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How do you know when to leave a relationship

It can be so easy for us to believe that the only thing required to maintain a continuous relationship is love. It’s not something I would blame for believing it, and it seems to be the message of every romantic comedy or love song. But in reality, love is messy, husbands fight, and our emotions can obscure our best judgment. While being in a relationship that can bring happiness and stability, being in an unhealthy or futile relationship can cause great emotional distress. From this, it is important to know when your relationship is unhealthy and when you leave a relationship. Regarding determining this, we think there are some signs to look out for:

How to know when to leave a relationship:

Your partner exhibits controlling behavior: While it is normal for there to be boundaries within a relationship, these boundaries must be healthy and respect for you and your partner. According to White Ribbon, “control behavior is not always evident and could be a sign of an abusive relationship.” Some examples of control behavior are monitoring all your communications with others, isolating you from your friends and family, and controlling your financial access.
You and your partner have irreconcilable differences: sometimes husbands just want to take out different things from life. If you and your partner have an irreconcilable difference about something very important to your relationship or future, then staying in this relationship won’t be beneficial for either of you. I’m not saying the detail of my favorite pizza, but if one of you wants kids more than anything, one of you definitely doesn’t need a solution.
Your partner is physically, sexually, or emotionally abusive: You deserve to be respected within your relationship and to be treated well by your partner. If your partner is violating physically, sexually or verbally, then it is imperative to leave your relationship if it is safe.
You are waiting for your partner to change: It is incorrect to stay with someone in the hope that they will change an essential part of themselves. You should be happy to date the person you are, not a different virtual version. If someone repeatedly shows the same characteristics or does the same things, even with interventions by others, waiting for it to change is often a futile endeavor.
You survive because of how things were, rather than they are: There is nothing wrong with getting happy memories of your relationship and remembering them arrogantly. However, if you rely heavily on these happy memories to justify staying in your current relationship, this may be a sign that your current relationship needs some work.

If you are struggling in your relationship, couples counseling can help. At North Brisbane Psychologists, we offer couples in Brisbane a safe place to express their individual needs and reach a mutually satisfactory result. Book an appointment today.

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How does alcohol use affect you?

We have all heard it before. “Everything is in moderation.” This is definitely true when it comes to alcohol consumption. While many Australians enjoy a glass of wine at a week-long dinner or a few types of beer with friends on the weekend, it is important to consider the effects of alcohol when it becomes excessive.

Alcohol changes the chemical messages in our brain that control movement, emotion, judgment, speech, behavior and memory. This is why the short-term effects of alcohol consumption, which usually occur during a “big night” of drinking, include poor balance, poor speech, hasty behavior, memory or ‘power outages’, severe emotional responses, and loss of coordination .

In the long run, chronic alcohol use increases the risk of:

brain attack
mental illness
memory loss
depression
Paranoia
Reduced attention span

Alcohol abuse becomes alcohol use when a person’s life is affected by drinking and alcohol use interferes with the ability to function normally. For example, you may:

It affects a person’s ability to work
Manages financial matters
Fulfill their family responsibilities
Dealing with stress
Engage positively with loved ones

If a person becomes dependent on alcohol to cope with daily life, he has reached the level of dependency. This leads to an increase in tolerance, which means that a person’s brain becomes less sensitive to alcohol and therefore the person consumes more in order to experience the physiological and behavioral effects of alcohol.

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Dependency also leads to withdrawal symptoms. The brain and body depend on the frequency of alcohol, so when a person suddenly stops consuming them, the body is deprived of the effects of alcohol and needs time to adapt to its performance. During this adjustment phase, a person experiences side effects, including body shakes, insomnia, nausea and anxiety.

What to expect from a first psychology session

When you visit a doctor because you feel sick, say the flu, you know what to expect from your medical appointment, and you know that you will eventually feel better. But when you make an appointment to see a psychiatrist, do you know what will happen? You may not be sure if it will help you the way you hope. Many people do not know what to expect and are often worried about what lies ahead.

Feeling anxious at first is normal

It is normal to feel anxious when facing a new situation. Our brains are wired to vigorously consider the potential negative consequences of a new situation, as our brain tries to protect us from pain or discomfort. Unfortunately, our brains aren’t always as useful as they are. Often times, the brain’s attempt to protect us from potential pain prevents us from being able to experience positive results that can easily come from the new situation.

A psychology session is basically about problem solving

Our doctors use their training to help you solve the problem that brings you to see them.

Generally, at the beginning of the first session, your doctor will invite you to share what is happening in your life, what is bothering you, and what goals do you want to work together. Your doctor will listen, take notes, and ask questions. You will not be criticized, interrupted, or sentenced. You will be encouraged to speak with honesty and openness completely, but you will not have to talk about things you do not want to talk about (yet or at all). All discussions are kept strictly confidential as psychologists are committed to confidentiality (except where there are clear safety concerns).

