CUE Counselling WA

16/07/2021

As promised, here are some tips on stress relief. It's by no means exhaustive.

Stress Relief

I will try to break this down into two sections, the “Short-Term” and the “Long-Term”. The benefits of short term stress relief is that it is typically fast acting, can be done anywhere, requires no special skills and is free. Long terms stress relief will lead to a more permanent solution, but will require a level of routine and commitment to maintain. However, the benefits can be enormous.

Short-Term
- Take controlled deep breaths – Increases your oxygen flow and calms the mind.
- Take a quick walk to release any nervous energy
- Hug a loved one – releases oxytocin
- Count backwards from 10 – refocuses the mind.

Long Term
- Exercise – The choice is yours but exercise will have many health benefits
- Meditate – Is a way to reconnect mind and body
- Have a healthy balanced diet – Like exercise; it will have many health benefits.
- Sleep – Adequate sleep is extremely important for good mental health
- Leisure Activities – go out an do what you enjoy, perhaps with a friend
- Reduce the things that cause stress – not always possible (unfortunately)
- Support Network – Friends and family can always help and if necessary, seek the help of a professional.

If you need help or would like to know more, contact me at [email protected] or visit my website cuecounsellingwa.com.au

12/01/2021

13/12/2020

A note on Grief
Grief is an emotion usually associated with loss. While your first instinct may consider the loss to be that of a loved one or family member, it can also be related to a loss of almost anything that is important to you. This may include loss of a pet, a job/income, loss of a sentimental object or loss of a friendship. Grieving is a normal reaction used to process the loss we have suffered. Grieving may also manifest in many forms. There is no "normal" way to grieve and is highly individualised. Some may cry, others use humour while others still may show anger or isolate themselves. Any one person may also experience a range of different emotions (think Kübler-Ross' 5 stages of grief). The time spent in the grieving process may also be highly variable. If you know someone who has suffered a loss, show empathy and support. Try not to fix their suffering or try to cheer them up. Allow them to be in the emotion. However, be mindful and any potentially harmfully activities such as drug and alcohol abuse. Most of us will come through it; but the pain will always be there. What usually happens is that while the pain of the loss may stay the same, our life surrounding it becomes larger, so the pain becomes less noticeable. If you find yourself struggling to move on, don't be afraid to seek help from any support systems you may have, be they family and friends or a professional counsellor. The latter of which can help you through the process at your own pace.
Good mental health to all.

29/10/2020

Hi All, there has been a lot of talk recently about mental health issues with all the lockdowns and the threat of COVID looming over us for some time to come. However, it may be useful to recognise when someone is in mental health distress.

Generally speaking, you would be looking for a change in a persons character. For example:

- Avoiding social contact (outside of a pandemic of course)
- Increased risk taking
- Frequent changes in mood
- Self harm
- Loss of enjoyment in social activities (e.g. Sport)
- Missing social engagements (e.g. training, classes etc)
- Substance misuse

These are just some of the signs and symptoms. If you do notice these things, don't be afraid to "Start the Conversation". This could be something as simple as asking if they are OK. If they are not, the next step is to find the supports they need, be it professional, or family and friends.

Also, take the time for some self examination to see if you yourself are exhibiting any signs of mental distress. Often, pressures can creep up without us noticing. If you do notice these things in yourself, please seek help and support. Don't be afraid to start you own conversation with someone you trust.

Good health to all.

Rob Marano

25/07/2020

COUNSELLING FOR ANXIETY.
Feeling anxious and fearful is a normal human emotion. These feelings help keep people alert and allow them to escape from threats. However, anxiety disorders can cause fear and stress in situations where there are no threats. It can lead to negative coping mechanisms such as avoidant behaviours and possibly substance abuse. Counselling can be an effective treatment for stress and anxiety using a range of methods tailored to suit personal requirements. This may include mindfulness and grounding techniques, and CBT. With time, stressful and anxious feelings can be overcome and allow a return to a normal way of life. Visit cuecounsellingwa.com.au for further information.