Do you ever find yourself ‘losing your cool’ in certain situations? Maybe it’s a certain type of situation or with a specific person. When we are in a heightened reactive state, we lack the necessary composure to respond appropriately and professionally in that situation. Often, the culprit is our automatic thoughts. These thoughts are instantaneous, habitual, and nonconscious, but can really affect our mood and actions. We can do something about our automatic thought processes and start to take back control instead of reacting in an unhelpful way or feeling upset.
In a world that seems to be obsessed with communication and constant connectivity, research shows that the problem of loneliness is real and growing around the world. Guest writer Jacki McPherson* talks about what loneliness looks like and how we can help ourselves and others.
Travel is a requirement of many jobs when a role has a particular function that cannot be undertaken remotely. Work commitments may mean regular or seasonal domestic or international travel. Irregular travel for work can be quite easy and enjoyable.
Stress is the feeling of being overwhelmed and unable to meet the challenges of a situation. Stress can also occur when we put unreasonable expectations on ourselves!
Severe mental health conditions (sometimes referred to as mental illness) are less common and are defined by their duration and the effect on an individual’s day to day ability to function. They include major depression and bipolar disorder, and illnesses that produce psychotic symptoms (producing a loss of contact with reality, such as schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder).
Relationships are a basic psychological need. Positive mental health is to flourish cognitively, emotionally, physically, and socially; and our relationships are as crucial to our health and wellbeing as air, food, water, movement, and sleep!
Mental health is the cognitive, emotional, and social wellbeing of a person. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines mental health as “a state of wellbeing in which every individual realises his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community.”
Many life events can trigger the natural response of grief, including the death of a loved one, the end of a relationship, the loss of a pet, or a significant change in job or way of life. Any considerable loss involves grieving, at an intensity relative to the sense of loss felt.
Gambling is risking money on the outcome of an activity or event to either win or lose the initial outlay. Most commonly in Australia, betting is done on casino games, lotteries, poker machines, and sports events.
Drugs are substances that alter the way the brain and body work. These include legal substances like alcohol and cigarettes, prescription medications, and illegal substances such as marijuana, cocaine, or ice. Depressants, stimulants, and hallucinogens are the three main types of drugs.
Although legal and very socially acceptable in Australia, Alcohol is a drug. It affects thoughts, feelings, and behaviour at the time of consumption, and also afterward. The positive feelings of relaxation and reduced inhibition and changes it makes to the brain make it possible to develop an addiction to alcohol.
Healthy family relationships are a protective factor for mental health. If able to trust and rely on each other for support, family relationships help make us feel loved and safe. Positive shared family experiences help build the bank of strong connection and bond. Feeling like a part of a family creates a sense of belonging, which can make people feel good about themselves. On the other hand, family relationships can be a source of stress and a significant challenge to navigate.
Change is an inevitable part of work, and life - positive and negative changes are continually happening on a small and larger scale. Some change is self-driven, and within our control, other change occurs as a result of factors outside of our control.
Current research is linking nutrition closely with mental health. There is a bi-directional relationship – what we eat affects our mood, and our mood affects what we eat. Nutritional neuroscience is an emerging field that is focused on the relationships between nutrition and cognition, emotions, and behaviours.
When we exercise, there are immediate and longer-term benefits for our mental state and wellbeing. Getting moving pumps blood to the brain, which can instantly improve the clarity of thought.
Depression is a persistent low mood. It is more than just a bad day; depression can take the colour from your world, leaving everything grey and making it hard to function like you usually would.
Anxiety is a persistent feeling of worry or stress. It is more than just a normal response to a challenging situation like attending an important meeting or giving a presentation; anxiety hangs around after the stressor is removed or turns up before anything “bad” has happened.
A panic attack is an acute and sudden onset of fear in the absence of any danger, with physical symptoms like a racing heart, difficulty breathing, dizziness, or feeling like passing out.