During sessions, your doctor will help you practice tools that may better help you achieve your goals, and some may give you “homework” to complete between sessions. Doctors often follow different ways to meet the needs of their clients, but their goal is to help find solutions to a problem that worries you at this time of your life.

How to deal with your first session with a psychiatrist

Remind yourself that it is normal to feel anxious or anxious at first.

Feeling anxious is normal but you don’t have to push your behavior. Remind yourself that you can survive in the first session and you can find that it begins a journey of growth that is of great benefit to you in the long run.

Be as honest as you can be.

This is said to be easier said than done when you are talking to someone you just met but being honest with the psychiatrist and with yourself, from the beginning from the beginning it can be very helpful in building contact with the psychiatrist early and starting treatment where you are in your life at this time and what You want to exit this process.

Keep your mind open to the positive outcomes that can come from this exercise.

Access to treatment has become more popular with the general population in recent years, and many people who have requested this assistance have benefited from it. Try not to allow your mind to falter except in the event of the discomfort that can come from talking to a psychiatrist; open the lens to look at the positive things that you may encounter as a result of working through this process.

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Evaluate yourself enough to keep track of your goals.

No matter what your mind can sometimes convince you, you deserve a satisfying and healthy life. If there are challenges in your life that prevent you from moving forward the way you want, then you deserve time and space to work out what you want and value.

Delaying your child from school – yes or no?

Most school-aged Australian parents have asked themselves, when is the right time to send my child to school? If their birthday is nearing the end of the cutoff period, should you keep them back a year? Or maybe they aren’t just as social as some of the other kids of their age. Is this a reason to delay their start?

Whether or not to delay your child’s start in school is a big decision. But it is also difficult, which can cause parents a lot of stress and anxiety. What is the right thing to do? Should you delay starting your child in school?

Parents struggle to decide whether to delay or not

If you are struggling to make a decision about the age at which to send a child to school, you are not alone. Dr. Emma Jury, a psychologist at the Queensland University of Technology’s Early Childhood School, studied 224,000 public school students over a four-year period. As part of this study, Dr. Emma Jury attended online forums with parents who all found this decision difficult to handle, and often became “overwhelmed, anxious, and stressful.”

The decision was not made easily by the fact that the starting age of the school varies from state to state. Under current laws, there may be children who go to school as young as four and a half, or even as young as six.

Many parents delay their children

Research done by Dr. Emma Jury shows that parents are increasingly holding their children out of school. From 2010 to 2014, the number of children detained in Queensland state schools more than doubled. Across Australia, about 14.5% of parents choose late entry. In New South Wales this number was higher, at 22%. Parents of boys are also likely to be late – 64% of Queensland children are boys.

Parents consider many factors when they decide on the age to send a child to school. One of them is how close the child’s birth date is to the date of cutting. Parents whose child was born just one or two months before the start date of the study, were more likely to delay the start.

But parents also look at social and emotional development issues such as levels of maturity, the ability to stay focused and parenting experiences in school. Parents are likely to delay their children from starting school – 64% of the children in custody were boys.

But do they really give their children an advantage?

What are the advantages?

A Stanford University study found that children who did not go to school even after reaching the age of six scored better scores on self-control, concentration, and time management tests. These “executive functions” are essential for learning and development.

Another study showed that delaying up to seven years of age reduces inactivity and hyperactivity in children by up to 73%. A recent and convincing study from the University of New South Wales found that those who were “restrained” in order to start school at an early age had better results in the developmental stages of their colleagues in younger schools. These results improved for each month they are late.

The biggest advantage of delay is that this increases the amount of time our children can play. Over the past ten years, the first years of school have increasingly focused on playing and more on academics. But a series of research has emphasized the importance of toys to our children’s physical and mental health. Delay means more time for play, and more positive results for our children.

What are the disadvantages?

On the other hand, Dr. Emma Jury believes that while there may be a small advantage to being older than his colleagues at the beginning of the study journey, this advantage diminishes with age.

Holding our children can have negative effects in the education system. It can create a larger gap between younger and older children in the classroom and force teachers to prepare lesson plans that suit a wide range of abilities.

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So, should we delay our children in school?

The research is very clear – there are advantages to our children when we postpone their school start date. Although long-term benefits may be a matter of discussion, delays in the early years can help make the way easier, and lead to positive results for our children.

Young Minds Mental Health First Aid Course

The Youth Mental Health First Aid Course was created by MHFA in Australia, which offers award-winning training in 25 countries. MHFA training is linked to improving knowledge of mental illness and its treatments, appropriate first aid strategies and confidence in providing first aid to individuals with mental illness. Training helps raise awareness and reduce stigma associated with mental illness.

The 14-hour course is designed for adults who work or live with teenagers (12-18 years) – especially suitable for parents, teachers, sports coaches, youth workers and mentoring counselors.

