When you think of older people, what comes to mind? Most likely, you think of a frail older man or woman sitting in a rocking chair on the porch with his or her grandchild. This image is often comforting, but it’s not always accurate. As life expectancy increases, so will the number of seniors needing support as they navigate this time in their lives.
Let’s take a look at the five ways you can support mental wellness for the elderly through compassion and care.
Mental Health: Dementia and Depression
Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every person realises their unique potential and can cope with the everyday stresses of life. It encompasses our emotions, beliefs, thoughts, and behaviours related to our physical and spiritual health.
Studies have found that over 50 per cent of older adults with dementia experience depression. This figure becomes even more striking when considering that depression rates are higher in women than men. Depression can lead to loneliness and feeling disconnected from society, which might be exacerbated for those who aren’t familiar with mental health issues.
Depression can also lead to poor self-care behaviours like eating poorly or not taking care of personal hygiene because they cannot enjoy their day-to-day activities such as cooking or cleaning. People may find it challenging to socialise during this time because they’re trying so hard not to feel negative emotions like sadness or anger that might come up unexpectedly during a conversation.
It can be worth discussing how they can get support from a care facility such as Oakland Care where they will have round the clock care and support for their mental and physical wellbeing.
5 Ways to Support Mental Health
1. Be a friend
One of the most important things you can do to support mental health in the elderly is being a friend. It’s easy to think of someone who is elderly as being alone, but they don’t want to be. They rely on friends and family members more than ever before. This can help provide them with some comfort and companionship during difficult times.
2. Have compassion for them
It’s good to show seniors compassion when they need it the most. Not only will this improve their mental health, but it will also give you the chance to see a side of your loved one that you might not know about otherwise.
3. Offer loving care
It’s essential for all people in your life, including elderly family members, friends or caregivers, to remember that every person is different and deserves love on their terms. The elderly need specific forms of care and various types of love depending on their circumstances.
4. Send cards or gifts
Gifts sent with care can help people feel less alone and know they have support. Choosing something special to them.
5 Get help
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is to contact a medical professional such as a GP or hospital doctor who can get them the proper care.
Above all, make sure they are well supported and cared for.
This article was written by a freelance writer and contains affiliate links.
What are co occurringmental health disorder and substance abuse?
A co-occurring disorder is when a person is battling some kind of mental health issue alongside substance abuse like drugs and alcohol addiction. Both SUDs and mental health issues share a strong link. In fact, it’s estimated that almost half the individuals suffering from one will develop the other at some time or another.
It’s not uncommon for substance abuse to fuel a co-occurring disorder and vice-versa. The severity of both can also increase over time.
The most common mental health issues to co-occur alongside SUD are –
Anxiety Disorders – Social anxiety and general anxiety share a strong link with marijuana abuse. Almost 19% of people in the US have some kind of anxiety disorder. GAD, social anxiety, and panic disorder can also increase the odds of co-occurring issues.
Personal Disorders – In terms of the general population, around 10-15% suffer from personality disorders. When we talk about those suffering from addiction and substance abuse, the rate is an astounding 35-70%. The commonest personality disorders in those battling SUD are – borderline, avoidant personality, paranoia, and antisocial behavior.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder – Studies tell us that ADHD comes with an increased risk of developing addiction-related issues during adulthood (mainly 20s and 30s.) There is a positive correlation in symptoms of ADHD like impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and inattention with substance use in adults.
Mood Disorder – Around 30% of people suffering from SUD are likely to suffer from one of the mood disorders such as depression and bipolar.
PTSD – According to a survey, people with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder are 4x more likely to develop substance use disorder than those without.
What Causes Co-occurring and Substance Addiction?
It is estimated that over half the people with one disorder will eventually develop the other during their lifetime. While the exact set of reasons that can fuel these two conditions might be long, researchers have found the 3 most prevalent reasons as to why co-occurring disorders may take place.
