Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

laura on 03/07/2017

What is an Employee Assistance Program?

An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is an arrangement between an organisation and its employees to provide a variety of support programs for the employees. This can include assessment, short-term counselling, referrals, and on-site support for critical incidents.

EAP is a voluntary counselling service designed to assist employees to address various personal issues, either work-related or personal, in a confidential manner. EAP services are also often available to immediate family members.

In a nutshell, it is designed to enhance the psychological wellbeing of employees and provide intervention to address work and/or personal difficulties that may impact on work performance, productivity and attendance.

 

Is there a fee involved?

EAP services come at no cost to the employee or family member. Sessions are short-term and most employers will fund three to six sessions per employee.

 

What are some common work-related issues addressed through EAP?

EAP can assist with various work-related issues including organisational change, workplace stress, redundancy, career concerns, fear of job loss, job isolation, specific incident at work, job satisfaction, conflict with colleagues or management. Workplace bullying is one of the most common presenting problems.

 

What is workplace bullying?

Workplace bullying is defined as verbal, physical, social or psychological abuse by your employer, manager/supervisor, colleague, or group of people at your workplace. Workplace bullying can occur in any work setting and can happen to anyone whether you are a paid employee, volunteer, or placement student. In order for behaviour to be classed as ‘bullying’, it has to be repeated, i.e. it has occurred on more than one occasion.

Bullying in the workplace can involve:

  • Repeated hurtful or derogatory comments which can include making fun of you and/or your work. This can happen privately, where there is no one else to witness the behaviour or in front of other staff.
  • Excluding you from work-related activities.
  • Playing mind games.
  • Intimidation, which includes speaking to you in a way that makes you feel inferior.
  • Placing unrealistic expectations on you such as giving you tasks which would be impossible to complete given the timeframe or resources.
  • Withholding information from you which is necessary for you to complete your work.
  • Sexual harassment including sexual comments or inappropriate touching.
  • Physical abuse such as pushing, shoving or tripping.
  • Inappropriate jokes or pranks which lead to you feeling ridiculed or embarrassed.
  • Attacking or threatening you with weapons.

Workplace bullying can impact on an individual’s work. It can lead to reduced productivity, absenteeism, fear of losing your job, loss of confidence, feeling stressed and physical impacts such as insomnia. In addition, bullying can impact on an individual’s personal life including relationships, social interaction, and lead to mental health difficulties such as depression and anxiety.

It must be mentioned, that some situations within a workplace may seem unfair but are not bullying. It is acceptable for your employer to transfer, demote, performance manage, or let you go, provided they are acting reasonably and there is a legitimate reason for their decision.

What you can do.

  • Find out if your organisation has a bullying policy and complaints procedure. Most companies will have information on the intranet or you can speak to Human Resources (HR) if you are not sure.
  • Keep a log or diary of all incidents of bullying including details of what you did to address the issue.
  • Get support from someone you trust or contact the union.
  • Approach the bully (if you feel safe and confident to do so) and let them know that their behaviour is not acceptable.
  • Raise the issue with a manager or HR.

 

How EAP can assist with addressing workplace bullying?

An EAP counselling service can assist by helping you to keep informed with regards to what behaviour constitutes bullying, provide you with strategies on how to handle the situations and procedures you can follow.

One of the most challenging things for individuals is to approach the bully and let them know that their behaviour is unwanted. Counselling can assist by empowering you to identify that there are steps you can take to stop this behaviour. You will be provided with assertiveness training (a communication style which focuses on standing up for yourself in a way that is respectful towards you and the other person involved) and tools to build your confidence.

 

Why use EAP?

EAP services are not only free for staff and immediate family members, but have been statistically proven to enhance employee’s productivity levels and reduce absenteeism from work. Research on the efficacy of EAP’s show that working with a Psychologist can improve emotional well-being (↑86.4%), physical health (↑24.8%), work-like balance (↑44.8%), workplace moral and motivation (↑49.5%) and productivity (↑24.0%), improve workplace relationships (↑27.3%), and reduce absenteeism (36% improvement).

 

How do I access EAP services?