The course covers the signs and symptoms of mental health problems including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, psychosis and substance abuse problems and provides participants with the skills necessary to help adolescents with signs of mental illness.

Participants will learn how to engage with a young person, start a conversation about mental health concerns, and help in the following crises:

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Non-suicidal self-injury
Panic attacks
Shocking events
Severe psychotic states
Severe effects from alcohol or other drug use
Aggressive behaviors

Completing a youth mental health first aid course is beneficial for anyone who spends time with young adults, whether professional or with family and friends. Participants will also learn about adolescent development, where and how to get help for a young person, and the type of help that research has shown to be effective.

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What is the best treatment for anxiety disorders?

Beyond Blue, Beyond Blue is the most common mental health condition in Australia. On average, one in four people – one in three women and one in five men – experience anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. With this in mind, it is important to understand the different treatment options available to people with anxiety disorders, and to keep the disorder under control and under control.

Various types of anxiety

Anxiety can manifest in a number of different ways, and therefore it must be treated in different ways. Not all anxiety disorders are the same or have the same underlying causes. There are three main types of anxiety disorder, including generalized anxiety disorders, social phobia and panic attacks.

Generalized anxiety disorders usually appear in situations of severe anxiety that seem to have a negative or pessimistic world view, assuming the worst will happen. Although it’s natural to worry about life, finance, children and relationships, people with generalized anxiety disorder find it difficult to get to their day, because anxiety can sometimes be consumed and wasted.

Social phobia is another type of anxiety in which a person fears social situations, and prevents them from participating in daily tasks, such as going to work, meeting with friends, and even doing groceries.

Panic disorder is a sudden attack or uncontrollable fear or terrorism, which leads to physical symptoms such as cold sweats and heart palpitations. Panic attacks occur at any time, and the person being attacked may feel a sense of intense fear or impending doom. Panic disorder is one of the most common symptoms with many individuals who have been diagnosed with the disorder, and they meet the criteria for fear of open spaces. A diagnosis of the risk of indoor fear is provided if (a) the patient reports his concern about places or situations in which escape may be difficult or embarrassing or where assistance may not be available immediately, and (b) these situations are avoided or endured with significant disturbance . Patients with panic attacks may appear as qualified individuals and have a full and satisfying life, but beneath the surface they feel very discomfort and often struggle to continue.

Causes of anxiety

Anxiety can be caused by a number of things that are risk factors that contribute to the development of the anxiety state. Such factors include genetic predisposition, stress and lifestyle, chronic health conditions, substance abuse and mental health conditions to name a few.

Sometimes, it raises anxiety or other mental health problems in the family, giving you a genetic predisposition to it. This does not mean that you will definitely have a state of anxiety if your grandmother has experienced it but if you have symptoms of anxiety and know that he works in the family, it would be good to talk to a specialist. You can also think about your personality type because research shows that some types of characters are more likely to develop anxiety disorder. Sometimes people who like self-control or people who lack self-confidence develop anxiety disorders at different stages of their lives.

Persistent stress such as work-related stress; marriage or relationship Stress or painful life events may lead to the development of a state of anxiety. It is important to recognize stress and manage symptoms by talking to friends, family and a professional.

Chronic health such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma and other major physical illnesses face a challenge to meet the reality of the disease and are often concerned about the impact of the disease. In the face of problems that the disease places on daily life such as monitoring and self-treatment and its impact on relationships. Lack of sleep, less self-confidence and less self-esteem can contribute to this disease.

How do drugs and alcohol affect anxiety?

Dealing with anxiety can be difficult and some anxiety sufferers turn to alcohol or drugs to manage symptoms. Unfortunately, the immediate effect of a substance that may appear to be effective, often leads to long-term addiction or drug use and may worsen the condition.

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Anxiety treatments

Each person is different from how he deals with anxiety and what may provoke the appearance of anxiety or a panic attack, which is why it is important to recognize your signs and individual symptoms and seek professional help. Ideally, a team of health professionals will work together to present a comprehensive mental plan that fits the individual. In terms of psychotherapy for anxiety, modern therapy has proven effective by providing the individual with personalized strategies for managing symptoms of anxiety.

Modern therapy known as modern CBT is often known to change the patterns of beliefs and thinking that lead to certain behaviors, namely anxiety. CBT depends on the fact that negative thinking is a habit, and like any other bad habit, it can be modified.

Depression in children

It is normal for children and teenagers to feel angry or angry from time to time. But when these difficult feelings begin to prolong longer periods of time, they may begin to affect the child’s ability to work as they usually do. This may be a sign of depression.

