CBT has been widely researched and demonstrated to be one of the most effective methods of treatment for a range of mental health problems, including anxiety disorders, depressive disorders and eating disorders.

Last week many Victorian children returned to school, and many made a start with their formal education. It is an exciting and sometimes unsettling time. Some children may be very anxious about the changes in their life.

Are you finding that lockdown has made you feel grumpy and frustrated towards everyone? Are you finding that you have no patience for your partner, friends or children (or less than you have done previously!)?  You are not alone!

The yoyo lockdowns we experienced due to Covid19 were tough for everyone, in particular those of us living through the pandemic in Melbourne, which holds the title for the city with the longest lockdown in the world! Constantly having to adapt to different restrictions, having the disappointment of cancelling holidays, birthdays, changing plans or being told you can’t go to the gym is extremely challenging both mentally and physically.

Grief is our emotional response to any kind of loss, whether that’s the loss of a loved one, a job, a home or (thanks to COVID) your previous life. 

A common maladaptive coping strategy that many people use to deal with their trauma is to try and avoid it. Unfortunately, this is not a strategy that works long term and can in fact make the symptoms that you experience worse.

Trauma is defined as an emotional response to a distressing event. There is no one definition for what constitutes a traumatic event as people experience pain and suffering in different ways.

Feelings of anger, stress, sadness and anxiety can be hard to manage and cope with in the moment and can often lead to rash decisions. Distraction strategies or techniques can be used to help manage a range of uncomfortable emotions you may experience in their day-to-day life. 

We all experience anger at times in our lives. Whether it be a moment of annoyance or full-blown rage. Anger is a normal human emotion that we cannot avoid.

Stress and anxiety can often be mistaken due to producing similar physiological and emotional responses such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing, sweaty palms, headaches, tenseness of muscles, and feelings of uneasiness.

Music has the ability to bring us joy and comfort, to motivate us and to help us relax. It has the power to transport us back in time, to calm our worried minds or boost our moods. There really is a song for every emotion.

Having a good work life balance involves being able to manage your time evenly between work and activities outside of work. Outside of work activities can include hobbies, maintaining relationships, family responsibilities and any interests outside of work. Work life balance can be tricky to achieve and maintain – especially now with technology making emails and work more accessible, but also because of COVID-19 and people having to work from home.

So what is perfectionism? Is it a bad thing to strive for perfectionism? Perfectionism is best defined by the need to be and appear to be unflawed and perfect. This could be in one aspect of life such as work or could be across different aspects of one’s life. Perfectionism is often viewed as a positive trait, but with perfectionism can come some negative consequences too.

When we experience stress, out breathing pattern changes. We typically take smaller and more shallow breaths using our shoulders rather than our diaphragm. This style of breathing is associated with the onset of the flight or fight response which leaves us feeling keyed up and anxious.

With Victoria plunging into yet another lockdown late last week, many of us are feeling the confusion and frustration of these uncertain times. Along with this comes the constant barrage of news and media updates which can leave us feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

Sweaty palms, short sharp shallow breaths, heart beating out of your chest and feeling dizzy. From time to time, we have all felt the symptoms of a panic attack. But what actually is a panic attack? 

Grounding strategies are a type of mindfulness and are important because it allow one to be present in the moment, re-organise thoughts and to bring oneself into a calmer mental and physiological state. There are two types of grounding techniques, Mental grounding and Physical grounding.

Supporting a friend with an eating disorder can be challenging, but it can make a big difference to their recovery. Friends and family often play a large role in helping their loved one overcome an eating disorder. However, before you act it is important to understand some key facts about eating disorders and effective ways of helping them. Eating disorders are not always just about food…

There is no doubt that the internet can be a valuable resource for kids. It can be used to research school projects, easily communicate with teachers and peers, stay connected with family and friends and play interactive games that foster imagination and promote problem solving skills. 

However, internet use amongst children and adolescents also comes with many risks, including, easy access to inappropriate content, cyberbullying and online predators.