For many, Christmas is a very joyous time of year. It is synonymous with food, warm drinks, presents, time with family and friends, as well as a small break from work! However, for some, it can be a rather difficult period, as it is common for numerous people to have mental health struggles exacerbated overContinue reading “Looking after your mental health over Christmas”
Category Archives: Depression
What is imposter syndrome and how is it related to self-esteem?
What is imposter syndrome? Imposter syndrome is the experience of lacking confidence in your own abilities and feeling like a fraud. This is coupled with the internalised fear that others will realise you’re not as skilled or competent as they thought. Although imposter syndrome is not a mental disorder listed in the diagnostic manuals, itContinue reading “What is imposter syndrome and how is it related to self-esteem?”
How is our gut related to our mental health?
Many people with mental health issues, particularly anxiety and panic disorders, experience gut problems. For example, loss of appetite, stomach pains and Irritated Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are the most commonly discussed. This is because there is a link between our mind and gut. The Enteric Nervous System (also known as our second brain located inContinue reading “How is our gut related to our mental health?”
Which type of therapy is right for me if I have depression or low mood?
As we’ve discussed in previous blogs (you can find all of them here), there are different types of therapy such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and counselling. We’ve highlighted the most effective treatments out there for depression specifically, as determined by research which guides the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Depression DepressionContinue reading “Which type of therapy is right for me if I have depression or low mood?”
Using your values to live the life you want and boost your mood
What are values? Values refers to the things that are important to you. They determine how you spend your time, what you commit to, and how you want to live your life. Our values can guide our activities. The usefulness of values Looking at your values is useful for anyone, as they can really benefitContinue reading “Using your values to live the life you want and boost your mood”
Perfectionism and low self-esteem
How does perfectionism and low self-esteem work together? Perfectionism is observed when a person sets themselves very high standards, which are often difficult to meet. When the standards are inevitably not met, this can lead to feelings of failure. In turn, this can result in low self-esteem and feeling anxious and depressed. Alternatively, the veryContinue reading “Perfectionism and low self-esteem”
Lapses in motivation and how to boost it
Motivation is the internal mechanism that pushes us forward with our goal-orientated behaviours. However, from time to time, we all experience lapses in motivation. During these lapses, it can seem difficult to carry out our usual tasks, especially when confronted with a long list of things to complete. Whether related to work, our social life,Continue reading “Lapses in motivation and how to boost it”
How can we cope with grief?
Grieving is a natural part of life, and a very common experience that most of us will have at some stage. There are multiple situations that leads us to grieve, such as bereavement, the end of a relationship and the loss of a job. Some of the emotions and grieving stages are similar between theseContinue reading “How can we cope with grief?”
How is sleep related to our mental health?
In previous blogs, we have touched on the importance that sleep has on our mental and physical wellbeing, but not in a lot of detail. And it is true, sleep is absolutely vital as it serves several purposes. Firstly, it filters through the information our brains have collated and disposes of the unnecessary ‘junk’. ThisContinue reading “How is sleep related to our mental health?”
Mindfulness and mental health
What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is simply the ability to stay within the present. When feeling overwhelmed, stressed or anxious (and especially if these feelings are reoccurring) it can help to re-establish where, who and how you are in the present moment. By improving your awareness of thoughts and feelings, you are less likely to becomeContinue reading “Mindfulness and mental health”