Overlapping Risk Factors
Many of the risk factors behind SUD and mental health issues are overlapping. Generally, these include environmental factors like exposure to drugs or alcohol at an early age, early childhood trauma, and genetics. All of these factors can make a person more susceptible to developing mental health issues and requiring addiction treatment for drugs such as Cocaine or others.
Self-Medication
Dealing with a mental illness can be difficult. That’s why many people resort to alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms. In medical terms, this is called ‘self-medicating’. However, it’s quite misleading as instead of fixing the problems, it only masks them. What’s more, in the long run, it exacerbates the symptoms and worsens the dependency on drugs/alcohol, making it more difficult to detox from alcohol or drugs, often requiring medically supervised detox.
Drug-Induced Brain Changes
Prolonged drug and substance use can change the brains ‘motivation and reward mechanism’. It can give a false sense of wellness causing one to develop a dependence on drugs beyond control. Eventually, it can lead to mental health issues by affecting the brain and neurotransmitters.
Drugs affect the areas of the brain associated with mood, impulse control, anxiety, and schizophrenia.
How to Battle Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use
Residential Treatment
Residential rehab programs begin with an initial assessment to draw an individual treatment plan. This is followed by detox and several other therapies. The patient has to stay in a structured and highly supervised facility. Common inpatient treatment duration for drug addiction is 30 days. Residential programs put the entire focus on recovery as daily triggers and challenges are removed that often lead to relapses.
Outpatient Healing Programs
Under this program, a patient receives all the treatments and therapies as in residential rehab. However, they are not required to live in the facility. This is good for young teenagers, parents, and people with mild addiction who cannot sacrifice work commitments.
Detox
This is usually the first step in most addiction treatment programs. Drug detoxification entails medical supervision to get the drugs out of the system. With a clean system, experts can begin further treatment. Generally, therapies and medication cannot begin unless detox is successfully over.
Integrated treatment
Integrated treatment often includes behavioral therapy and counseling as interventions. Rehab centers in Connecticut and other parts of the United States use integrated treatment coupled with medication. Integrated treatment encompasses several therapeutic techniques with proven results in treating substance abuse and mental health issues. Common integrated therapies are –
Cognitive-behavioural therapy aka CBT aims to understand negative behaviours, thinking patterns, and self-talk that might be causing addiction and other disorders. It then works on changing them.
Dialectical behavioural therapy is used for treating borderline personality disorder. It does so by working on negative actions and thoughts like self-harm, suicidal behaviour, and dependence on a substance to cope with daily stressors.
Contingency management is often used in upscale addiction treatment centres. It reinforces positive changes by utilising incentives for patients who can exhibit positive behaviours such as staying sober and meeting therapy guidelines.
Medication Treatment
Psychotherapeutic Medications are often integral to treating SUD and co-occurring disorders and are frequently used during alcohol treatment. The commonly prescribed medications include antipsychotics and antidepressants. The latter is used to mostly manage the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Other than that, medications may also be used to lessen the cravings so that relapses don’t happen.
Buprenorphine, naltrexone, methadone, disulfiram, and acamprosate are the common medications used for treating SUD.
Peer Support Clubs
It’s not uncommon for people with psychiatric issues to become antisocial. The withdrawal from social life exacerbates when you throw drugs and alcohol into the mix. By joining peer support groups/clubs like 12-step, Alcoholics Anonymous, and group counseling – patients can find solace in the presence of other people going through similar battles.
They can draw inspiration from their stories and also learn some tips to maintain sobriety. Support groups are highly effective in fostering a long-term, sustainable drug-free lifestyle.
Education and Counselling for Families
Sometimes a toxic family environment or dysfunctional relationships may unknowingly be fuelling a person’s addiction. Family counselling educates people how to create a healthy living environment for a family member to support long-term recovery.
image: erson-holding-stop-drugs-sign-blog
Holistic Remedies
Medical science is embracing the effectiveness and importance of holistic/alternative treatment when it comes to treating drug addiction. Many rehab centres are now adopting a holistic treatment model. Common holistic therapies are – massage therapy, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, yoga, reiki, meditation, and music therapy.