EAP services can be accessed by speaking to your manager, HR department or finding the name of the EAP provider that your organisation is linked to. Once you have these details, you are able to contact the EAP provider and organise an appointment. EAP providers have psychology practices that they will refer you to in order to find a service that is easily accessible. All information is handled in a confidential manner, and your employer does not know that you have accessed these services, unless you choose to tell them.

If your organisation does not already have an EAP provider, visit our EAP page or give us a call on (03) 9809 5947.

maria

This blog was written by Maria Kampantais, Psychologist at Your Mind Matters.

Maria has a long history of working in Employment Services and has a strong understanding of the stressors staff can endure when working towards KPIs, deadlines, when they are overworked, or there is a workplace issue.

We spend a lot of time at work, so its important that the time there is as enjoyable as possible. 

Maria works with us 4 days per week and has both evening and day session times.  To learn more  about Maria, click here. 

Other helpful links:

https://www.humanrights.gov.au/workplace-bullying-violence-harassment-and-bullying-fact-sheet

If you’d like to more about EAP statistics, head to http://www.davcorp.com.au/wpdata/files/23.pdf

 

 

Men’s Health Week

laura on 09/06/2017

June 12th 2017 marks the start of Men’s Health Week.

Although it’s very normal for my peers and I to see a psychologist for support, us psychologists are very much aware of the stigma around seeking this type of assistance, which is even more amplified for men.

Why? One reason is because you must be “crazy” to see us. This is completely untrue.  We are all a work in progress and we can always tweak things to make our lives better. Actually, we have many professionals (e.g. Doctors, Accountants, Lawyers) come to see us to ensure they continue working well in their very stressful jobs and don’t become distressed – they have decided that prevention is better than cure.

Another reason there is stigma around men seeing psychologists is because boys and men are typically socialised to not talk about their feelings, because it’s “girly” or more of a “woman’s thing”. Even from a very young age, how many boys are told “don’t cry like a girl” or if playing sport they may hear “you play/kick like a girl!”. The message in a nutshell: Don’t do anything girly! 

These are some reasons why women are more likely to get help than men. In fact, ABS data showed that only 27 per cent of men seek professional help, compared to 40 per cent of women. This is quite alarming to us, as statistics suggest that men are three times more likely to kill themselves than women and suicide is the leading cause of death in men aged between 15 and 44. Furthermore, among young Australians (12 to 24 years) there are three male deaths to every one female death, with accidents and suicide accounting for most of this difference (Moon, Meyer, Grau, 2000).  We also know that boys show greater susceptibility to family stress, especially in the development of conduct disorders, and they continue to be more susceptible to both physical and psychological problems throughout the lifespan (Wilson et al., 1992).

Unfortunately, many men who do not access support turn to drugs or alcohol, which tends to compound mental health problems and can cause many men’s lives to spiral out of control. Often by the time young men are asking for help, health professionals only see a drug or alcohol problem, not the underlying illness. Early intervention is key!

We also have many clients referred for anger management, but underneath that anger is usually hurt, regret, sadness or guilt. Recently, I’ve had some male clients who have come to therapy as part of a court order for anger management. They have expressed some uncertainty about the therapeutic process, and some have worried that they may offend or upset me because I am a female. My response to that is that:

  1. It is completely normal to feel uncertain, this is all new and we are working with you in a manner that often goes against societal norms;
  2. If you are angry, I know it is not personal, but it’s a reflection of your circumstances. If you are open and honest with me (and yes, intense feeling will come up), then I can work with those feelings. If you hold back, it’s much harder for me to help.
  3. I’ve heard cursing that would make a sailor blush! Trust me, it doesn’t offend me!

So, to all the boys and men out there, please do not let societal norms or stigma stop you from accessing the support you need. We went to university for many years so we’d have the privilege of helping you.

If you’re experiencing any intense feelings, or perhaps your family or partner keeps telling you to talk to someone, please call us on (03)9809 5947. 

For a list of FREE Men’s Health Events in Victoria, head to  http://www.menshealthweek.org.au/En/Categories/7.aspx

For more information on the statistics related to men’s health: http://www.menshealthweek.org.au/En/Pages/ee4d91/Why-Mens-Health.aspx

Need support now? 24-Hour Telephone Counselling is available:

  • Emergency on 000 (or 112 from a mobile phone)
  • Lifeline on 13 11 14
  • Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
  • MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
  • Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
     laura    

 About the author:

This blog was written by Laura Forlani, Director and Clinical Psychologist at Your Mind Matters.      

