First Psychology blog

Whether it’s through work relationships, our personal lives or daily tasks, social interactions are an integral part of our daily lives. However, for anyone suffering from social anxiety, these interactions can often seem overwhelming and distressing.  Social anxiety, characterised by a persistent fear of being in social situations, can significantly impact both our personal and professional lives, which can lead to mental health issues. However, there are effective strategies and techniques for managing social anxiety and promoting improved overall wellbeing. Understanding social anxiety Before practising any recommended techniques, it’s important to understand the nature and causes of social anxiety. Research suggests that social anxiety disorder arises from a combination of genetic, environmental and psychological factors. Additionally, childhood experiences, such as a history of bullying or social rejection, can also contribute to the development of social anxiety. A study publ...

Regret is a complex emotion that we all experience at some point in our lives. It arises when we feel remorse or sorrow over past actions or decisions. However, dwelling on regret can hinder our ability to move forward and our overall sense of wellbeing and personal growth.  The paralysing effect of regret The Guardian spoke to cognitive behaviour therapist, Windy Dryden, who says that “when we are trapped in this cycle of regret, characterised by rigidity and inflexibility, we only seem able to blame ourselves for what has happened, rather than seeing our behaviour in a wider context and understanding why we took the path we did based on the information we had at the time. Under these conditions, regret will become toxic.” The weight of the past Regret has the power to hold us captive in the past. When we become consumed by thoughts of what could have been, we lose sight of the present moment and our potential for progress. Constantly replaying past mistakes or choices prevents u...

To say that the past months have been stressful would be an understatement. For many, the normality we once knew has been replaced with long periods of solitude, apprehension, confusion, and fear. Covid-19 entered our lives as an uninvited guest and has yet to leave. It is therefore not surprising that so many children and adults are exhausted and stressed by it all.  Although the virus is still very much present, the lockdown we once knew has changed. With restrictions having been lifted and then new measures imposed and people being encouraged to go about essential daily matters (including work where homeworking isn't possible) and to embrace the new normal, many are seeking ways to rebuild their lives. Discover ways you can beat the stress caused by Covid-19 and learn to rebuild your life so you can live it to the fullest. Establish a new routine Whether you were aware of it or not, before Covid you would have had a routine which was interrupted when the virus arrived. Routines ...

Throughout life, everyone experiences events and situations that are way out of their control. But it’s how we react to the hand that has been dealt to us that determines how it affects us. Too often we don't recognise when we're swimming against the tide and spend too much of our precious time and energy battling against a situation that is out of our control. This can be extremely exhausting and also damaging to our mental and physical wellbeing. So, it’s important that we recognise the types of things that drain our energy. If we continue to let uncontrollable situations control us, over time the ongoing stress and anxiety can cause more serious mental and physical health problems. Our bodies don’t react well to continuous stress and when we become run down, our immune system is weakened, and we are more susceptible to illnesses. Things we can’t control and should let go of You might be wondering how to distinguish between what you can and can’t control, so here are a f...

Understanding our sexuality is something that we all will have experienced at some time in our lives, but this can be particularly difficult to understand if we find that we don’t fit into society’s 'norms'. Although gender and sexuality are much more widely accepted in today’s society than they used to be, there are still many issues you might face when coming to terms with who you are. Unfortunately, discrimination due to gender or sexuality is still prevalent and can lead to bullying and mental or physical abuse, which can be extremely damaging to your wellbeing. There are many issues that you may be concerned about: Fear of how people will react, especially family members, close friends and work colleagues Rejection or hostility Fear of being bullied or abused Not everyone is confident in themselves and it may be that you have low self esteem as a result of the issues you are facing. Feeling afraid and vulnerable can have a huge impact on mental health if you don’t hav...

Sometimes emotions can be extremely overwhelming, and we can become fearful of them if we don’t accept and learn from them. There are many different reasons why we might experience intense emotions that cause us to feel out of control and make irrational decisions. This can lead to anxiety which, in turn, triggers even more emotions. This process can be painful and sometimes quite frightening when we feel like our emotions are spiralling out of control. The good news is, there are certain steps we can take to help us accept and deal with our emotions. Firstly, we need to understand that emotions are a natural part of being human; we all experience them from time to time. Types of emotions Whether you’ve had an argument with someone, lost a loved one or lost your job, there are many situations that can bring about negative emotions such as sadness, fear, shame or anger. Society often bullies us into believing that if we experience these negative kinds of emotions, we are a bad per...