In Conclusion
Co-occurring disorders may be a harsh reality in many people’s lives. But, know that if you or your loved one is going through this issue, help is always available.
Holly is a freelance writer who loves to help people who are struggling with a drug or alcohol addiction. Holly knows first-hand what it’s like to deal with substance addiction, and has now been sober for 5 years. Holly is a frequent contributor to many addiction-related blogs and organizations such as the Addiction Treatment Division and Inpatient-Rehab.org.
As you grow older, you may start to notice the role of parent and child starts to change. In the past, the parent provided the care and support to the child, but as the years pass, these roles can become reversed. If you are currently in this situation, you may be wondering how best you can support your elderly parents and help them to get the most out of life in their senior years.
Striking the right balance between being on-hand to help without interfering is challenging and can take some getting used to. It is perfectly natural to feel unsure about the best way to approach this new situation. Reaching a point where you feel comfortable you are providing your parents with the right level of assistance while respecting their wishes can take time to achieve. Here are some of the ways you can give extra support to your parents while they are living independently:
Keep Communicating
Keeping in regular contact with your parents is essential to ensure that you understand their needs and their wishes. If you are concerned about their health, communicating with them regularly will make it easier for you to spot any deterioration and give your parents the opportunity to discuss any aspects of their health that worry them. Making sure that you listen as well as talk is vital to ensure your parents feel their needs and wishes have been understood and are respected.
It is so essential to maintain your relationship with your parents. When they are more dependent on you, it is easy to fall into the trap of only talking about their care and no longer having any fun. So keeping that parent-child relationship alive by talking about everyday topics and taking them out and about is crucial.
Address Any Health Concerns
Finding the right level of support for your parent’s health issues can be challenging. Knowing whether or not they are able to continue living independently or whether they need to receive a greater level of care can be hard to determine. If your parents are adamant that they want to stay living independently within their own home, you may be concerned that they won’t get the best care. Choosing a specialist at-home care provider can help to alleviate these concerns and ensure they are getting the level of assistance that they need. Dementia home care is one specialist care service available that could help keep your ageing parents in their own home while receiving the appropriate level of support.
Make Life at Home Easier
Providing your parents with practical support is an excellent way to support them living independently. Carrying out everyday tasks on their behalf such as cleaning and getting their shopping can make life far easier for them. Making sure that your parent’s home is free from trip hazards and is clean and tidy will help to protect their health and wellbeing and provide you with the peace of mind that they are safe in their home.
This article was written by a freelance writer and contains affiliate links.
Suffering a traumatic brain injury can completely change a person’s life. Your brain is the primary organ that controls everything else in your body, and any injury to your brain has the potential to impact almost every other aspect of your body, your health, and your overall wellbeing. While most severe brain injuries can be quickly spotted, more minor or moderate traumatic brain injuries can sometimes go undetected. Although some injuries may heal on their own, others can cause serious issues days, months, or even years down the road. For this reason, it is essential that you understand the possible signs of traumatic brain injuries to ensure you get proper medical help whenever it is needed.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries are categorized in several ways, depending on both the severity and type of injury. They can range from mild to moderate and severe, and this is determined by whether a person loses consciousness as a result of the injury and for how long. Mild brain injuries result in a loss of consciousness or a dazed feeling that lasts less than 30 minutes, while severe injuries are those that result in unconsciousness for more than 24 hours.
Traumatic brain injuries are also categorized based on whether they are open or closed. Closed injuries are the most common type, and this categorisation refers to any injury that affects the brain without penetrating the skull. An open brain injury results when any foreign object penetrates the skull and directly damages the brain tissue.
How to Spot Signs of a Concussion or Other Brain Injury
Moderate to severe brain injuries and open brain injuries are obviously fairly easy to spot. However, it is often much more difficult to determine if you’ve suffered a mild concussion or less severe brain injury. Still, there are a number of signs you can watch out for. The most obvious sign is losing consciousness, but feeling confused or having problems concentrating or remembering can also be indicators of a brain injury. Nausea, vomiting, and dizziness are also signs you should watch out for.
