I think there's a lesson for us all there. Sometimes, when that anxiety is really biting and you can't settle to anything, it's not as easy as taking a few deep breaths and meditating. In fact, many people tell me they really find it hard to meditate when the anxiety is at its worst. So, it's important to have a few other tricks up your sleeve.

Panic attacks are extremely frightening to experience. They are also unpredictable and can seem to happen anywhere...

Symptoms such as lethargy, depression, overeating, irritability, sleep disorders and generally feeling down and anti-social can all be signs of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). We feel our mood slump as the days get shorter and darker, the cold sets in and all the seasonal bugs start attacking. However, we don’t have to give in to those feelings of depression and despondency. Here are my top tips for staying healthy and happy until the welcome warmth of spring returns.

When you think about anxiety and what that would look or feel like, you might imagine someone shaking, sweating and looking tense or nervous. However, anxiety doesn’t always show itself that way. So, I’m going to look at seven less obvious signs of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD). If you’ve been experiencing one or more of these symptoms, you may actually be suffering from GAD and just not realised it.

At the end of the day, think about what you achieved and what went well. Focus on that. Anything you didn’t get time to do can now wait. So, just make a note of what needs doing tomorrow and then leave it at your desk and switch off.

You listen to yourself all day long. Imagine that you are constantly hypnotising yourself because that's what's happening. You can either encourage yourself and build yourself up or you can knock yourself down and eventually fail, just because you have convinced yourself that it's a fact. Is it time to start making some changes and turn that inner critic into a cheerleader?

With many adults going back to work and children preparing to return to school, many people are feeling quite anxious about what the future holds. If you suffer from anxiety, the last few months have likely offered some respite from the normal stresses of everyday life. You might have enjoyed the feeling of being cocooned and safe and not be relishing the thought of stepping back into the “real” world, even without the worry of COVID-19. The latest messages from the governmen

During times of stress (such as a global pandemic and social isolation for example 😉) we often find it much harder to put in the time and effort really needed to truly look after ourselves and our mental health. Your usual routine may have gone to pot and you may be feeling less than happy right now.

I think we can all agree that this is a very strange and worrying time we are all going through. You may be surrounded by family and find yourself really busy trying t¢¢o work from home as well as educate and entertain your children. You may be living alone and seeing very few people. You may still be going out to work as a key worker who is helping to keep the world turning and make sure the rest of us are being fed and cared for. Perhaps you have had to separate from your f

What is it? We all experience a sense of fear or worry at times. We may feel anxious about an exam, interview or public performance of some kind. There have been times when we’ve all found ourselves worrying about a sick friend or relative or an overdue bill that needs paying. It is normal to feel anxious under certain circumstances and these feelings are useful as they encourage us to take the situation seriously and think about what sort of action we need to take. However,

Have you ever had that feeling that you just aren't clever enough, qualified enough, experienced enough or generally good enough to deserve the job or position you hold? It is extremely common. It is known as "imposter syndrome" and can affect men and women of all ages. Read more in this blog post.

Do you struggle through the festive season? Whether you are suffering bereavement, ill health, depression, anxiety or financial issues, please take a look at my latest vlog and get in touch if you would like to talk.

I talk a lot about the important connection between our thoughts, emotions and behaviours and how each one has such an important effect on the others. This month's vlog explains more... If you find yourself continuously thinking negative thoughts, feeling constantly sad, anxious or stressed or you have got into the habit of acting in a particular way that you feel is unhelpful, please do get in touch for a chat or book an appointment. I now see clients in Plympton or I can co

A phobia is an excessive and irrational reaction to a particular object, scenario, place or person. Phobias quite often interfere with a person’s daily life and can make things quite difficult. Someone with a phobia will go out of their way to avoid the feared object, person or place. Phobia are most often developed in childhood or early adulthood. Read more in my blog post.

Practising gratitude really works for me when I am feeling a bit fed up and focusing on all the negative things and I know it works for my clients, too. It is easy to get into that downward spiral when things aren’t going to plan or you’re feeling a bit low. However, focusing on your problems really doesn’t help. Instead, you need to turn those thoughts to all the many positive aspects of your life. Simply focusing on the positives breaks that pattern.

It is believed that we all have certain needs that motivate our behaviour. Abraham Maslow, a humanist psychologist first developed his famous hierarchy of 5 human needs in the 1940's. Since then they have been criticised, revised and added to but I tend to stick to the five categories. This is a very simple outline of how Maslow's Hierarchy could help you achieve a happier life. Maslow shows these 5 needs as a pyramid and he taught that the bottom levels needed to be fulifill

You may be diagnosed with panic disorder if you have sudden, extreme anxiety attacks or panic attacks that seem to happen regularly and out of the blue. Read my blog to find out more about what you can do to help yourself.

Avoidance is very common but what we have to recognise is that none of these outside factors are the cause of the anxiety. It is all coming from inside. As soon as you avoid one situation or try to take control of your anxiety with a certain type of behaviour, another situation will take its place. Read more about avoidant behaviours and habits...

Many people who suffer from anxiety have a really hard time with uncertainty. They want to know what is going to happen, when and why and find it really difficult to "go with the flow". They want to prepare for every eventuality and find it really hard to just wait and see what happens. Can you relate to any of this? If you find it hard to tolerate uncertainty, you might find yourself always preparing for the worst. Read more...