Many clients present for counselling because of “stress” and its associated links to anxiety, depression and relationship problems.
November 1st was National Stress Awareness Day and this article from breaks down simply what stress is.
Adrenaline is a hormone many people are familiar with but cortisol is often less in the public awareness.
Over the past seven years my community based work as a therapist and in advocacy roles has put me face to face with the harsh effects of economic recession.
I have worked with many individuals & families experiencing first hand the effects of sudden homelessness, unexpected unemployment and serious accommodation issues to name but a few.
These experiences have repeatedly brought home to me how economic recession and the “boom bust” nature of the business cycle has serious implications for the nations mental health.
As we experience a new part of this cycle, it is worth pausing to think about whether our current approach to areas like health, housing and employment has evolved at all in light of recent experiences.
This becomes more urgent when considering impending changes to global corporate tax policy, Brexit and our growing/ageing population are all likely to figure in the next phase of this cycle.
This article highlights results of research led by Trinity College Dublin (based on the Growing Up in Ireland study) and puts some data and context behind the discussion.
An article by leading Irish child and adolescent psychotherapist Colm Noctor, providing insights for parents facing the challenges of children immersed in an era of increased technology & ever changing forms of social media.
With anxiety, sleep disruption and other problematic issues becoming increasingly evident linked to the impact of social media on both how we relate to ourselves and our external world, psychotherapy can be an effective intervention to relieve distress linked to an environment driven by technology.
Rapid developments in neuroscience are increasing knowledge of how the brain responds to different mental health interventions.
The below article explains recent research using a functional MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) brain scan to explore how some clients may respond better to talk therapy and others to medication when tacking depression.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/03/170324083023.htm
The below article from the Irish times explores how difficult support for mental health concerns like anxiety can be in Ireland and also how confusing the current system is to navigate.