Here are 11 signs that your mental health needs addressing: 1. Reduced energy. 2. Appetite changes - eating too much or too little. 3. No longer finding pleasure in things that you once enjoyed. 4. Small tasks which you used to find easy, start to feel overwhelming. 5. Your to-do list is expanding as you start to avoid things that need doing. 6. Experiencing higher levels of stress or snaxiety, which makes it significantly more difficult to function. 7. You have become withdrawn from family and friends because sociliasing seems to difficult or overwhelming. 8. You are having trouble getting off to sleep and/or staying asleep and wake on multiple occasions for no apparent reason. 9. You're arguing with those around you more than usual. 10. You're having … [Read more...] about 11 signs that your mental health needs attention
self-help
Stuck in a “tug of war”, anyone?
If you're struggling with an unwanted emotion, it's like being in a permanent tug of war, where there's a monster on the other end of the rope and a massive hole in the middle. That monster represents all of the thoughts and emptions that you don't want to have. You expect that, if you just keep fighting harder, the monester won't win and you want fall into the pit. And the more you fight, the harder it gets, because you start to get exhausted...yet the monster stands there a strongly as he did at the beginning. It feels like you just can't win! So, you edge closer and closer to the pit in the middle and the more you try to control the monster, the more the monster pulls back. But what if there was another way? What if you just let go of the rope and just allow the monster to … [Read more...] about Stuck in a “tug of war”, anyone?
Is habitual comparison affecting my mental health
With filters getting easier to use and more numerous by the day, it seems easier than ever to filter images which you post online. A blemish here...deleted..."I need a different eye colour"...changed...a curve there...reduced or enhanced...and "I want whiter teeth, but without the cost"...your wish is my command. You get the picture. It's time-consuming, but is it dangerous? Well...yes, yet it is. Because when you look in the mirror and see the real you staring back at you, you can be filled with disappointment that you don't look like the filtered you. The same goes for your significant other; comparing them to unrealistic beauty and personality standards, can cause much disatisfaction in your relationship, despite you previously being happy with them. When you compare your home … [Read more...] about Is habitual comparison affecting my mental health
Kintsugi applied to life
We all know that life can be very challenging at times. When life gets challenging, we might find that we start to see damage, just like a fragile china teacup might get chipped, cracked, or even shatter. And when that happens, all we want is for things to go back to the way they were (can you resonate with that?). But it's impossible. All we can do is start working hard at the repairs...finding each separate little piece and piecing them back together again, like a jigsaw. Sometimes you might pick up the wrong pieces and you might need to try again, but as time moves on, your progress moves on, if you continue working your way through the pieces and doing the work. Have you ever heard on Kintsugi? This is a Japanese concept where a shattered pot is lovingly restored by piecing it … [Read more...] about Kintsugi applied to life
Depression: why withdrawing from the world keeps you ‘stuck’
If you're struggling with low mood and a feeling of "I can't be bothered to do anything right now", this post was written for you. I want to tell you something that many people do when they're depressed, and it's something that keeps them stuck exactly where they are. Low mood essentially generates a powerful urge to do just about everything that will keep you stuck whwre you are, ultimately making your mood worse. For example, say you wake up and you just don't feel good. The natural urge - or the trap that many depressed people fall into - is to cancel your plans, stay in bed and just hide away from the world and everybody in it. And let's be honest sometimes we do need that, right? But the problem is that doing this is addictive because, once you decide to avoid something, you get … [Read more...] about Depression: why withdrawing from the world keeps you ‘stuck’
2 ways to get in touch with nature
Being outdoors can be good for us; it increases our Vitamin D levels (climate and location allowing), and is well known for reducing our stress levels, but if we're an indoor-dwelling types of personality, where - and how - do we get in touch with nature? In today's post, we suggest 2 ways in which you can get in touch with nature. 1. Involve your senses The '5-4-3-2-1 technique' is well-known in psychology, counselling and mindfulness circles. This technique deliberately gets the person to slow down and take in their environment and is often very effective at grounding even the most anxious person. The process starts by first observing the environment and taking in the surroundings. Next, the person identifies: 5 things they can see in as much detail as possible. 4 things they can … [Read more...] about 2 ways to get in touch with nature
7 ways to manage stress
It feels like every week we learn something new about stress, whether it's the causes or impact, and that's for good reason, because stress is thought to be one of the leading causes of both mental and physical health issues. With symptoms that can pervade every aspect of your life, it can be difficult to know where to start tackling the issue. In today's post, we provide 7 tips to start managing your stress issues. Check in with yourself daily Many of us know about the effects of stress, but fewer people actually recognise stress in our own life. Get in the habit if routinely asking yourself how stressed you feel and ask yourself whether you're suffering from any of the known symptoms and signs of stress. Common signs and symptoms include: Snapping at people Less patience than … [Read more...] about 7 ways to manage stress
