Are you neurotypical or neurodiverse? Neurodiversity describes many different presentations including people with ADHD, ASD, HSP, SPD, and Down’s Syndrome. The beauty of using this terminology is that it normalises the fact that brains are different just as our facial features are. We do not all process information the same way. Nor do our sensory ... [Read more now]
Many individuals suffer from anxiety and depression at the same time. Sometimes, one of these conditions goes untreated. The result is that the individual receives treatment but because it is not complete, the person remains feeling unwell. For example, it is not uncommon for people with social anxiety to also suffer from depression. According to the World Psychiatric ... [Read more now]
Unlike going to a doctor who can give you a pill to take away your pain, therapy is collaborative and requires your full participation. Here are some ingredients of successful therapy: You must be willing to come to therapy. If you are coming because your partner or mother told you to, you will most likely drop out. You ... [Read more now]
Whilst the holiday season is usually a time of joy, for many it is a time of anxiety, stress, disappointment, and loneliness. The holiday season comes with high expectations, such as perfect, happy families, huge celebrations, and luxurious gifts. Many people are not able to live up to these ideals and this can cause negative ... [Read more now]
Prioritising ‘OUR-self’ is what allows us to be our ‘WHOLE-self’. The Choice Point When we experience burnout, stress and/or feelings of insecurity, we face a ‘choice point’. Either we can choose to stay stuck in past behaviours or we can choose life affirming behaviours such as self-care. Many people believe that self-care is selfish and ... [Read more now]
Having mental health issues is hard. But pretending that you are not struggling, is harder. The consequences of a brave face: It is exhausting to keep up a brave face and easier to be honest. You will not seek the help that you need. You do not feel safe around others, especially your employer. You ... [Read more now]
It is a year since we first learned about COVID-19. Overall anxiety levels have increased, and people are requesting services more than ever before. While there are many factors which have contributed to the escalation of mental health concerns, I would like to focus on a specific factor, namely, catastrophic language. Whether being used by ... [Read more now]
I have thought a lot about why many people are not keeping to the health guidelines regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Why are people continuing to party and gather in groups larger than the recommended amount? Why do some people scoff at the idea of washing their hands thoroughly or using sanitiser? How come many people ... [Read more now]
Many people have heard the term post-traumatic stress or PTSD but few seem to know about post-traumatic growth or PTG. Post-traumatic growth refers to positive change following traumatic life events. It is a theory that was developed by psychologists Richard Tedeschi, PhD, and Lawrence Calhoun, PhD, in the mid-1990s. They found that contrary ... [Read more now]
There is a well-known idiom “No Pain No Gain” which is true. Humans tend not to exert themselves and grow when they are going through easy times. However, when faced with hardship we can dig deep and develop, grow, improve, re-make ourselves in ways we did not imagine possible. Right now, the whole world ... [Read more now]
