Self-help is big business. And if self-help is empowering people, then it’s also common sense that health professionals are prescribing more than conventional medicine to their patients being treated for various psychological problems. On one level, self-help could be something like surrounding ourselves with things that lift our thoughts – photos of family and friends, art, flowers, etcetera. Things that
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Published on NewsLocal publications: Hills Shire Times. Parramatta Advertiser. Rouse Hill Times. Got to love Australia Day! Of course one of the highlights is the ‘Australians of the Year Awards’. Nominations include exemplary Aussies from a variety of walks of life, among whom are avid health academics and advocates. Ita Buttrose is our ‘Australian of the Year’. Besides her historical
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Holidays usually invoke happy thoughts. But for some it is a dreaded time bringing sadness more than joy. Thoughts of not being appreciated or loved, missing a loved one through loss, loneliness (even in a crowd), disappointment and stress can be repetitive negative thoughts – like mental bullies. There’s truth in, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is
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Published on NewsLocal: Hills Shire Times; Parramatta Advertiser; Blacktown Advertiser; Rouse Hill Times. From early on most of us learn that giving is better than receiving. However, my dear aunty was in for a bit of a shock when she presented me with a beautifully wrapped gift in the shape of a tennis racquet for my twelfth birthday. I already
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Published on-line North Shore Times (NewsLocal) It can be confusing, disempowering and frightening trying to find the right healthcare solutions, especially if we’re not feeling up to the task. We may even feel that health is a gamble and that we’re lucky or unlucky according to the genes we’ve inherited. Reports of conflicting research findings, warnings from media outlets and
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Published on NewsLocal publications. October was chock-full with several good health causes like Nutrition Week and Ocscober (abstinence from drink for the month), and Droptober (encouraging all of us to drop 2 kilos). Now we’re at the close of the month, one wonders how those who partook are faring – indeed it’s not just about a particular month.
First published on NewsLocal publications. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”* – is often easier said than done. In ancient times if your behaviour was considered outside of the “norm” you’d have been labelled “mad”. And if you were unfortunate enough to have been afflicted by a disease people might have accused you of being cursed by
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First published on NewsLocal publications. For some parents back-to-school day is a nightmare. Particularly if their children don’t want to go. Bullying, including cyber-bullying, fear of not being accepted, body image issues – and the list goes on – are very real concerns for the mental health and wellbeing of our youth today. Though we’ve progressed from 15th Century thinking,
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Published in News Local publications I giggled when I found a weather forecast website that included something called the “frizz factor”. If you’re bald or gifted with hair that does what you want it to do, then you probably don’t care about this statistic. The same might be true for the pollen count. If you, or your friends and family
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Published in News Local publications Medical mysteries that require massive amounts of money for research are dampening people’s patience, faith, and hope. World Alzheimer’s Day and Dementia Awareness Week knock at the door of thought regarding such mysteries.