How it Can Affect Your Mental Health
Soon after a traumatic brain injury, it’s common to have feelings of frustration, loss, and sadness. These feelings tend to appear after the injury, during, or soon after recovery. These emotions can be brought up earlier or later, depending on the person, and how severe the injury is. If these feelings are not recognised early enough, depression can be a long-lasting emotion, which can be detrimental to your mental health.
What to Do If You Suspect You Have a Brain Injury
Even milder or moderate concussions can potentially lead to other issues down the road. Therefore, it is essential that you seek professional medical attention if you suspect you or someone you know has experienced a brain injury. Depending on where the accident or injury occurred, it may also be a good idea to contact an attorney. This is especially true if the injury happened as a result of a car accident or at work. In these cases, an auto injury attorney or a job site accident lawyer can help ensure everything is properly documented and that you don’t do anything that could harm your chances of getting properly compensated for your injury.
Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries are much more common than you might think. Brain injuries can also occur from seemingly minor accidents. Therefore, it is vital that you know what signs to look for, so you can immediately get whatever help you need.
Travelling is stressful, especially when it’s to and from medical appointments; for people with anxiety issues, the stress levels during this time can be heightened even further. Private transport providers offer patients a comfortable transport experience; the journey can be as stress-free as possible thanks to their state of the art, bespoke ambulances and friendly, qualified team! Mental health patient transport services can provide a sense of comfort and trust compared to your average ambulance service.
Not only does patient transport provide the benefit of a relaxed journey compared to your average patient transport- but for people who require additional support, these bespoke ambulances are accessible and filled with medical equipment.
Here are some of the ways private patient transport helps anxious travellers:
There’s No Waiting Time
Private patient transport providers deliver a transport service you can rely on! No more waiting around worrying you’ll be late for your appointment. Due to the NHS being under severe pressure, their transport service is not always running on time. With private patient transport, you can rest assured you will be picked up & dropped off on time.
The effects of long waiting times could be detrimental to anybody with anxious feelings, but you can avoid this stress and anxiety with private transport. With private ambulance services, there are no waiting times.
Private Transport Is Bespoke
A fantastic benefit of private ambulance services is that the focus is always on the patient. This means that when you choose a trusted, reputable provider, the provider will tailor each vehicle to meet the patient’s specific needs. This can help out anxious travellers, as they know the vehicle meets their requirements. Some vehicles even have sensory lights and TV’s, which are welcome distractions for many anxious patients. As well as these fancy extras, private patient transport always contains vital medical equipment such as oxygen and defibrillators.
The Vehicles Are Accompanied By A Friendly & Qualified Team
When travelling in a private patient transport vehicle, the staff on board are always experienced and friendly. This means they are qualified to deal with medical emergencies and have a welcoming personality to make travellers feel at ease.
Whenever you choose a trusted, reputable patient transport provider, you can rest assured that their caring team has appropriate experience and training to support patients with various needs. Private ambulance providers will meet every patient with respect, dignity, and kindness.
The Journey Will Be As Comfortable As Possible
Thanks to state of the art, bespoke vehicles and friendly teams, the journey will always be more comfortable than your standard ambulance transport service. No matter the patient’s unique needs, there will be a bespoke ambulance to suit.
Do you think you or a family member would benefit from using private patient transport? Get in touch with EMA Patient Transport to find out more.
Whether you require transport to and from a medical appointment or any other type of journey- give them a call today on 0800 634 1478 or send an e-mail over to enquiries@emapatienttransport.co.uk. Open 24 hours a day; their friendly team are always at the other end of the phone, ready to help.
This article was written and sponsored by EMA Patient transport.