Similar to adults with depression, children or adolescents with depression may experience:

Sadness or irritability
Blaming oneself, feeling guilty, or feeling worthless
Difficulties with focus
Changes in sleep or appetite
Lose interest in activities they usually enjoy
You may withdraw from their friends or family
It is difficult for them to motivate them to make an effort to do simple things
Some people may also have thoughts of suicide or self-harm

Depression can also manifest in a number of different ways, and it can be difficult to determine. Low energy and loss of interest may look like laziness or not trying. Irritability or a low mood can seem like a challenge or disrespect.

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What can I do?

If you think your child or teenager is suffering from depression, talk to your child about his feelings or feel curious about things that may happen at home or at school that might bother him. Validate their feelings and show that you understand that things may not be easy for them. Encourage participation in physical activity and use of other creative outlets, such as writing, coloring, music, sports or dance. Make sure you sleep well and routine, and that they eat a lot of nutritious food.

Seek support from your doctor or psychiatrist if some of these difficulties persist for more than a few weeks.

Check out blogging and blogging of my colleagues on the topic of depression, including the role of nutrition and stimulating behavior and online resources for depression.

Depression treatment: behavioral stimulation

One of the main signs of depression is a noticeable decrease in interest or pleasure in almost all activities. People may become uninterested in their hobbies, report loss of enjoyment, withdraw from social and recreational activities and report that they “no longer care”. People can also experience fatigue, energy loss, general downturn and report that simple tasks require massive effort and lead to fatigue.

So it is understood that people suffering from depression have a significant decrease in their daily performance. This could include changes such as: not seeing friends, stopping playing sports, neglecting responsibilities such as cleaning the house, not completing completed work / education projects, and even struggling to shower regularly or get out of bed.

One way to break this cycle is to gradually increase your level of activity. This is often called behavioral activation and it works in many ways. By taking steps to be more active, over time, you will usually start to find some fun in the activities, feel comfortable about yourself to accomplish some things, see things from a different perspective, give yourself a break from anxiety and boldness, and improve your health and energy levels in the body And creating beneficial changes in the body’s chemistry.

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Of course this seems easier than done. I often talk to people who say things like “I couldn’t go for the usual bike rides, it looks too far”, “There is so much mess in the laundry and I couldn’t even cope with it”, “I’ve never seen my friend through the ages, but the idea of going to a birthday party Their birth tomorrow night is very stressful “or” it seemed very difficult to get out of bed. ”

So, here are some very important and helpful tips to keep in mind when starting behavioral activation

Set regular goals – try to be specific about when / what activity you will aim to do. The more specific you are, the more useful it is for you, and writing a plan can also be useful.

Take small steps – remember to be gentle and to adjust your expectations. Setting a very large goal is one of the main reasons people struggle to take the first step. For example, taking a nice walk around the block (instead of going to the gym), making your bed (rather than cleaning the whole room) are great steps that may be more realistic.

Try a variety of activities – choose some fun activities that may lead to some pleasant feelings, as well as some activities that may seem boring (for example, taking out trash, and rating some papers). Even these “boring” activities can lead to a sense of accomplishment or ideas that make some progress in them.

Consider setting a time for your target goal – for example, working on this task for 5 minutes, instead of sticking to it until it completes. Or read for 5 minutes, instead of completing an entire chapter.

Encourage yourself and mobilize some support – remind yourself why you are committed to activities, and ask your friend or family to offer some gentle encouragement.

Be flexible – if you can’t really accomplish the desired goal, don’t give up. Be flexible. What is a small step you can take towards your goal instead? For example, if you are not able to leave the house to do some gentle exercises, can you do some exercises at home? If you are not able to wash the dog, can you prepare all the equipment for tomorrow or play with the dog for a while instead?

Finally, follow what you notice. Pay attention to how you feel before and after the activity. Remember that you may not always feel better right away, but you may feel a sense of accomplishment.

Mental health awareness: when to seek help

September is the month of mental health awareness and here at Prosper Health Collective we thought it might be helpful to explore when it might be time to reach psychological support. As we all know, life is rarely without challenges. However, there are occasions when we can all feel confused and feel isolated or it is impossible to move forward. We can all feel this way sometimes, and it’s very important to know that help is available for every problem in your life.

Some common reasons people visit a psychiatrist:

Depression / low mood
Anxiety / phobia
Loss of a loved one / pets
Stress
Workplace difficulties
School-based difficulties
Family and relationship difficulties
Friendship difficulties
Unhealthy habits
Addiction
Adapt to new life conditions
Sleep difficulties
Support with parenting
social support
Emotional regulation
clear mind
Maintain well-being

It is important to know that you are not alone and that a psychologist will have strategies, tools and a set of unbiased support ears to listen to you and support you throughout these times. It is important to reach support when your problem or challenge affects you several times a week, or affects your life (such as stopping you from doing something). For some people, support can be specific and look at a specific area or difficulty. For others it may be more general. Nor is it uncommon for people to receive psychological support to maintain their health, perhaps through a regular monthly appointment.

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