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]
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]
Following the bushfires of 2019 -2020, the Australian Government has introduced the Bushfire Recovery Access Initiative which provides additional Medicare rebates for psychological services. Who is eligible? Any person who has had an adverse change in their mental health as a result of a bushfire which occurred in the 2019- 2020 financial year. This ... [Read more now]
The other day, I was talking to my aunty, who lives in India over the phone. She asked me casually, “How do you miss us?”. I paused a moment and then replied, “I do not know. I have never thought about it as I am always busy at work as well as at home”. Our ... [Read more now]
We all intuitively know what workaholism or work addiction is. Beyond “busy boasting” is the chronic and serious problem of work addiction. You may have seen the signs. The man who is literally NEVER home, the woman who has toiletries and clothes at the office so frequent are her work all nighters. And the person ... [Read more now]
As part of its commitment to promoting community mental health awareness and psychological well-being, the APS commissioned a stress and well-being survey of Australians. This survey provided the opportunity to examine five years of data to gain a half-decade snapshot revealing the state of Australians' mental health and well-being as well as insights into the ... [Read more now]
Before the 1970’s, mental health issues were not spoken about by the general public. If an individual required help for conditions like anxiety, depression or schizophrenia they consulted a psychiatrist. The doctor was seen as the all-knowing guru who understood how to diagnose and treat. Before the 1970’s, patients did not readily share their stories. ... [Read more now]
This is one of the tools that I teach in my CBT anxiety management course. Romanticism is your need to have your life look perfect. Romanticism is when you want to prove that you have it all and can cope with anything that comes your way. Romanticism is when you have an idealised picture of ... [Read more now]
Change is known to exacerbate anxiety, stress and sometimes even depression. This is because human beings are creatures of habit and find it excruciating to do things differently. Sometimes individuals will stay in awful situations because the fear of change paralyses them. Positive psychology researchers look at individuals who cope best with life and inquire: ... [Read more now]
Grit is a word that has come back in use. In 2013, educators were writing about grit, saying that it is the single most important factor in success at school, work, business and relationships. This makes sense because, in order to be successful, one needs to stick at things despite hard times. Anyone who has ... [Read more now]
