Christmas and Psychological Health

Christmas is a time when many people become overwhelmed and are challenged by the demands they put on themselves as much as that received by others.   Without due attention to your health – psychological as well as physical -the result can be anxiety, panic attacks and later depression.

Take responsibility for yourself this Christmas – our psychological health is affected by overindulgence in food and alcohol – coupled with expectation and disappointments in family interactions, it is the recipe for psychological disequilibrium.

Take time to reflect on your life and the quality of your relationships this Christmas – what do you want your life to be about and how can you take responsibility for bringing this about? – don’t be a victim and blame the world for what you don’t have – ask yourself  ‘What can I do to bring about the life I want to lead’. Then after the celebrations, Christmas will have been a time for enhancing your and other people’s lives.

Post Natal Depression

Post Natal Depression is a painful and alarming condition which many mothers experience after the birth of their child.  It is often a surprise to the sufferer or people around them who may have anticipated the birth of a new child with excitement, expecting everything to be fine despite the inevitable tiredness.

Many things contribute to Post Natal Depression.  The mother’s body has undergone enormous change and hormonal changes contribute to unexpected and overwhelming emotions.  Changes in everyday life, routine, real and p,erceived status all contribute to the enormous change the mother is undergoing.

Additionally, the enormity of the responsibility for another person’s life can be overwhelming, making the mother feel fearful of her ability to fulfil its demands.  Bigger questions arise in terms of questioning the world she has brought her child into and whether she will be able to protect and prepare them for the future.  These complex issues combine to overwhelm and often result in post natal depression.  A multi-faceted approach is required to assist the sufferer physically, emotionally, socially and existentially.  Counselling plays a major part in assisting the mother to re-make sense of her life and develop strategies to begin this new journey.

The Anxiety of Overwhelm

Anxiety often results when we have unrealistic expectations or timescales of what we think we must, should or ought to be doing.  Modern living has become so busy that many of us feel overwhelmed at how we can do it all and have time to reflect on what we want our lives to be like.   At worse, we feel inadequate or weak when we become anxious since people around might seem to sail through with little difficulty.  This sense of inferiority or lack in ourselves lowers our self esteem increasing our anxiety, resulting in panic or its counterpart, depression.

I ask my clients  suffering from anxiety or panic atacks, ‘What is this trying to tell you about your life choices? What are you doing that might contribute to your anxiety or what are you refusing to look at in your life?‘  By understanding the language of your panic and anxiety, you can make changes to your life or beliefs that will liberate you and help you live more pleasurably.