Articles
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The Effects of Winter on Moods
It seems that all of us Canberrans are feeling the effects of the change in season over the past few weeks. Heading into winter, the days are only due to get shorter and colder. This can potentially have a significant affect on individual’s mental health and mood. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a well-documented phenomenon…
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Why Are We So Stressed? The Tech Factor
If there’s one thing that every person in the modern world experiences, it’s stress. Sometimes it comes in small waves, testing us in little ways we can easily overcome. Other times, it comes at us like a raging torrent that leaves us gasping for air. But what causes this stress? Could technology be a factor?…
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Choosing a Good Counsellor
Evidence suggests that the quality of the relationship between the counsellor and client, or ‘therapeutic alliance’, is the single greatest predictor of therapy success. Though the skill of the counsellor is an important factor for predicting change, research indicates that the relationship between client and counsellor is even more important than the treatment style and…
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A New Approach to Depression Treatment
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, is a ‘new wave’ approach to working with a variety of psychological difficulties, including depression treatment. Although ACT is relatively new compared with more widely used therapies, it has been used and tested by psychologists for a number of decades and there is a great deal of empirical evidence to…
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Marriage Counselling
Whilst most marriages begin with a high level of excitement, passion and commitment, this so-called ‘honeymoon phase’ rarely lasts. Committing to and sharing one’s life with another person requires certain skills. Without being aware of and using them, it is normal for enthusiasm, romance and commitment to diminish from a marriage. Some common areas where…
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What is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) symptoms usually emerge in childhood or early adolescence. A GP may notice that a person has SAD if they have had anxiety symptoms in social situations for at least six months. If you believe you may…
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10 Best Ever Anxiety Management Techniques
These techniques fall into three typical clusters: the physical arousal that constitutes the terror of panic, the ‘wired’ feelings of tension that correlated with being ‘stressed out’, and the mental anguish of rumination – a brain that wont stop thinking distressing thoughts. Cluster One: Physical arousal Distressing physical arousal – sympathetic arousal – causes the heart thumping, pulse-racing,…
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Mindfulness Practice: Formal and informal
There are a number of ways to practice mindfulness and get into the present moment. These include: Formal Mindfulness Practice Informal Mindfulness Practice Grounding Slowing down and being present Formal Mindfulness Practice Mindfulness can be practiced in a formal manner such as meditating. Meditation consists of sitting down in a quite space focusing on observing…
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Stress and Stress Response
Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or under some form of pressure. In small doses, this pressure helps you to stay focused, energetic and alert, but when stress becomes overwhelming, it can be damaging your health and well-being. When you perceive a threat, your nervous system responds by…
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Emotional Eating
The term “emotional eating” is a common expression used to describe patterns of eating that are fused with different mood states. It is most common to think of emotional eating as a response to feeling sad, tired or bored, but emotional eating can often be associated with celebration, joy or when enjoying the company of…
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Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is one of the various forms of anxiety disorders. GAD is experienced when a person feels anxious, nervous or worried for most of the time over a period of at least 6 months, when they are not under a direct threat of any particular danger. Situations and events that commonly contribute…
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Kleptomania and Hoarding Disorders
Kleptomania is a psychological disorder in which a person feels an overpowering urge to go out and steal items, which usually have no real use or value to them. A person who suffers from kleptomania generally will feel an urge or tension to steal a vast variety of items ranging from large, valuable items to…
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Apps for Anxiety and Stress
In addition to seeing a psychologist, you may want to consider apps that are available for managing anxiety and stress. These apps are not designed to replace the support you are receiving from other areas but rather can be used in a complementary way. The below apps for anxiety are suggestions only for you to consider, its…
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Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder characterised by an individual being fearful of public or open spaces which may be difficult or embarrassing to escape or get away from. A person with agoraphobia will often distance themselves from situations such as crowds, large social interactions, marketplaces, shopping centres, trains, planes etc. Essentially a person with agoraphobia will try…
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A New Mental Health Paradigm
Mental illness is a term that suggests that someone is sick, their thoughts are distorted and their views are wrong. What if there were a paradigm shift were we viewed mental illness not as a sickness or pathological condition but rather an experience of discomfort, distress and mental pressure that is a normal part of…