Laura has completed undergraduate and post graduate studies in psychology, most recently completing a Masters in Clinical Psychology at Swinburne University.She has experience helping children and adults overcome a wide variety of difficulties such as mood and anxiety disorders, and problems arising due to changes in personal circumstances (e.g. family breakdown or a change in career). Her approach to therapy involves education, collaboration, and evidence-based interventions such as cognitive-behaviour therapy, skills training, and relaxation strategies. 

References:

Moon, L, Meyer, P., & Grau, J. (2000). Australia’s young people 1999: Their health and wellbeing. Cat. no. PHE 19. Canberra: AIHW

Wilson, G. T., O’Leary, K. D., & Nathan, P. (1992). Abnormal psychology. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Supporting your children to learn two languages

laura on 16/05/2017

Across the world, most individuals are either bilingual (speaking two languages) or multilingual (speaking multiple languages). Today in Australia, many children grow up being exposed to more than one language. While English remains the single community majority language spoken, a sizable proportion of the Australian population reported speaking a language other than English at home. That being said, parents often ask the question: Can I speak more than one language with my child?

 

Myths about bilingualism in children:

Myth: Learning two languages is confusing for my child

Reality: When children use two languages in a sentence or a conversation, some parents worry that this is a sign of language confusion. However, code switching, or using two languages in a sentence or conversation, is common. In fact, some researchers view code switching as a sign of bilingual proficiency.

 

Myth: Learning two languages causes language delays

Reality: While it is true that some bilingual children may start saying their first words slightly later than their monolingual peers, they will still achieve their communication milestones just like their monolingual counterparts. For example, they will still say their first words between 8-15 months old. If your bilingual child is demonstrating significant delays in language milestone achievement, these delays may be caused by an underlying speech and language disorder, rather than bilingualism. Children with a communication disorder should be seen by a speech therapist.

 

Myth: Parents should use the ‘one-parent-one-language’ approach when teaching their children speak two languages.

Reality: Some parents believe that by having each parent speak a different language to the child, the child will be exposed to both languages equally. Whilst this is one of the many ways you could introduce two languages to your child, there is no evidence to suggest that this is the best way to teach children two languages. There are many ways we can introduce two languages. The best way to communicate with your child is to use what is natural and comfortable to you.

 

Myth: If you want your child to speak English, you should stop speaking your home language with the child.

Reality: There is currently no evidence to suggest that the use of the second language in the home environment is needed for the child to successfully use this language in other social settings (eg. at school). Parents should continue to use the home language with the child because there is evidence suggesting that a strong foundation in the home language can enhance second language learning. Preventing your child from learning the home language can also cause the child to feel isolated in the home environment.

 

Myth: Bilinguals need to translate from their first language to the second language when they communicate.

 

Reality: Bilingual children are capable of thinking in two languages. There is no evidence to suggest that bilingual children can only think in one language and then translate into the other language when necessary.

 

Myth: The older a person is, the harder it is to acquire a second language.

Reality: Although children are more likely to achieve native-like pronunciation when they start learning the second language at a young age, older children and adults are just as capable as young children to acquire a second language.

 

Myth: Children with special needs or a language delay are not capable of learning two languages

Reality: There is no evidence to suggest that children who have a language disorder are not able to acquire two languages. In fact, there is emerging evidence that suggests that learning two languages can be beneficial for children with additional needs. If a child can learn one language, the child will be able to learn two languages.

 

How to support bilingual language development:

  1. Speak to your child in the language that you are comfortable using.
  2. Play games and sing songs in the language that you are fluent in.
  3. Read and tell stories to your child.
  4. Follow your child’s lead – if your child is interested in a particular book, keep talking about it and encourage your child to talk about it too.
  5. Never criticize your child’s language, rather, model the correct use of language by repeating the statements back to him/her in the correct way.

 If you are concerned about your child’s speech and language development, call us on (03) 9809-5947, or send us an email: admin@yourmindmatters.net.au.