Nu Mind Wellness Ltd officially launched on October 25th 2021. The Nu Mind Stress & Mild Anxiety Support Formula (30 days) offers consumers 23 scientifically backed ingredients packed in 5 daily capsules to help alleviate symptoms of stressors on the mind and body. This all-in-one Stress & Mild Anxiety Support Formula is the first of its kind and is the most comprehensive supplement programme in the UK market for mental health.
Nu Mind Wellness Ltd will is offering free educational courses to its consumers on how to improve their mental health and overall wellness. Specifically, on how to improve nutrition, how to exercise correctly and how to improve one’s mental health. Each course has been written by experts in their respective fields.
A strong social mission is at the core of Nu Mind’s vision. Nu Mind Wellness Ltd has also partnered with 1% For The Planet. Nu Mind have pledged to donate 1% of their annual revenue to grass-root non-profits. In the first year these funds will be donated to One Tree Planted where they will be planting trees in vulnerable areas across the globe. As well as this, Nu Mind’s products are all 100% recyclable.
“We wanted to create the very best formula to help those busy individuals living a stressful life. Which is why we included 23 science backed ingredients to help you manage stress and recover from symptoms of anxiety”
Shona Wilkinson, RN, mBANT, CNHC
Shona is a registered nutritionist, specialising in the formulation and development of supplements. Shona is a member of the Professional Associations BANT (British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine) and CNHC (Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council) as well as the Royal Society for Medicine
Features and benefits of the Nu Mind Stress & Mild Anxiety Support Formula include:
The first all-in-one stress supplement programme, packaged into 30 daily sachets
23 scientifically backed ingredients, based on current scientific research
Free educational courses on how to improve mental health and wellness
Charity partnership with a clear social mission
100% recyclable packaging
Vegan Friendly, Gluten Free, No Allergens
50% cheaper than current alternative
The Nu Mind Stress & Mild Anxiety Support Formula (30 daily sachets) will be available from 25th October at £44.99. For more information, visit www.numindwellness.com.
About Nu Mind Wellness Ltd:
Let’s begin with our story. We are two brothers who have suffered from anxiety. From panic attacks, deliberately avoiding social situations and sleepless nights. For years we searched for ways to feel ‘normal’, only to find the internet’s answers unsatisfactory.
Given our personal experience and understanding of the battles of anxiety, we set out to give back and support those with similar struggles. Working alongside professionals, we have created the first all-in-one stress & mild anxiety support formula.
We aim to provide the first all-in-one stress and anxiety service; providing a supplement, educational wellness content and a like-minded community. This is the essence of Nu Mind.
Our health and wellbeing aren’t solely dependent on how our brains and bodies work; they’re also influenced by how we live. Making healthy lifestyle choices is key in supporting our mental health; influencing our self-esteem, confidence, energy, motivation, mood, and even our ability to sleep.
Want to know more about what you can do to support your health and wellbeing? Here are 5 key areas to get you started!
Get active
We know exercise is beneficial for our health and wellbeing; even being active for 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week can positively impact our mood, creativity, thinking and sleep. If going for a run or to the gym isn’t your thing there are so many other ways to get moving; including going for walks, climbing, cycling, dancing, surfing and table tennis (to name just a few).
Check out Head Hacks, a new directory website, run by a qualified Occupational Therapist, where you can search for fun things to do, locally and online, to help you get active in a way that suits you!
Sleep
If you find yourself struggling to switch off at night, or you feel you’re not getting the quality of sleep you need to feel rested there are a number of things you can do to help yourself. These include:
Avoiding screens for at least 30 minutes before going to bed
Increasing physical activity and exposure to natural light during the day
Avoiding drinking caffeine for at least 6 hours before going to bed
Avoiding smoking for at least 2 hours before going to bed
Maintaining a general bedtime routine, for 30 minutes before going to bed (by doing things in roughly the same order around the same time each evening).
Mindfulness
When talking about mindfulness a lot of people may link it with meditation and yoga; however mindfulness comes in many different forms. If meditation or yoga aren’t your thing why not try ‘mindful doing’? The aim is to keep your mind present while doing an activity you enjoy or that fits into your routine, (like going for a walk, cooking, eating a meal, doing the washing up etc). Try to minimise distractions and instead focus on your current thoughts and feelings, and what you’re doing (using all your senses).
