While for some there is still a (very)
small degree of stigma surrounding mental health, if you had broke the news to
a friend or colleague two decades ago that you were seeing a counselor or
therapist, they might well think that if you weren’t already crazy, you were
well on your way. They might have had visions of you lying down on a couch and
sharing your deepest, darkest thoughts and feelings to a stranger in a white
coat, while being prescribed handfuls of anti-psychotic drugs. Things ha
Do you suffer from sudden episodes of impulsive or explosive aggression? Do you sometimes react to situations in a manner which is out of proportion and out of character?
Maybe you get yourself involved in incidents of road rage, domestic abuse or simply screaming at the people you love? If so, this is likely causing significant distress and upset to you and those around you, you might want to think about seeking professional help.
Symptoms of intermittent explosive responses:
You may
Eating disorders are becoming more and
more common among kids and teenagers these days, and for a variety of different
reasons. However, while some of these reasons may be the same ones that affected
young people decades ago, it’s safe to say that a growing number of them are a
consequence of the times. In an era of cyber bullying and social media
pressures, some young people scrutinize their lives and are overly critical of
every action they undertake. More of them are turning to, or away fr
The word ‘psychiatric’ can often be
misinterpreted or evoke feelings of fear in those who don’t understand fully
what it means, and the same can be said of ‘psychiatric medication management’.
However, if you’ve been recommended for a psychiatric assessment by your doctor
or therapist, understanding what that means, how a psychiatric practitioner can
help you, and what psychiatric medication is, should minimize your fears and
concerns.
If you have a mental health concern, a psych
There can be many causes of depression
- each of which will vary depending on the individual – but if you’ve been
feeling inexplicably low and can’t quite put your finger on why, it might be
that you’re feeling guilty about something.
Guilt
explained:
Guilt is when you feel embarrassed or
regretful about being the reason behind a negative action or event – recent or
even way back in the past - and while much of our guilt is genuine and appropriate,
in some cases, such feelings c
This can be a difficult area for many of us, and indeed, for employers, too. As an employee, of course you want to be productive while at work and fulfill your role to the best of your ability, but if you are suffering from a mental illness, then you may be entitled to certain accommodations. As an employer, you may want to be sympathetic to your employee’s state of mind and are naturally concerned about doing all you can to support their productivity.
Ideally, you could try to talk openly
Social pressures, longing to escape reality, reactions to stress, trying to forget a recent trauma, and even curiosity, can all be reasons why people turn to drugs or alcohol. Some may also be trying to manage the side effects of other drugs or medication that their doctor has prescribed them or trying to reduce the symptoms of a mental illness.
When the term ‘self-medicating’ is used, it refers specifically to drugs or alcohol being misused to try and mask the symptoms of a mental health
Grief will enter all our lives at some point or another, but if you’re suffering from depression, the pain of losing someone that you love can feel like too much to bear. While there is no right or wrong way to grieve, sometimes acceptance of the fact that you are hurting and have every right to do so can help you find ways to cope with the loss.
Here are a few helpful tips for coping with bereavement when suffering from depression:
Try not to punish yourself:
Kindness is indeed a virtue,
Mostly in life, if we are feeling happy or excited about something, we receive positive reinforcement from those around us, and our emotion is celebrated. Nothing wrong with being happy about a promotion at work, or being excited about taking a trip somewhere, all perfectly normal.
The same cannot be said if we are feeling sad, however: this emotional state is sometimes punished by those around us rather than celebrated. Perhaps friends, family or co-workers begin to avoid you, or even become
Nobody likes a bully, right? But sadly, many of us will have to deal with them at some point in our working lives and depending on the nature and severity of the bullying, we may need to seek outside help to deal with it.
Workplace Bullies and What They Do
Bullies in the workplace often use the same set of intimidatory and manipulative tools that a schoolyard bully might possess, and recognizing their behavioral patterns is the first step towards putting an end to it and getting back