 

Other useful resources:

http://www.asha.org/public/speech/development/BilingualChildren/

http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/bilingual_children.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOhWg0YeIMs&feature=youtu.be

This blog was written by our in-house Speech Pathologist, Fiona Low. Fiona is fluent in English and Mandarin, and enjoys working with children from preschool years through to adolescence. 

To learn more about Fiona, click here. 

 

Full article:

http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Articles/Bilingualism-in-Young-Children–Separating-Fact-fr.aspx

 

 

 

Getting a better night’s sleep

laura on 05/05/2017

Sleep is an important part of our well-being. Just ask a shift worker, a new mother, emergency service employees, a student studying for an exam,  people who travel overseas for work… being tired and exhausted doesn’t feel good.

Sleep can affect:

  • How we feel
  • How we meet the demands of the day
  • How well we manage stress
  • Our body’s ability to rest and recover
  • Our ability to think, plan, concentrate, and focus
  • Our alertness and energy levels

What can impact on sleep?

Those experiencing anxiety or/and depression may find sleeping difficult, or perhaps the quality of sleep has changed. Racing thoughts and finding it hard to relax are often reported by people with anxiety.

Some health conditions can impact on sleep quality, such as sleep apnoea and snoring.  People with chronic pain may also find sleep difficult.  Pregnant women often experience difficulty with remaining asleep.

Lifestyle factors can also impact on sleep and sleep quality by effecting the body’s natural wake and sleep cycles, such as using electronic devises (including gaming) before bed, eating shortly before bedtime, consuming alcohol and caffeine, and exercising late in the evening.

Jet lag occurs when we travel to different time zones. The body generally adjusts but can take a few days.

What is your current bedtime routine? What could be impacting on your sleep?

 

How much sleep do I need?

Everyone needs slightly different amount of sleep. Children and adolescents often need more sleep than adults. Healthy adults need on average 8 hours of sleep, but some people can be alert with 6 hours of sleep while others need 10 hours.

Working out how much sleep you need to feel good, alert and focused is a good place to start.

 

How to get more sleep

Make sleep a priority.  Just as a healthy diet and being active is important, so too is sleep.  Some tips to help with getting to sleep and staying asleep include:

  • Making bed time a priority- try to set a consistent bed time every night
  • Wake up the same time every morning- this helps your body to get in a good sleep cycle.
  • Get in touch with your body’s sleepy signs- ignoring when you are feeling tired may mean you go to sleep when your body isn’t tired.
  • Don’t use electronic devises within 1-2 hours of bedtime. If you need to use them, look at removing the blue light (some phones and devices have this function, or you may need to install an application)
  • Limit alcohol consumption within 2 hours of bedtime. Alcohol may relax you but your body has to work hard to metabolize it and often causes people to wake up and not fall into deep sleep.
  • Create an inviting sleep environment: not too warm or cold, dark, no or little noise, and a place that you feel comfortable to sleep in.
  • Try not to be highly active within the two-four hours before bed time so your body can relax
  • Dim lights and do more relaxing activities in the evening – limit brain stimulation
  • Drink a relaxing herbal tea or warm milk
  • Napping isn’t usually recommended as it can effect feeling tired in the evening. However, for new mothers, napping is encouraged as some sleep is better than none. Short sleeps are also encouraged if you feel fatigued while driving.

Are there any changes you could make to improve your sleep?

 

What can I do if I find relaxing and falling asleep difficult?

A range of factors can impact on being able to relax, which is required to be able to fall asleep.  If you have been finding it difficult to fall asleep, it is normal to feel anxious and not look forward to bedtime.  Creating a soothing bedtime routine can be helpful.  Some additional tips can include:

  • Doing some guided mindfulness exercises in beds. There are a number of apps that can be useful, such as Smiling Mind and Headspace. There are also many guided mindfulness tracks and relaxation music on YouTube and Spotify. Have some fun exploring and trying different tracks you like.
  • Create a bedtime routine that is calming and one you look forward to. For example, have a bath with some relaxing essential oils, such as lavender. Visit a good health food store for advice. Many emergency service workers on shift work have very warm showers just before bed to encourage the body to cool down which helps to drift off to sleep.
  • If after 20 mins you can’t fall asleep, get out of bed and do something quiet and calming, in a dark/dim room and then try again when you feel sleepy. Or, listen to the guided mindfulness track or relaxing music again.
  • Keep a notepad or journal near your bed and write worries or things you have to remember to do the next day. Writing them down helps to stop the thoughts from running through your mind, allowing you to relax.

