Enjoy every day of Mindful March.
Allow all the daily tips to connect .
Feel the benefits grow exponentially.
See you at the 31st.
Category: Therapy
-
Feeling anxious about life going ‘back to normal’? 5 Top tips for managing the transition
With the easing of restrictions and suggestions that we are closing in on the final chapters of the pandemic, there are numerous reasons to feel optimistic that we may soon return to a ‘normal life ’.
Just imagine no face masks, no Covid tests and no more social distancing, sounds good , right?
Taking off a Face mask However it’s understandable to feel nervous and anxious about this new transitional stage and the changes associated with it. Trust me you are not alone if you feel this way.
Our minds and bodies have been on “Red Alert” for a long time now about protecting our health and any sudden changes to our behaviour may cause fear and confusion and an increased risk of social anxiety.
We may feel that we are under scrutiny and overthink our interactions with others around us leading to even more anxious feelings.
Here are my 5 top tips for coping with the easing of restrictions:
1.Drop feeling guilty
It’s okay to feel anxious and by acknowledging and accepting this it will free up your feelings instead of bottling them up. Changes are going to happen and you don’t have to be ecstatic about it. Chat to friends and colleagues you may be surprised to find you are not alone feeling the way you do.
2. Pace yourself
It’s going to be strange for all of us for a while as we meditate our way from where we were to where we are going. Others might be happy to jump right back into work, pubs and clubs whereas others might not be too keen.
What is important is that you increase exposure at your own pace and find what is comfortable for you, such as , continuing to wear a mask for a while. Furthermore be honest and open about how you feel in a non judgmental way. It’s not about being right or wrong, it’s just the way you feel.
3.Dealing with peer pressure
It can be difficult to hold your position when others around you are doing something different and you are getting pressurised into conforming. However a good way to deal with this is to explain how you feel and that you appreciate the way they feel and all you are asking for is reciprocation. Just be like one of the dragons on “Dragons Den”, when they don’t like the deal on offer they say, “I’m Out”.
4.Be present focused
Our bodies are always present however our minds can be in the past, present or future.
Using mindfulness techniques such as, 54321, can really focus our minds on the here and now. This can be easier said than done so practice is key , the more you practice being present the easier it will become.
54321 mindfulness 5. Recognise your achievements
The last two years have brought on many changes, requiring adaptive behaviour at every turn. Just take time out to reflect on how you have managed this by being flexible in your work, family and social life. Nothing worthwhile is easy and by recognising you have come this far, all you need to do is trust yourself to keep going and be open about getting professional help to see you through to the finish line.
David McAllister
Anxiety and Phobia Management Specialist
0858435939
-
You don’t have to be Charles Dickens to make a difference.
Dickens was of course a great story teller and he drew from his life experiences, everything that went on around him. But he was also a social reformer, challenging the authorities to review and change the circumstances of the poor and working classes.
He lived in a time of great industrial and social upheaval, the heady days of Victorian Britain, a place of both wealth and poverty
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
― Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
Therefore he not only put his thoughts down in words, he also took action with a sense of purpose. We can all do this, don’t doubt yourself, you like me can help another person.
So don’t wait for the best of times to get started , lighten the burden today.
-
You don’t have to be Charles Dickens to make a difference.
Dickens was of course a great story teller and he drew from his life experiences, everything that went on around him. But he was also a social reformer, challenging the authorities to review and change the circumstances of the poor and working classes.
He lived in a time of great industrial and social upheaval, the heady days of Victorian Britain, a place of both wealth and poverty
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.”
― Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
Therefore he not only put his thoughts down in words, he also took action with a sense of purpose. We can all do this, don’t doubt yourself, you like me can help another person.
So don’t wait for the best of times to get started , lighten the burden today.
-
Breathing in the sun for natural growth
Sunshine herb garden Just breathing in the morning sun aside my herb garden. Watching them grow from seeds to now has given me an enormous sense of happiness and well-being.
A little bit of food and water, a touch of warmth and TLC can bring so many positive benefits.
Our self limiting beliefs and toxic environments may stunt our potential for growth but through choices and action this can change.
Therapy comes in many forms as does growth.
Seasons come and go. Don’t let another slip by.
Breath in the sun and watch how you to can grow.
-
The Stroop Effect Myth or Reality?
The Stroop Test Just been helping my daughter with her science project with one of my all time favourite psychological experiments. The Stroop Test.
Although used for assessing attention deficiencies and brain injury disorders it can also help people become more aware of how we process information and how we can improve our attention span and focused attention.
Try it out you might just surprise yourself : https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/words.html
For any more information please feel free to contact me:
-
Now you come to mention it Yes I am stressed and anxious.
Anxiety Stressed Stress and anxiety are in my experience involved in a great many of the causes for clients coming for hypnotherapy.
People looking for hypnotherapy may present with an issue such as smoking or weight loss however I see stress and anxiety as an underlying cause and can lead to many problems if ignored.
Relaxation exercises, and other stress management techniques can be very useful in overcoming stress and anxiety caused by everyday life. So much so I utilise these frequently.
Due to a variety of socio-economic conditions, stress and anxiety have now become more widely recognised by both individuals and employers. Globally thousands of work days are lost to these conditions .
