emotional wellbeing

In this post, Penni explores some of the reasons why humans have a need to control. Understanding what may be underlying a need to control can be a helpful starting point for those who wish to practice controlling less and letting go more – or the opposite!

Humans are biologically hard-wired to seek control over their environment. From an evolutionary perspective, being able to have some control over what was an unpredictable environment created a sense of safety through the reduction of uncertainty. This instinct for control was critical for survival and therefore the continuation of the species. The human landscape has changed significantly but this instinct to be in control remains. There are 6 reasons why – and they’re not all bad! [Read more…]

In Penni Osborn’s third and final post around the subject of what may lie behind the experience of anxiety, Penni shares some valuable information about the different neural pathways involved in anxiety.

Two Neural Pathways to Anxiety

There are two primary neural pathways for anxiety; the cortex and the amygdala. Each pathway can initiate the emotion of anxiety in different ways. Understanding which pathway is behind the experience of anxiety can help in choosing the best way to address symptoms. [Read more…]

In this second post on what may cause us to experience anxiety, Penni Osborn explores ‘self-concept’; how it is formed and why, if incomplete, it can cause stress and unhelpful thinking styles, that can lead to anxiety.

Self-Concept

Our self-concept can be simply defined as a fairly comprehensive, general idea of who we are – what we know about ourselves from a physical world perspective. Our interests, what we do and don’t like, what we’re good at, where we might need to improve and our strengths and weaknesses. When it’s complete and accurate, it guides us to make decisions that work best for us. [Read more…]

In a series of three posts, Penni Osborn shares her knowledge of some of the underlying reasons for anxiety. Taken from different schools of psychology as well as her own anecdotal experience, Penni introduces some fundamental perspectives on where anxiety may originate, so that those who endure can add a ‘because’ to their experience, opening up the opportunity to heal the cause and so reduce anxiety.

Drivers

In the school of psychotherapy called Transactional Analysis (or TA for short) it is suggested that for most of us, our autonomy is under the influence of a concept known as ‘Drivers’. Drivers are said to develop during childhood and are the internalized messages of our parents or caregivers that we learned in order to stay feeling ok. Because these messages were absorbed very early on, they tend to be quite deeply rooted and often outside of our conscious awareness, but it is possible to notice them through our behaviours. There are five Drivers in total. Here’s what they look like: [Read more…]

In this post, Penni Osborn explores research that links diet to mental health and how dietary changes may have positive outcomes for those who experience the symptoms of anxiety.

Over the last ten years or so, scientists have been uncovering more and more links between what we eat and our mental health, with most studies focusing on the link between depression and the gut. In more recent years, however, expert attention has been given to expanding this concept and how more mental health conditions, including anxiety, could be in some way linked to what we eat and therefore treated through dietary changes. [Read more…]

In this article, we’re explaining the crucial role of mental health counselling in family law matters. Family law proceedings are often emotionally charged and complex, involving intricate dynamics that can significantly impact the wellbeing of individuals involved.

Recognising the intricate interplay between legal matters and mental health, the role of mental health counselling becomes paramount in navigating the complexities of family law. This article delves into the crucial significance of mental health counselling in family law matters, often handled in line with family law solicitors, shedding light on the holistic approach necessary for the overall health of individuals and families.

[Read more…]

Stress is a natural and normal physiological response to challenging or unexpected situations. In the world of business and service deliverability stress can also be defined as “demand that exceeds the available resources”. So, when does stress inhibit our roles and performance in life?

Some stress is ok for us!

It causes our bodies to release stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which helps us to take immediate action in the face of danger or difficulty. It can also give us energy to work on important projects, and even enhance our performance and problem-solving ability. [Read more…]

Introduction: Who goes to counselling and why?

Counselling plays a pivotal role in the mental health and wellbeing of individuals, offering support and guidance to those facing various challenges. In the United Kingdom, counselling services have become increasingly popular over the years as mental health awareness grows. This article explores the demographics of people who attend counselling in the UK and sheds light on the reasons why they seek such support. [Read more…]

Today, Penni Osborn explores the uncomfortable feeling of resentment; what it is, what causes it and how it’s potentially harmful effects – physical, mental and emotional – can be avoided.

What is Resentment?

A pervasive feeling that creeps up on us when we feel we have been treated unfairly, resentment is an emotion that sits somewhere between anger and disappointment. As a stress inducing emotion, it can be damaging to us physically, as well as potentially being a highly destructive force within our significant relationships. Signs of resentment include being short-tempered, using passive-aggressive communication, having less empathy or emotionally withdrawing from the person we feel resentful towards. A variety of things can trigger resentment, but two key areas to explore are unfulfilled expectation and poor boundaries. [Read more…]

Here, in her latest post, Penni Osborn shares a communication tool, taken from Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), that can be used when achieving an objective in an interpersonal interaction is required.

For some of us, the prospect of raising an issue or asserting ourselves within our relationships with our partners, friends, colleagues or employers can feel very daunting. Below is an example of ‘DEAR MAN’, a tool that forms part of DBT’s ‘Interpersonal Effectiveness’ skill, that can be used when you would like to obtain an objective in an interaction with another whilst being respectful to both yourself and the other person.

The acronym ‘DEAR’ refers to what you say and ‘MAN’ refers to how to say it. [Read more…]