 

Should I see my doctor?

It is always a good idea to speak to you doctor about the difficulties you are experiencing with falling and staying asleep, and if you are waking not feeling well rested and still very tired. Some medications cause sleep to be disturbed. There may also be a biological reason that can be managed.  Doctors may prescribed medication to assist with sleep, such as Melatonin that can help with helping the body to get back into a good wake/sleep cycle.  Sleeping tablets may be prescribed for short term assistance, but long term use is not usually advised.

 

How can your psychologist help?

A thorough assessment will be conducted and you may be asked to keep a sleep diary for a week. Using a range of techniques, such as CBT and ACT, your psychologist can assist with developing strategies you can use to help with relaxation and sleepiness, managing anxious thoughts and developing a bed time routine that suits you.

Want to talk to us about getting a better night’s sleep?

Call us on (03) 9809-5947, or send us an email: admin@yourmindmatters.net.au

This post was written by Anita Missiha, Psychologist.

Anita recently completed her post graduated studies in Psychology after working in the training and education industry.

Anita has experience working with students in school settings, and also works with adults.

Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

laura on 18/04/2017

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety condition involving intrusive negative thoughts and the repetition of certain behaviours.

What is the difference between obsessions and compulsions?

Obsessions are thoughts or images which can be quite intrusive and distressing. Although these thoughts can often be irrational, they can be extremely difficult to ignore and result in overwhelming anxiety and fear. Common obsessive thoughts include consistent worry about forgetting to lock doors, something bad occurring, or fear of contracting germs. Obsessive thoughts can be infrequent, only occurring occasionally, and at other times they can occur frequently. Obsessive thoughts become problematic when they interfere in an individual’s daily functioning, personal relationships and/or employment.

Compulsions are the repetition of certain behaviours or actions with the aim of alleviating the fear or anxiety resulting from the obsessive thought. In other words, the compulsive behaviour neutralises the distressing obsession. This wouldn’t be problematic if the compulsion was simple however, many compulsive rituals can take up hours of each day. For example, an individual with the fear of forgetting to lock the front door of their home may check to see if their door is locked several times and may even return home whilst on their way to work, to double check that they did indeed lock the door. This can lead to being late for work and impede on reliability. Other examples of compulsive behaviours can include repetitive hand washing, counting/repeating, arranging, and checking behaviours.

Does an individual experience both obsessions and compulsions?

Most individuals who have OCD will experience both obsessions and compulsions however the two are not always present. 20 percent of individuals will experience obsessions only, and 10 percent will experience only compulsions.

Prevalence rates

About three in every hundred people will develop OCD at some time in their lives – that is more than 450,000 Australians. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, the person suffering from OCD may or may not seek or require support.

What causes OCD?

There is no one specific cause for OCD however it appears to be a contribution of several interacting factors, including genetic vulnerability, stressful life events, hormonal changes, and personality traits. This does not mean that if anxiety runs in the family, an individual will definitely develop the condition, they are just more susceptible to experiencing the condition. Environmental factors can also contribute to the development of OCD. An individual who is exposed to a highly stressful environment whilst growing up may be more prone to developing an anxiety condition.

What treatment options are available?

Treatment for OCD often includes medical and psychological intervention. Speak to your local General Practitioner for further information regarding medication options. Psychological counselling for OCD involves the use of evidence-based therapy such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to assist in the management of obsession thoughts and compulsive behaviours.

If you have noticed any of the above happening in your life, why not give us a call today? Our team of highly skilled and well-experienced Psychologists are here to help.

For additional information on OCD, the following links may be helpful:

http://www.healthcentral.com/slideshow/10-frequently-asked-questions-about-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd

About the Author:

mariaMaria Kampantais is a psychologist at Your Mind Matters Psychology Services. She works with us 4 days per week (day and evening sessions) and is passionate about working with clients suffering from various anxiety disorders.

