One of the most challenging times for our communication skills is when someone we know suffers bereavement. Death and grief are often taboo subjects in our society, so we are often unsure what to say or how to act around people who are grieving.
Whether to say anything at all, and if so, ‘What, how and when?’, are common thoughts. [Read more…]
Giving us an insight into bipolar disorder, is guest author Shauna Smith.
When I was young, as far back as I can remember I was depressed, emotional and moody. I was very sensitive, easily hurt and bullied regularly. I went through the majority of my life living this existence of sadness, loneliness, hurt and fear. [Read more…]
Many of us have become aware of the acronym SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), a phenomenon associated with the onset of winter, and the reduced hours of available sunlight exposure. According to SADA, significant symptoms affect an estimated 7% of the UK population each year, with a further 17% suffering discomfort of a milder form.
You look after others but who looks after you? I have written earlier in the series about carers and the need for them to be their best, so they can give their best. This blog is for providers of other professional services, and for whom neglecting to keep their emotional stability in check may ultimately affect their own wellbeing!
Let’s target some service providers, in no particular order, as they say: [Read more…]
About Depression… depression, depression, depression… We hear this word all the time it seems. Does this mean it has lost value? Have we become desensitised to the word ‘depression’, what does it really mean? [Read more…]
Married couples often consider long-term separation, rather than a divorce; or maybe worse, stay together despite irreconcilable differences, citing an inability to overcome financial barriers. [Read more…]
Job loss? Is just that – a job loss! Yet, if we are faced with this event, we take it personally, feeling wounded – perhaps humiliated and then anxious. The fear of financial problems along with the major challenges for our psyche of confronting change. [Read more…]
Also known as PPD, or Postnatal Depression. Of the clients seen by me within the service I offer, women are very much in the ascendancy. Having published articles earlier in this series for fathers, this is an opportune time then to share some observations for a challenge, which, whilst not exclusively faced by women, is clearly more prevalent in this gender. [wiki] [Read more…]
Even today, sex can be a taboo subject, more so any dysfunction in a sexual relationship – and with good reason! Sexual relationships are generally a highly private and sensitive matter, but what does that mean when things start to go awry? [Read more…]
“Philip” gets up every morning determined to do all the things he promised himself he’d do yesterday and ends most days frustrated and fed up because he’s not making any progress. Phil’s wife has a stressful job and sometimes needs a lot of support; their one year old son is just like most babies and, rewarding though it is, takes a lot of time and energy. [Read more…]