Today we're looking at 8 ways in which trauma may present itself. I first came across people dealing with trauma back in the early 90's whilst working at a psychiatric hospital in England. Of course back then, trauma wasn't really something which was understood by the average m'man on the street'. However, fast forward 30+ years later and I don't really have to define it for many of us to grasp what it means. If we haven't endured at least one traumatic experience in our lives, I willing to bet that you know somebody who has. I feel I should start by saying that only a small percentage of people who experience trauma will develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). So that said, what exactly is trauma? Or more to the point PTSD? Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is … [Read more...] about What trauma may look like
stress
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?
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
Make May all about change
May is such a beautiful time of year...the weather is not too hot, not too cold...the trees are back in full bloom and everything just feels...lighter. So, in honour of celebrating this beautiful time of year, we'll be sharing a few top tips that should help you lead a more enriched life. Tip #1: Change somebody else's life This looks different for different people, but here's some ideas to get you started. Carry out a random act of kindness (R.A.O.K) such as: Pay for somebody else's shopping in the queue in front of you. Pay for the coffee order of the person in front of you. Give a care package to a homeless person. Donate time, money and/or goods to a charity that means a lot to you. Such as: Dementia UK Age UK MacMillan Dogs Trust Huddersfield … [Read more...] about Make May all about change
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?
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’
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