What can you expect when you visit a Psychologist at Your Mind Matters Psychology Services?

laura on 03/04/2017

Coming to see a Psychologist can be rather daunting. Who wakes up in the morning and says, “I’d love to chat to a complete stranger about my deepest fears, thoughts, and feelings, and see what they think?”  We understand that the idea of speaking with someone about your worries opens the floodgates to “what if…?” thoughts, such as “what if they think I’m crazy?” or “what if they can’t help me?”  Makes your anxiety go up just thinking about it, right?

But what if I were to tell you that we absolutely DO NOT think this way? After all, we went to university for a minimum of 6 years to help you, and it is honestly an absolute privilege. We are not here to judge you, we are here to share your hardships and difficulties, and help you navigate your way through them.

So, how does someone become a client of ours? Often it all starts by a) Googling us, or b) speaking to your GP. Clients with a referral from a GP often access a Medicare rebate, which will subsidise counselling, but you can still come in without a referral. Bear in mind, you can always book in with us, then go to your GP and request a referral to us specifically. The order of events doesn’t really matter.

When you call us, you can expect to speak with an Administration Assistant. They will speak with you about our team members and work with you to determine who may be the best Psychologist to support you as we all have different areas of interest and skills. Admin will ask for some details, such as your name, email (so we can email you our location map and information about the Psychologist you’ll be working with), and mobile number, so we can text (sms) you an appointment reminder or call if we need to.

On the day of your initial appointment, please come in 10 minutes to complete some paperwork if you haven’t already done this using our online forms. If you have a referral, Admin will also collect this so we can rebate any Medicare benefits immediately following your appointment. This saves you from having to go to Medicare.

When it’s time to start, your Psychologist will come to reception, introduce themselves, and walk you to their consulting room. Our rooms have large armchairs and couches, and we encourage you to get comfortable. You can put your feet up, lie down, sit up, or snuggle up in a blanket. Whatever works for you. If your appointment is via Telehealth, your Psychologist will email you a link which you need to click at the start of your appointment – super easy!

During the initial consultation, your Psychologist will discuss with you some of the fundamentals around privacy and confidentiality, house rules (e.g. sessions are 50 minutes in duration, where the toilets are located), and general policies (e.g. our cancellation policy, which you will also see when you fill out your initial paperwork). This spiel takes about 2 minutes.

Then it’s over to you! We typically ask something along the lines of “What has brought you here today?” The first session with a Psychologist is usually information gathering. We want to know about your circumstances, what is and isn’t working for you, and what you want to achieve throughout counselling. This allows us to start formulating and create a treatment plan aimed at helping you achieve your goals.

If your appointment is in the office, at the end of the session, your Psychologist will walk you back to reception to complete a handover with our Admin team. If your appointment is via Telehealth, your Psychologist will email Admin our handover immediately, so that when you call to give payment a few minutes later, they already know if/when to rebook (if you haven’t already done so) and if they need to process a Medicare rebate for you.

Most of the time, our clients finish their session feeling much better than they did the previous hour (it’s called “therapy” for a reason!), and feel right at home in our clinic. They tend to waltz into the clinic for subsequent sessions because those initial feelings of anxiety about seeing a Psychologist are no longer present, which we love to see!

I hope this has been helpful, we really are here to support you and we want you to feel at home here.

We hope to see you soon!

Laura Forlani 

Director and Clinical Psychologist at YMM. 

Quality Counselling and Assessment Services

~Support to help you thrive~

What is Anxiety?

laura on 14/11/2016

Anxiety is a feeling of unease, worry or fear. Everyone feels anxious at some point in their life, but for some people it can be an ongoing problem.  Although we used the words “anxiety” and “stress” interchangeably, they are slightly different.

Stress is a response to a specific threat or challenge, and subsides when the stressor is removed.

Anxiety is often anticipatory, does not always have a trigger, and even after stressors are dealt with, a person may still feel anxious. 

A little bit of anxiety and stress can be helpful; for example, feeling anxious or stressed before an exam might make you more alert and improve your performance. But too much of either could make you tired and unable to concentrate.

