips and lifestyle advice for men to avoid reaching this point?  

In anyone’s life a good work/play balance is essential, with time management to schedule the number of hours each day given over to work related versus pleasurable activities. Make time for happiness! If someone is burnt out they need to reduce their work schedule to spend more time with friends and family, arrange trips and weekends away and so on. On a daily level it’s important to develop healthy relationships with work colleagues, communicate properly, have boundaries and learn to say no. Being a constant people-pleaser will eventually lead to burnout.

Exercise is a very helpful ongoing tool for dealing with stress since it releases neuro chemicals that sustain your mood in a balanced manner. Just thirty minutes in the gym three times per week can be all it takes, but if you play regular sports such as football or tennis, or practise yoga or Pilates, this is equally good.

How can the family be more supportive?

By recognizing the early warning signs. If a man is lacking in motivation, seems edgy and irritable, over sensitive or just not feeling well in himself, then be ready to talk about any issues with concern. Now is not the time to make too many demands, try to relieve the pressure by being accommodating and understanding.

Is stress ever a positive thing? 

Some people perform better under a certain level of stress, and certainly the kind of positive stress that follows a good event such as a promotion can be a motivator for improved performance. Some stressful events are also positive – a wedding, for example. Reaction to stress and how it affects different people is a very individualistic issue, and some people are more tolerant of stress levels than others, depending on their own time-line. It only becomes a problem when it starts to interfere with their day-to day functioning and impacts negatively on relationships with other people in their liv