Mental Health Week

 

Mental Health week begins on Monday Oct 10th, with the overall objective of raising awareness of mental health issues and mobilizing efforts in support of mental health.

This provides an opportunity for all stakeholders working on mental health issues to talk about their work, and what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people everywhere.

As part of our campaign in support of mental health awareness, we have created a series of short videos along with some tips, delivered by our wellness expert, Psychotherapist and Counselling Psychologist Sinead Lynch. We hope these may help empower you to take control of your mood and understand that you can positively influence your own happiness. Starting today!

Looking after you always.....

 
 

What’s the secret to being happy? The truth is, happiness comes from within. You can learn how to do it, just as you can learn any other skill. Those who are happy tend to follow a certain set of habits that create peace in their lives and if you learn to apply these habits in your own life, there’s a good chance you’ll be happy too.

 

Everyone has Stress – It’s how you handle it!

HOW TO KNOW THAT STRESS IS GETTING ON TOP OF YOU

Everyone has stress, but how do you know when you need to do something about it? Some common signs include:

  • A problem area of your life dominates your attention
  • You feel that your resources are not sufficient to meet the demands on you
  • Sleeping is disrupted, or your drinking and eating habits may change 
  • You feel constantly on alert, and under threat

If you are feeling stressed on a on-going basis, seek help. Stress demands our attention so don't ignore it. Talk to your GP, friend or family member. 

TAKE CONTROL OF STRESS

Take control of stress instead of letting it control you...
We all experience stress.  It's our response to what happens and RESPONSE is something we can choose.

STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH STRESS

Managing stress – the basics
When stressed, the basics become more important. Make sure you have enough time in your life for exercise, healthy eating and adequate sleep. 

Breathing your way to relaxation
Taking just 2 minutes to take deep, slow focused breaths is one of the fastest ways to calm the body’s stress response.

Act on what you can – and put everything else aside
When you notice yourself worrying, ask yourself ‘is there an effective action I can take now which will deal with this situation?’ If the answer is yes, take that action.  If you choose not to take action you will remain in the stress cycle.

Mindfulness to enhance productivity and enjoyment
Mindfulness is a process of focused, non-judgemental attention on the present moment.  By being mindful in your life, in work, leisure and family settings, you enhance your appreciation of the moment. It does not change difficult feelings like anger or frustration, but it will help focus your resources on dealing with the situation as well as possible.