Ways to Manage Workplace Stress and Anxiety
Affecting performance, quality of work and workplace relationships, workplace stress and anxiety is a serious subject these days. Around one quarter of Melbourne employees experience some level of workplace stress and this is costing businesses billions of dollars a year in lost work hours. Even more importantly, stress at work can have a serious impact on our quality of life both in the office and at home. There are a few simple strategies you can start practicing to help lower overall stress in the office and help you stay calm, focused and productive. What Causes Workplace Stress? From deadlines to…
10 Uncommon Phobias
Almost all of us fear something in this world. Whether it’s heights or flying, spiders or dentists, there is a large array of phobias that plague the human race. Whilst we all may be aware of the more common fears, there are many uncommon but very real phobias you probably never knew existed! Let’s take a look at 10 uncommon phobias that strangely petrify some people: SOMNIPHOBIA To some people, there’s nothing better than jumping into bed at night or settling down for a nap. But not everyone agrees, for the thousands of people suffering somniphobia, falling asleep or sleeping…
How Can I Control My Short Temper?
It is perfectly natural to lose your temper sometimes. We're all guilty of flying off the handle occasionally, but some of us get worked up and lose our cool more quickly than others. There are many situations that may arise in everyday life that will anger, irritate or frustrate you, but if you're prone to outbursts of rage, it can have a negative impact on your life, to the point of damaging your relationships and even ruining your career. Here are some tips for keeping your cool when your temper is rising. Stop Yourself Before You React The biggest issue…
When to See a Psychologist for Your Anxiety
Anxiety, it seems everyone is talking about it these days, and that's not a bad thing. In any one year, it is estimated that over 2 million Australians will suffer from anxiety and keeping this mental health condition at the forefront of conversation helps reduce the stigma that prevents many people from seeking treatment and support. For many people it can be difficult to tell if the level of anxiety experienced on a daily basis is normal, or if they’re actually experiencing some level of anxiety that could benefit from seeing a professional. Some Level of Anxiety is Normal Figuring…
Couples Counselling: How to get the most out of it
Many unhappy couples turn to marriage counsellors to help them improve their relationship. A common assumption is that anyone on the brink of separation would benefit from sitting down together for a few sessions with an expert third party, someone who can make sense of conflict, and encourage two discontented people to listen to each other. But does it always help? The Effectiveness of Couples Counselling New research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies shows that whilst many couples may not benefit from counselling, couples counselling works for approximately 70 to 75 percent of couples. The research found that counselling…
What To Expect When Going Through A Divorce
Nobody ever recites their vows on their wedding day thinking that they’ll be undoing them in the future. However, things can and do change. Sometimes the promise of ‘’till death do us part’ becomes something keeping you imprisoned. Rather than remain unhappy and stay in a marriage that isn’t working, there’s the option of divorce. Unfortunately, the consequences of a marriage breakup are all too real, which is why you need to carefully consider the following factors before making any decisions. 3 Things That Can Result From A Divorce: Feelings of loss The feelings of loss when coping with a…
The Signs Your Fear Has Become a Phobia
Every human being has a list of things that they fear, but when you lose control of your fears, they often develop into full blown phobias. From common phobias such as claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces) to unusual ones such as Sidonglobophobia (fear of cotton balls), they can fill a person with debilitating, intense, and often irrational fear. Unlike fear, phobias occur when an object or situation is so distressful that the person suffering it will change their life and experience less pleasure due to the perceived threat. If you aren’t sure where you stand, here’s how to distinguish the…
How Eating Well Can Help You Combat Anxiety
If you’re living with anxiety and depression, you’re aware that there are many things you can do to alleviate the worst of your symptoms. While exercise and medication are proven ways to do so, recent research indicates that food could play an equally significant role. This unique approach to managing anxiety is an exciting one that’s gaining momentum, with a growing body of scientific research supporting the foods-emotion link. Many experts agree that nutrition is an important component in a holistic healthcare plan, and some believe that the gut is ‘the second brain’ and has a direct impact on your…
Did You Know That Your Anger Can Hinder Your Health?
Few people consider anger to be a positive emotion, as it’s often accompanied by such unpleasant feelings. We start to think we should avoid expressing at all costs for fear of ‘blowing up’. But sometimes anger is a healthy emotion, as bottling it up will only make matters worse. It’s about controlling it to ensure your anger doesn’t spiral out of control. Problems arise when it’s expressed inappropriately, or you can’t control it at all. Physical symptoms of rage such as your body tensing, your fists or teeth clenching and feeling ‘ready to burst’ are triggers associated with many health…
7 Simple Steps To Help You Overcome Stress
Research has found that stress can impact almost every sphere of your life and the number of people affected by stress only continues to increase. It’s estimated that in the last 10 years, the number of Australians affected by stress increased from 3.7 million to more than 4.9 million. Those experiencing stress frequently complain that it influences their relationships, mental health and ability to sleep. With stress being a common consequence of modern living that affects both physical and mental health, it’s in your best interest to find ways to lower your stress levels. Here are seven ways you can…
5 Common Types Of Trauma That Can Cause PTSD
When most of us think of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), we associate it with major, life-changing events. While these events can cause PTSD, it can also occur as a result of moments in our life that aren’t as drastic or traumatic. Sometimes just the memory of something can be so distressing it starts to hinder our lives, but because we think PTSD only occurs with ‘real’ trauma, we ignore the symptoms until we can’t anymore. Below are certain incidents that could lead to PTSD developing. Serious motor vehicle accidents Being involved in a serious car accident raises your risk of…
What You Need to Know About Workplace Bullying
Bullying is not just a phenomenon of the school playground. Unfortunately, it extends to many spheres of life, making itself quite common in the workplace. While at first glance workplace bullying may look like harmless teasing, it can have a very negative effect on the victim and even the working environment. What exactly is workplace bullying? How do you differentiate between joking around (where everyone is having fun) and bullying (where a staff member could experience psychological damage)? Bullying in the workplace can be identified as a recurring pattern of behaviour where the goal is the humiliation, offence and degradation…