Symptoms of anxiety

Anxiety can have both psychological and physical symptoms. Psychological symptoms can include:

  • feeling worried or uneasy a lot of the time

  • having difficulty sleeping, which makes you feel tired

  • not being able to concentrate

  • being irritable

  • being extra alert and hyper-vigilant

  • feeling on edge or not being able to relax

  • needing frequent reassurance from other people

 

Depending on the type of anxiety, symptoms vary.  For example, if someone suffers from social anxiety, their symptoms will be markedly different from someone who suffers from claustrophobia (fear of being enclosed in small spaces, such as elevators).

When you’re feeling anxious or stressed, your body releases stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. These cause the physical symptoms of anxiety, such as an increased heart rate and increased sweating.

 

Physical symptoms can include:

  • a pounding heartbeat and heart palpitations
  • breathing faster
  • dry mouth
  • feeling sick or nauseous
  • headaches
  • feeling faint or sweating
  • loss of appetite
  • needing the toilet more frequently

 

Is anxiety bad for you?

A little anxiety is fine, but long-term anxiety may lead to more serious health, social, and occupational difficulties. If you’re feeling anxious much of the time, or it’s affecting your day-to-day life, it’s best to seek support.

 

Help for anxiety 

There are effective treatments available for anxiety, so do talk to your GP if you think you may benefit. If your GP thinks counselling with a psychologist may be helpful, they may create a Mental Health Care Plan for you, which (if eligible) will heavily subsidize your counselling sessions.

If you’d like more information on how to access a Mental Health Care Plan and pricing for counselling at Your Mind Matters Psychology Services, please call us on (03)9809 5947, or email us, as we can walk you through the process.

A Word on Addiction

laura on 21/10/2016

Addiction is defined as not having control over doing, taking or using something to the point where it could be harmful to you. Addiction is a physical and/or psychological need to use a substance, often caused by regular continued use.  It is most commonly associated with gambling, drugs, alcohol and nicotine (smoking).

However it’s possible to be addicted to just about anything such as shopping, mobile phones, solvents (volatile substance abuse is when you inhale substances such as glue, aerosols, petrol or lighter fuel to give you a feeling of intoxication ) and work.

Signs and symptoms of substance abuse or addiction:

  • Regular or continued substance use to cope emotionally, socially or physically
  • Neglecting responsibilities and activities that are important or enjoyable (e.g. work, study, family, hobbies, sports, social commitments)
  • Participating in dangerous or risky behaviours as a result of substance use (e.g. drink driving, unprotected sex, using dirty needles)
  • Relationship problems (e.g. arguments with partner, family, friends, or losing friends)
  • Physical tolerance – needing more of the substance to experience the same effects
  • Withdrawal – physical and mental withdrawal symptoms when you are not using the substance or needing the substance to feel “normal”
  • Losing control of your substance use – being dependent or unable to stop even if you want or try to
  • Substance use takes over your life (e.g. spending a lot of time using, finding or getting the substance and recovering from the effects)

Main reasons people misuse substances:

People use drugs and alcohol for many reasons

  • To relax
  • Have fun
  • Socialise
  • Cope with problems
  • Escape life or dull emotional/physical pain.

However using substances to cope doesn’t make problems go away, and can make them worse or add new problems to the mix. Substance abuse and addiction can have short-term and long-term impacts on physical, mental, social and financial health.

Get help if you are experiencing any of these effects:

  • Physical health– nausea, aches and pains, sleep problems, weight gain/loss, infections, accidents, illness or chronic disease.
  • Mental health– depression, anxiety, paranoia or psychosis
  • Personal relationships– family problems, arguments, relationship breakdowns or a loss of friends
  • Work or financial– job loss, trouble at work or study, debt or unemployment
  • Social impacts– loss of interest or time to do things you like, reduced participation in social activities, criminal problems, anti-social behaviours or  isolation

What you can do 

It is difficult to accept you have a problem and to ask for help. Be honest with yourself and others and get the help and support you need.

