A psychologist's take on world events, life, happiness and the human condition
Get mentally healthy and happy, with news and practical tips from the fields of nutritional psychology, psychotherapy and personal development.
Sometimes serious, sometimes lighthearted, in this section I help you to understand stress, anxiety, depression and other common wellbeing challenges, and what to do about them.
I returned from walking my dog the other day in such an uplifted, joyous state that it took me by surprise. I realised I had unconsciously been applying three techniques that build positive, relaxed mood, pretty much on demand.
Here they are, so you can use them too. Read more…
Working with family can be hard. Dysfunctional dynamics transfer from home to the workplace, making life more stressful than it needs to be and threatening the success of the business. This post is the ultimate guide to understanding what’s up with your sibling relationships and what to do about it.
(HINT: This is really for anyone who has difficulty with their adult brothers or sisters – you don’t have to be working with them.) Read more…
The Bank of Queensland have been talking with me recently about the unique stresses of owning a small or medium business, and what to do about them.
They commissioned research into this topic, resulting in the fascinating Business Balance Report. It reveals shockingly high levels of depression, anxiety and stress among Australian business owners.
So I gave them some tips for staying sane and happy while running a business. Read more…
If you are prone to angry feelings, which is the better strategy? Let it out, or hold it in?
The answer is neither, because there’s a far superior option. It’s much more effective than that old favourite “You must releeeease your anger” – usually by pummelling a pillow, taking a boxing class, or sealing your doors and windows and yelling at the top of your lungs.
Welcome to the second post in the Self-help Hooey series that myth-busts some of the more damaging beliefs of popular psychology. Read more…
Studying health instead of disease. That was the motto of an informal but far reaching 2006 study into the devastating illness known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or Myalgic Encephalopathy (ME).
With the cause of the disease eluding scientists, this study sought instead to uncover how those who had successfully recovered from CFS had done so.
Read more…
I’m not against self-help literature. I’m a shrink, so I’m all for it. There are a few fashionable self-help myths, though, that drive me up the wall because they are not only nonsensical, but it’s actually cruel to lead others to believe in them.
So I’m creating a series of Self-help Hooey posts that expose and put right some of this silliness. I hope to make you feel a whole heap better about yourself along the way, and equip you with much better strategies.
We’re going to start with these two doozies… Read more…