In addition there is great personal anxiety which can lead to relationship tension , depression, panic attacks and many other problems.
Effective stress and anxiety management means not just dealing with the presenting stress and anxiety but to also help to avoid reaching high stress and anxiety levels in the first place. Hypnosis can help by:
>Creating an understanding about the reasons and factors underlying stress and anxiety.> Teaching relaxation techniques so you can develop new ways to relax naturally and easily.
>Reframing thinking to help with panic attacks, anxiety and fears.Remember stress and anxiety can cause problems in very clever and unhelpful ways. But it doesn’t have to be like this, even if you don’t think you have choices- you do.
We might not be able to avoid stress and anxiety and indeed we all need a little edge to keep us alive but let’s take action before it gets too much to handle.
Stay safe and for any further information please feel free to contact me:
-
Poll: Has the pandemic affected your mental health? · TheJournal.ie
The Covid-19 pandemic has taken its toll on many people.
— Read on www.thejournal.ie/mental-health-covid-19-2-5176991-Aug2020/Nearly 60 % of people surveyed said their mental health has been affected during this pandemic.
It doesn’t all have to be like this.
Let’s do something together to change this affect.
This is a global phenomenon so no one should be left behind.
So if you’re one of the 60% or not sure how you feel then take action now.
There is no need to suffer alone people like me are here to help so get the help you need.
-
Supporting men’s mental health week 2020
Anxietyclinicdublin supports men’s mental health week 2020 Proud to support men’s mental health week 2020
-
How you can stop feeling self conscious
One of the most common signs of anxiety is self consciousness. It’s not unusual for people to think that others are talking about them or feel negatively towards them.This “what will people think” mindset causes much anxiety.
Am I self conscious?
This can Result in paranoia and is almost certainly only “in the mind” of the person who experiences it. The idea that they are in the forefront of someone else’s mind is simply not true. In the same way we are in our own little bubble thinking about ourselves, they are doing the same. We are not in other people’s thinking as much as we like to think.
When you are anxious you look for clues to validate your belief that people are secretly talking about you behind your back or thinking bad about you. You become a “mind reader” where you actually think you know what other people are thinking about you. In reality people aren’t walking around thinking about you.
Tips on how to stop feeling self conscious
It’s funny when you mind read though, you never think that they think anything nice about you! It’s always negative. Yet if you really could read minds you would be rich, you’d be on TV you’d be a celebrity. Are you any of these things? No. So you can’t read minds so it’s just paranoid thinking then.
So whenever you try to “read people’s minds” there’s usually only 1 outcome. You will think something negative. It’s rare you will ever think “they think I’m great”. Let’s face it not everyone will like us in life. Do you like everyone you meet? No. If people like us that’s great if they don’t well that’s their loss.This is key to how to stop feeling self conscious.
Please absorb this!
You weren’t put here to please people, if they don’t like your personality it’s fine. You don’t like everyone’s personality either. It works both ways. Some people will like you some won’t. It’s the way it’s always been. So when you accept this it creates peace. It gives you closure. You stop bending your personality to try to please people. They aren’t bending to please you. All you do is lose yourself when you try to please everyone.
It’s time to take back control of your thoughts and feelings.If you need one to one help to combat the above you can call me on:
-
Let’s talk about scrabble
anxietyclinicdublin.com Some games are more insightful than others. If your scrabble board looks like this …it’s time to talk
-
To the mothers of the world
Where does this begin?
On the first day, the touch, the warm embrace, the sweetest connection.
The sternest of protection for your own good.
An omnipresence of values taught through time reflecting on generations past.
That ethereal knowledge, forged in chaos to be resolved in one woman.
On this day on all days remember:
Mama knows best.
Respect
anxietyclinicdublin.com -
…and that’s okay
I love this…now.
I was sceptical at first about this but you know in the therapy business and indeed in any walk of life you have to give things a go.
Give it a try and keep using it.
You, like me, might just surprise yourself.
Anxietyclinicdublin.com -
Onychophagia (Nail Biting)
Have you ever tried to stop biting your nails and still can’t?
I know how you feel as a kid I remember different “cures” to stop nail biting , you may be familiar with some of these:
- Wear mittens or gloves , ok in winter, but summer time, really?
- Cut them so short that there is no nails to bite, but sure you just move onto the skin then, yes?
- Nail varnish. Guess what some boys (and girls) don’t like it.
- Mustard or Marmite(probably UK only!) pasted onto your fingers. A bit smelly but you just get used to the flavour or wash it off.
Of course I don’t remember any of these “cures” being that effective.
Indeed I still recall watching my then girlfriend bite and chew her nails and skin in front of me as if it was a normal thing to do.
You are special as a person so why leave your recovery to chance?
In all my years as a therapist working with anxiety sufferers I have no doubts that nail biting along with blushing, more often than not, have a common source so by managing your anxiety you can also manage your nailing biting.
It’s 2024 there is no need for anybody to endure painful disfigured fingernails and skin. I’m sure you’ll agree.
Please pass this on to anyone who you think may be interested in this topic and if they want further information then sure I’d be happy to help.
anxietyclinicdublin.comContact
Anxiety Clinic Dublin 