Misconceptions about schizophrenia are perpetuating a stigma that has long existed. For many people their knowledge on schizophrenia comes from what they have seen in the movies that portrays an extreme version that does not represent the majority of people with this illness.
Bipolar gets thrown around when somebody’s mood appears to shift up and down quite quickly; the suggestion being that the persons noticeable shifts in mood are so problematic that they must be unwell. The reality with bipolar is quite different.
Research currently suggests behavioural addiction involves engaging in a behaviour that a person gains relief from and craves in the short term, but experiences negative consequences and does not give up despite negative consequences in the long term. Read the full article for more information on behavioural addiction including recognising emerging behaviours and tips for managing these.
If you are starting out with building a meditation practice there are a few tips that could help you to form a lasting habit. Here we offer some suggestions for building your mediation practice.
Everyone has heard of meditation. Some people practice it regularly, some like the idea of it but don’t get any further, others have tried it, and some just don’t think it’s for them. In this article, we debunk some of the myths about meditation ahead of next months article which will explore the benefits of meditation followed by learning the basics of meditation.
“Mad!”, “Crazy!”, “Bonkers!”, “Off with the Fairies!” These and worse words have been used to describe people experiencing psychosis. But what is psychosis? Psychosis refers to a state of mind when a person has become disconnected from reality in their thinking and perceptions. This means that their thinking has been affected and may be jumbled or confusing. When someone’s thinking is affected it might present as someone not making much sense, talking in circles or conversations going off on tangents.
Statistics suggest that 1 in 4 adults in Australia will experience an anxiety disorder across the life span. That is over two million people every 12 month who will have a diagnosable anxiety condition. Anxiety can be experienced without it being a disorder. Disorders of anxiety develop when anxiety symptoms reach a level that they begin to interfere with someone’s functioning such as study, work, social interactions or basic daily living. Read our full article for more on anxiety and tips for managing these symptoms.
Most of us have heard about the concept of gratitude. It either sparks interest or feels a little too contrived. The idea of appreciating things and expressing our gratitude for those things can feel uncomfortable. Understanding the benefits and how gratitude works can help with shifting this resistance.
We often hear the terms self-esteem, confidence, or self-worth. For most people, these terms are viewed as positive qualities that are possessed by individuals who have their lives put together and are living a healthy, balanced lifestyle. They generally aren't qualities that we are taught to develop in school. For a lot of people, the mentality of ‘harden up’, or ‘get over it’ were more likely to be the way of thinking that we were taught.
The effects of sleep deprivation are well known. We have all heard the saying ‘you woke up on the wrong side of the bed’. Sleep deprivation has been named the second biggest killer on the roads after alcohol due to the profound effects it can have on our functioning. But, just how much does sleep affect our mental health and is this worse for someone experiencing a mental illness?
