A common strategy given to people who suffer from anxiety is “relaxation”. Doctors, psychologists, psychotherapists, hypnotherapists, yoga instructors…(.the list is endless) tell clients that relaxation and breathing with help reduce the anxiety. And they are right. The problem is that many relaxation exercises take up to twenty minutes and involve lying still and concentrating. Clients ... [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]
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]
The good news is that if you live in Australia, there are various pathways which assist in making it possible to afford the fees. Medicare offers a rebate for up to twenty sessions of psychological treatment. This can be face-to-face or via Zoom/telehealth if you live in a remote area. Private health insurers offer ... [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]
Ongoing loneliness can have serious ramifications. It increases the chance of being depressed or anxious about social interactions, and being depressed or anxious can limit social interactions - exacerbating loneliness. Research has shown how loneliness impacts physical health via poorer sleep, more headache symptoms, increased stomach complaints and more frequent respiratory complaints. The result is ... [Read more now]
For many, the annual summer break is so welcome it's almost palpable. We lead such busy lives at breakneck speed so the opportunity to slow things down, recover and recharge the batteries is time that we relish. There is a common myth that the best way to approach this re-charge is to take time out, ... [Read more now]
It's World Mental Health Day - a day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy. Two of the most common mental health issues I see in my practice are depression and anxiety. Challenge your perception about mental illness If I could give people in wider society a message it would be that anxiety and depression ... [Read more now]
Not to sound cliché, but it’s the most wonderful time of the year again. You know what that means! The holidays are upon us. No school, no work. Only meeting up with friends, family, and enjoying time together. What could be better? For many people, the answer is that there really is nothing better. But ... [Read more now]
