Depression

Depression is more than feeling low, it has been described by some as being “empty”, “alone”, “nothing” and “lost under a cloud”. It is fairly common and can impact more than 10% of the population, 5% of people have a more severe form of the illness.

Nearly everyone has felt depressed, sad, or down at one time or another. Feeling depressed can be a normal reaction to a stressful event, such as when one suffers a loss or endures another of life’s various struggles or stresses. If you are feeling low, it is important to seek help and support. This support can be friends, family, or counsellor. For more information on Depression see my blog entry HERE.

 

Anxiety

Anxiety is a common feeling that everyone experiences at some stage. It can be a normal emotional response to many stressful situations it is largely recognised as a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe. There are some scenarios that make many people anxious, such as public speaking, whilst this may be acute it may not be a constant anxiety.

Anxiety may motivate us into performance or into failure. The concern is when anxiety is taking over your life and you are unsure how to cope with it in a way that is constructive and helpful in your life. For more information on Anxiety see my blog entry HERE.

 

Stress management

Stress is the body's reaction to any change that requires response. It is important to recognise that is a normal part of life, it is how we deal with it that can sometimes need some fine tuning. Everyone experiences stress from different things, from environment, to work related, to family related and from pressure to succeed at goals. Stress can be a motivator, but like anxiety, it can take over.

Stress effects everyone differently. It may affect how you feel physically, mentally, and also how you behave. It is also not always easy to recognise when stress is the reason behind feeling or acting differently. The human body responds to stressful events by activating the nervous system and specific hormones. These hormones speed up heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and metabolism. The physical changes prepare you to react quickly to handle the pressure of the moment. Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. This can be complicated as the true sources of stress aren’t always obvious. For more reading on stress please click HERE

 

Anger management

It is important to recognise that anger is a healthy emotion, we all feel anger at different times and triggers than others. Anger only becomes a problem when you feel you have no control over it, or how it comes out.

Sometimes, anger issues could stem from other mental health difficulties. Some people with anxiety might find that when they begin to feel anxious about something, their way of coping can be to express it through anger. Anger is not just something that happens in our mind, it is a whole-body experience. It your heart rate to increase, blood pressure to go up, and increased adrenaline levels which can lead to other issues like high blood pressure and a fast heart rate could lead to other health problems.

For more information on anger and anger management see:

• HSE
• Mentalhealth.ie
• Spunout.ie
  

 

Family Therapy

All families have conflict. It is the nature of people living in close proximity. However, when “normal” or expected conflicts turn into daily shouting matches families may need help in communicating and learning ways to both listen and understand each other. Family therapy may also be needed if the family has faced a trauma and they feel stuck and unable to more forward. Family therapy is a counselling that can help family members improve communication and resolve conflicts in a protected space free from judgement.

 

Couples Counselling

All relationships are exposed to more stresses and pressures than ever before. Relationship problems can arise from neglect, financial concerns, sexual performance anxiety, lack of communication, adultery, and anger. There are times in all relationships where the individuals and relationship itself are challenged and under duress. Couples counselling will help to review the communication style to ensure both parties feel listened to and heard, it also provides a space to allow for processing of perceived problems in the relationship allowing for a more harmonious relationship.

 

Trauma and Abuse

Trauma and abuse can be evident in many areas of a person’s life, from an unstable childhood, an assault, or even a dangerous accident. Abuse, whether physical, emotional, verbal, or sexual, can all happen together, and all have long-term effects on mental health. Trauma can affect self-image and self-confidence and can have a profound effect on how you may relate to others. People who have gone through abuse or other trauma have a higher risk of developing a mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Trauma and abuse are never the survivor’s fault. For more information from HSE click HERE

 

Self-image

Your self-image is all to do with how you feel about how you look. Self-image is something that affects everyone, and everyone has an image of themselves, whether it is a good or a bad one. Most people have something they dislike about how they look, and many people have things that they like about how they look.

Image is becoming a bigger concern because of what we see every day on social media, on the TV, in films, and in advertisements as well as the comparisons we make against the people around us. Each of these comparisons, negative or positive, have an impact on how we feel about our own body image. A distorted self image can relate to eating disorders, self-harm, identity confusion. Whilst this is common there are certainly exercises that can be done that can help you reconnect you with yourself in a healthier way.  For more information from HSE click HERE