Tuesday 22 February 2011

Eating disorders awareness week

This week (21- 28 February) is eating disorders awareness week. To raise awareness of eating issues this week, Beat, a UK charity that helps people with eating disorders and their families, is campaigning and organising events throughout the UK.

To find out more about Beat's work and this week's events visit http://www.b-eat.co.uk/Events/EDAW2011

For more about eating issues including Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa visit http://www.edinburghtherapy.co.uk/eating_and_body_image.htm

Wednesday 9 February 2011

Valentine's Day - overcoming social anxiety and shyness

It cannot have escaped your attention that Valentine's Day (14 February) is looming ever closer!

Valentine's day is when we traditionally exchange cards, gifts and romantic gestures with our intimate companions to tell them how we feel about them. For this reason, at this time of year, the shops are awash with hearts, flowers and chocolates. For more about Valentine's Day and the history and traditions surrounding it visit http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day

Some people, of course, will not have an intimate companion, or may choose not to take part in Valentine's Day this year for their own reasons. Others, however, may lack the confidence,  dread meeting people, or feel socially anxious. It is not unusual to feel anxious when meeting new people, but when the levels of anxiety make meeting an intimate companion difficult, extreme shyness or social anxiety may be the cause.

If this sounds like you, you will be pleased to hear there are things you can do to make things better. To find out more about shyness and social anxiety and what you can do to improve things visit http://www.edinburghtherapy.co.uk/shyness.htm

Wednesday 2 February 2011

Chinese New Year - a clean sweep!

Tomorrow, 3 February,  is Chinese New Year the most important event in the Chinese calendar. The incoming year is the year of the rabbit.

Each year Chinese families will prepare for the coming of the new year. People will spend their money buying presents, decorations, food and new clothes. Traditionally, families will also clean their houses to clear away bad fortune and make way for good luck - happiness, wealth and a long life.

Chinese New Year is considered to be a spring event and the concept of brushing away the cobwebs of the old has much in common with the UK tradition of spring cleaning.

While this tradition of spring cleaning focuses on our homes, there is much we can do to spring clean our lives in more general ways. To read our article with tips for spring cleaning your life, visit http://www.edinburghtherapy.co.uk/spring_clean_your_life_article.htm