Having purpose
Having a sense of ‘purpose’ is the feeling your life has some meaning or direction; without this we can feel anxious, low, bored and unmotivated. If this is something you feel you’re lacking here are some ideas to help you find more purpose in your life:
Voluntary work
Learn a new skill
Develop a sense of community by connecting with others over a shared interest e.g. joining a local activity group
Spend time thinking about what is important to you and form one or two goals around this (remember to break these down into manageable steps!)
Read (research has linked reading with feelings of purpose)
Connecting with others
Positive and meaningful relationships are vital to our health and wellbeing; providing us with a sense of belonging, self-esteem, and emotional support. However you prefer to spend time with people, find a way to connect with others in a way that suits you; some of us prefer having one or two close friends, for others it’s family, and some prefer socialising in larger groups.
To sum up
Research shows us that how we live; our relationships, how we spend our time, our sense of purpose and belonging, all vitally contribute to our health and wellbeing. Now that Coronavirus restrictions are easing, there are increasing opportunities, both in our local areas and online, to get involved in activities that are important to us, and that will help support our health and wellbeing.
Head Hacks is a new online directory, setup by a qualified Occupational Therapist, which aims to link people up with these activities and groups, as well as sharing useful information about managing health and wellbeing. Check it out to find fun things to do near you! Anna Witcherley is the founder of Head Hacks and wrote this article.
Going back to the office is becoming a common conversation for many companies. After spending more than a year and a half working from home, returning to the office seems like entering a whole new world. For those preparing to go back to the office, here are some tips for feeling confident and successful when going back to your desk.
Manage your stress and anxiety
There can be a lot of anxiety around returning to the office. Whether it’s meeting new coworkers for the first time, realigning yourself with office culture, or even just getting used to being away from home, these changes can lead to major feelings of stress and anxiety.
Creating some self-soothing and self-care habits that you can bring to the office can help you navigate being back in the office with ease. Consider using a fidget of sorts to help get out any nervous energy you may have as they are a great tool for calming. Journalling before the day starts or journaling at the end of the day as a way to reflect can also help you release any stress or anxiety you may have.
For some people, starting back at the office means once again embracing their commute. It can be worth taking your car for a spin along that regular route just so you get used to the traffic and scheduling for a few days before you have to return. This may be a good excuse to once again renegotiate your insurance rates or take down the contact information of the best car accident lawyer in kind.
If you struggle with creating self-soothing habits that work for you or your lifestyle, seeking out guidance from a mental health counsellor can help you start the process. Putting an emphasis on your mental health is vital to any success you have personally, professionally, or otherwise. When you are in a good headspace, that often translates to the work you do. Making sure you take care of your mental health while returning to the workplace is a great way to set yourself up for success and will empower you to continue to always put yourself first.
Upgrade your style
While working from home over the past year or so, you’ve been able to incorporate comfort into your work wardrobe. Wearing a top suitable for a zoom call while also wearing sweatpants has been a staple outfit for many work-from-home employees. Thinking about all the clothes that are sitting in your closet waiting for you to return to work can have you worrying that the clothes you have are a bit outdated, or they just don’t match the style you’ve adopted during the pandemic. Refreshing your wardrobe for the office can help you return to your workplace with confidence and comfort on your side. Upgrading your staple items and adding some statement pieces that reflect your style and personality can help boost your excitement about going back to the office to see coworkers and friends.
Returning to the office can make you feel like a kid going back to school, seeing old friends, excited to make new ones, and you want to make a good impression. Your style is more than just the clothes you have, it’s the hairstyle you choose, the accessories you wear, the makeup you put on, etc. Getting a haircut or dying your hair that color you’ve always wanted can have you feeling fresh and new. With your new hair, you may even consider ditching the glasses you’ve been wearing your whole life and wearing a pair of comfortable contacts to switch up your style. When you let go of your glasses, you can stop worrying about smudged lenses, crooked frames, or foundation buildup at the bridge of your nose. Making your style match you and your personality will make you feel confident during any staff meeting or water cooler conversation.
