Today we're lookng at 6 key ways in which you can promote mental well-being in your own life. So let's jump right into it. 1. End toxic relationships Scott (2020) defines a toxic relationships as follows: A toxic relationship is one that makes you feel unsupported, misunderstood, demeaned, or attacked. - Scott (2020) The term doesn't apply to just sexual partners, but every other sphere too, whether it's your employer, a family member, a coach, or somebody else. 2. Talk to friends You know the saying "a problem shared is a problem halved"? It's said for a good reason, because sharing a problem allows you to get a different perspective, process your own thoughts, feelings and emotions and sometimes just doing that allows you to reach a conclusion or decision and maybe find the … [Read more...] about How to value your mental health
self-help
10 signs of childhood emotional neglect
In today's post, we're discussing 10 signs of childhood emotional neglect. So, what is emotional abuse and emotional neglect? Emotional abuse Emotional abuse (also known as psychological abuse) is a common cause of low self-esteem and, judging by the clients that we see in our office, it is a significant cause of distress with respect to mental health distress. People who experience emotional abuse may demonstrate distinct personality changes, such as being withdrawn, feeling anxious, depression, or even suicidal. According to Healthy Place, emotional abuse is as follows: Any act including confinement, isolation, verbal assault, humiliation, intimidation, infantilisation, or any other treatment which may diminish the sense of identity, dignity, and self-worth (Tracy, 2021). Emotional … [Read more...] about 10 signs of childhood emotional neglect
Golden rule for taking control over your life (anxiety)
If you're struggling with anxiety and desperate to get your life back, you might be interested in our top tip. Today we're sharing our number one golden rule that you should follow if you want to lead a life feeling a little more 'chill'. A natural response to feeling anxious is to do everything you can to avoid whatever it is that's making you feel anxious. Say, for example, you became anxious about crowded places during the pandemic. And eventually, you might have decided to avoid crowded place completely. And that's ok for a while, but then you might realise that travelling on public transport makes you feel anxious...so you start avoiding that too. And that's ok for a while, but then you realise that shopping in the supermarket makes you feel anxious. So, you start … [Read more...] about Golden rule for taking control over your life (anxiety)
7 ways to deal with uncertainty?
Over the last two years, the world has been filled with uncertainty hasn't it? I'd say that we've got used to living day to day but have we really? And each time it feels like some semblance of normality is returning, it's ripped out of our grasp...yet again. The world's gone mad! I'm being a little melodramatic here, but you know where I'm coming from, right? How well do you deal with uncertainty? Truth be told, some of us deal with uncertainty better than others. You know? Some people are quite 'chill' and just brush off uncertainty, and then there are those of us who have a tendency to feel anxious and whom feel really quite unsettled during periods of uncertainty. The reality Despite there being so much uncertainty in the world right now, the reality is that uncertainty is actually … [Read more...] about 7 ways to deal with uncertainty?
How to get rid of Post-Lockdown anxiety
Are you still feeling anxious and overwhelmed at the thought of going out and socialising again after multiple lock-downs? If you are, then you're not alone. I'm a clinical hypnotherapist and I have some excellent tips to help you get back out there, living the life that you want to live. Many of you who are newly struggling with leaving the house post-lockdowns might be wondering how something that was easy and just felt "normal" now make you feel so anxious". But you know, there's actually a very good reason for this anxiety - and it's not because there's something wrong with you. You see, what we do every day becomes our comfort zone - and it's simply that your comfort zone has changed. But, what happens when you try to leave your comfort zone is that your brain is hard-wired to send … [Read more...] about How to get rid of Post-Lockdown anxiety
3 ways to get out of a rut at work
If you feel as though you're stuck in a rut at work, or you feel that your work life is causing you to feel burnout, then this is the post for you. In today's post, we're going to suggest 3 ways that you can get out of that rut, or avoid burnout. If there's anything I can relate to, it's being in a work rut! Indeed, it's a funny place to be really, because on the one hand you're unhappy (or unfulfilled, or whatever), but on the other hand, you're not quite ready to bail. Maybe there's still enough parts of your job that still excite you, or maybe you're eternal optimist and you believe things will get better next week/month/year. Whichever of these sound familiar to you, I hope that you get something positive out of today's post. So, what can you do to get out of that work rut? May … [Read more...] about 3 ways to get out of a rut at work
5 signs of burnout
Here are 5 signs of burnout that we all must know if we want to prevent or resolve it: Sign #1: You feel the need to numb your stress This can be achieved by a number of escapism methods, such as food, illegal drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, sex, gambling etc. Generally, the method of escapism works "too well" for the person, causing the person to keep selecting that as a coping method. Without switching this effective (yet unhealthy) coping method with something just as effective (and healthy), progress is unlikely to be made. The key is to build a list of possible alternatives, which still achieve some kind of escapism, but which are healthy and not relied on excessively. Doing work on confidence and self-esteem, at the same time, can also help. Sign #2: Your memory is affected. Burnout … [Read more...] about 5 signs of burnout
10 hidden signs of depression
Everything might seem fine to yourself and others around you; you may even be meeting all of your goals and deadlines, but here are 10 signs that you could be depressed. You: 1. Feel overwhelmed generally. 2. Get easily irritated. 3. You feel tearful and sad frequently. 4. Feel less confident in conversation than you did. 5. Feel hopeless. 6. Loathe yourself. 7. Feel numb or empty inside. 8. Feel too anxious to relax. 9. Get frustrated easily. 10. Find that problems getting to or staying asleep make you feel exhausted. Don't guilt yourself into feeling that others have bigger problems, so you don't deserve help, because that's simply untrue. We all deserve to feel happy and fulfilled. Do I need help? If any of these strike a chord with you, you may be … [Read more...] about 10 hidden signs of depression
10 things that anxiety can make you do
Here are 10 things that anxiety can make you do: 1. Eat more than usual, either for comfort or energy. 2. Get lost in distraction activities. We're not referring to a healthy amount of helpful distraction here, but something that has become extreme and impacts life in a negative way. 3. Cancel plans at the last minute, if the anxiety is overwhelming. 4. Turn to alcohol or (non-prescription) drugs. 5. Require use of the bathroom more frequently. 6. Fail exams, due to going blank. 7. Eat less than usual, if your appetite is affected, or if you feel nauseous. 8. Avoid doing things because they feel overwhelming, even if you know you'll be in trouble. 9. Decline trying new experiences. 10. Check things repeatedly. Do I need help? If this is something that you … [Read more...] about 10 things that anxiety can make you do
Being authentic when running a hypnotherapy practice
When you're looking at growing your practice, there's a temptation towards having an in-depth look at other hypnotherapists and how they market themselves. But we're here today to explain that it's more important to be authentic, rather than emulating others. Here's the #1 reason why I say this, you never know how successful somebody else is, really. Over the years, I've heard other hypnotherapists claim everything from being multi-millionaires and working 70 hour weeks, to making £100K a month and working regularly with movie stars. There may be some truth to these claims (and call me cynical if you like), but I'm willing to bet that there's a good bit of embellishment going on in these statements too. The other problem with comparing yourself is that it can really knock your … [Read more...] about Being authentic when running a hypnotherapy practice