How Addiction Affects Relationships Secure functioning relationships cannot exist while addiction is present. Substance abuse and addiction have many costs and one of the greatest comes to close relationships. Romantic relationships affected by addiction tend to involve far more conflict than most relationships. Broken trust, hurt feelings and anxiety are side effects of substance abuse…

Facts About Stress According to the Oxford Dictionary, stress is a condition in which we experience tension, pressure or a demand on physical or mental energy. In the everyday world, stress can be a motivating factor. It gets us out of bed in the morning, and enables us to do what we know we have…

How to have an alcohol-free festive season For many of us, alcohol is an essential part of the festive season.  Sharing a drink with coworkers, friends, or family is tradition – and then of course, if some of those people get to you, you might feel you really need to drink to survive a party or dinner…

Gardening as Therapy For many of us, gardening seems to soothe the spirit. You might not be surprised to hear, then, that gardening has actual therapeutic properties.  A recent survey even found that 80% of participants who garden considered themselves happy and content with their lives. Some of the therapeutic qualities of gardening include: –…

Recognising A Panic Attack Maybe you’ve experienced something like this before: One day, out of nowhere, you suddenly become short of breath. Your heart is racing and you feel dizzy and lightheaded.  You’re convinced that you’re dying, that this is the sign of some serious ailment. But if you go to the doctor -or even…

Strategies for managing anxiety Anxiety is the most common mental health issue in Australia, with millions of us suffering from it.  This may not be due to our environment or circumstances; studies have shown that brain chemicals play a major role in how we deal with stressful or difficult situations, and how anxious we generally…

Now that the holiday season is behind us and the kids are back at school, for most people the regular rhythm of daily life has recommenced. Given that many of us have wandered back into our usual groove and past habits, I wonder if this is a good time to take stock? Maybe you have…