Embrace wins big and small
Being back in the office is a big step in and of itself. Returning to the land of office politics can feel overwhelming fairly quickly. Listening to the drama of interdepartmental squabbles or feeling frustrated with how quickly the communal copier runs out of ink are all things that were distant memories while working from home and are now part of your day to day life again. With these frustrations, it is important to find the silver linings each day as they will help you feel motivated and successful even on days that don’t feel like they are.
Finding ways to feel victorious even over small things throughout the day helps create a positive environment and empowers you to feel more confident in the work you are doing. Claiming a win each day, big or small, will help you feel accomplished and happy about something that happened at the office that day. Maybe that is going out to lunch with coworkers you haven’t seen in months or acing the presentation you had with your boss, whatever it is, that bright spot you find is important!
For some, working from home was and still is a comfortable thing to do. For others, they missed the office environment entirely. To those that thrived working from home, returning to the office gives you the opportunity to maintain the work ethic and confidence you built while working from home and even an opportunity to master it a step further. Just because you are back at your cubicle, or your office on the third floor, doesn’t mean you have to lose what makes you-you. Be sure to bring your confidence with you when you walk through those doors.
I started back in therapy consistently (weekly), 2 months ago in August after reoccurrence of panic attacks. I have been working with a really brilliant therapist for the past two years who is a specialist in trauma and EMDR therapy. EMDR stands for eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy and is a way to help you process and confront traumatic memories, with the aim of reducing their impact on your life. Its a very good therapy for people struggling from PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder). Although I do not have the full disorder, I do have some PTSD symptoms according to a therapy questionnaire, from being sectioned and in hospital in 2014 and other traumas that occurred around the same time.
My PTSD symptoms include:
– Panic attacks (palpitations, sweating, negative thoughts, fight or flight adrenaline and needing to cancel feared event) triggered by certain situations which remind me of the past traumatic events. This includes fear of medical appointments now including going to hospitals for myself or the drs surgery.
– Social anxiety- what will they think of me?
-Other fears over traumatic events – i can get triggered and feel flooded with panic.
So, as you can see, a lot to deal with and unpack in therapy. And figuring out my identity as a 33 year old woman with bipolar disorder (thankfully stable) and what the future could hold.
I have to say that finding an excellent therapist has been a lifesaver. I look back to where I was 2 months ago and generally (without jinxing it) my nervous system has calmed down a lot, I have been anxious but able to enter certain situations I couldn’t have done 8 weeks ago. My medications keep my mind stable and my husband and family are a wonderful support too. I love my work and can do it from home. I am really lucky in so many ways.
It is still a major work in progress for me, getting back to the person I once was. I prefer to work from home and I also am unable to go out as much alone as I would want. However, I am starting to go out more with others and I will keep working to find freedom from fear for myself.
If you’re feeling stuck or alone or fearful, reach for help. I have been very lucky to have help with funding my therapy sessions (shout out to my incredible parents) but they are so needed. I know not everyone has this.. the waiting lists for the NHS are so long and I was on them for years without support. My local borough also does not fund trauma therapy which was frustrating at the time.
Thanks for reading the update, feel free to share your therapy experiences with me,
i feel quite emotional writing and sharing this with you! And remember- to keep reaching, growing, and above all healing. Healing is so important for our mental health if you can access it,
Eleanor x
PS- while writing this blog. I was listening to the Sugababes originals Mutya, Keisha and Siobhan (MKS) sing No regrets which has the lyrics.. ‘I choose life’ . Listen here to this live version (not an ad, genuine love): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfdYE7BkEsw
Thank you so much to all at Twinkl and I hope my tips are helpful. I used to work as a teaching assistant and was trained in safeguarding too, so hope you enjoy reading the blog!
beurownlight.com 