  1. Recognise when your substance use has become a problem– realising and accepting that you are abusing or addicted to substances is the first step to finding help.
  2. Get support– getting through this on your own can be difficult. Talk to friends, family, your doctor, other health professionals or a telephone helpline (e.g. Lifeline, 13 11 14) about your substance use. The following will provide help and assistants and point you in the right direction if you need further help.
  3. Investigate options for help– manage and treat substance misuse and addiction through counselling, medication, rehabilitation centres, self-help programs or support networks. You might need to try a number of options before you find what works for you – it’s important to keep trying. DONT GIVE UP!!!!!
  4. Find alternative coping strategies– if you are using substances to cope with life or escape personal problems, find other ways to manage the situation and deal with life’s stress and pressures. By dealing with other problems in your life you can make it easier to recover and not relapse.
  5. Deal with setbacks and keep going– Recovery can be a long and difficult road. Expect some setbacks and don’t focus on failures, focus on your plan and understand your triggers and how to best respond to them in future.

 

The information within the blog has been sourced through https://www.lifeline.org.au/Get-Help/Facts—Information/Substance-Abuse—Addiction/Substance-Abuse-and-Addiction and http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/addiction/Pages/addictionwhatisit.aspx

 

Tipsheets for Helping Children with Challenging Behaviours

laura on 05/10/2016

Children with Challenging Behaviours

At some point, all parents deal with the frustration of having their children present with some challenging behaviours.

Behaviour can be described as challenging when it:

  • interferes with the rights of others
  • causes harm or risk to the child, other children, adults or living things
  • damages the physical environment, equipment or materials
  • interferes with the child’s learning and relationships with others
  • includes a child presenting as shy, withdrawn or excessively passive
  • is inappropriate to the child’s age or developmental stage or background.

 

Challenging behaviour may include, but is not limited to:

  • hitting, kicking, spitting, punching others
  • tantrums
  • refusal to share, wait, or take turns
  • excluding other children
  • breaking or misusing toys and equipment
  • refusal to co-operate or go along with instructions
  • swearing
  • shouting
  • running away
  • teasing or bullying.

Children’s behaviour, including challenging behaviour, may be an attempt to satisfy a valid need or express a want. Learning to communicate needs and wants in appropriate ways is one of the many challenges children face.

It is important for you, your childcare provider and/or school to have a variety of strategies to use when raising and caring for your child. Every strategy may not work for every child. Also, as your child gets older and changes, you may need to change strategies and approaches.

For more information on some strategies you and school that you may find helpful, read the following resources:

For Parents: http://www.cccf-fcsge.ca/wp-content/uploads/RS_48-e.pdf

For school: http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/childhood/providers/regulation/pracnoteschallbehav.pdf

Parents and childcare:

http://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Issue-75-CHILDREN-WITH-CHALLENGING-BEHAVIOR-E1.pdf

Parents with children with additional needs:

http://ncac.acecqa.gov.au/educator-resources/pcf-articles/managing_challenging_behaviours_chn_addtl_needsJune2010.pdf

 

World Suicide Prevention Day

laura on 07/09/2016

World Suicide Prevention Day

10th September 2016

The World Health Organization estimates that over 800,000 people in the world die by suicide each year – that’s one person every 40 seconds. 

Facts about suicide in Australia

  • Suicide is the leading cause of death for men and women between the ages of 15-44
  • The population death rates are around 10/100,000 people every year
  • Annual number of deaths by suicide in Australia is around 2,500 each year
  • 65,000 plan or attempt to take their life each year
  • 400,000 people think about taking their life each year
  • The Global Burden of Disease Report cited 36 million years of healthy life were lost as a result of suicide in 2010

The tragic ripple effect means that there are many, many more people who have been bereaved by suicide or have been close to someone who have tried to take his or her own life, as well as those struggling to manage suicidal ideation.

World Suicide Prevention Day events occurred in local communities across Australia. Check out the Events page to see what’s happened near you. To find out about events planned across the globe, go to the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) page: http://wspd.org.au/events/

 

IF YOU NEED HELP

Getting through difficulties on your own can be difficult. Talk to friends, family, your doctor, other health professionals or a telephone helpline about your substance use. The following will provide help and assistants and point you in the right direction if you need further help.

  • Suicide Call BACK 1300 659 467, support if you, or someone you know, is feeling suicidal.
  • Kids Help Line (age 2-5) 1800 551 800, to talk to someone about anything that’s going on in life.
  • Life Line 13 11 14, support and advise in as personal crisis.

 

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