First Psychology blog

Poor mental health can result for a number of reasons, from work and relationships, to worries about finances and family issues. These concerns may lead to feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress, all of which may impact your daily life. The good news is that if your mental health is suffering, there are steps you can take to help get it back on track. Tap into mindfulness In short, mindfulness is taking in each moment. This means paying attention to how you feel, and what is happening in the here and now. Sometimes we can be too concerned with tasks we need to get done, and with worries about the future. Mindfulness encourages you to focus on touch, sights, sounds, smells and emotions that you are experiencing in the moment. If you’re feeling anxious, stressed or even lonely, being aware of the way you feel can help you identify why you feel a certain way in that moment. Tackling each feeling as it arises can also stop you becoming overwhelmed by ever increasing waves of emotions....

Many parents are already aware of the hormonal changes that take place during the teen years. Dramatic mood swings and conversations consisting of nothing more than grunts or eyerolls can often appear to be the norm once they hit 13. But would you know how to spot the difference between normal teen angst and something more concerning, such as depression in teenagers? According to the British Journal of General Practice “Earlier recognition of depression in young people has the potential to reduce the burden of depression in adulthood.” This alone is enough reason to be aware of the signs of depression in teenagers and, as parent or carer, to want to provide your teen with as much support as possible. What are the signs of depression in children and teens? Low mood for an extended period of time  No longer enjoying activities or hobbies that they once did Increased irritability or bad temperedness Sleeping more or less than usual Drastic change in weight Overeating or undereating F...

While anger is a natural human emotion and can be useful in certain situations to make positive changes in your life, if you don’t keep it under control, it can have a damaging effect on your mental and physical wellbeing. What are the negative effects of anger? Anger is an emotion which gets a bad press, but it is our natural response to something which we feel threatens us in some way, for example, feeling taken advantage of, feeling that nobody is listening, etc, and it can be helpful in motivating us to change something that isn't working.  However, when we respond with aggression (a behavioural response to anger) we can get ourselves into trouble. As well as triggering arguments and physical violence in relationships with friends, partners or family, it can also lead to anxiety and stress. When we’re angry, our brain sends a message to our body that triggers our fight or flight response. Our levels of cortisol and adrenaline increase, which makes our heart race and blood press...

Shorter daylight hours, grey skies and chilly frosts are a sure sign that winter is on its way. And for some people, this can have an effect on their general wellbeing, creating feelings of sadness, fatigue and in some cases, changes in eating habits. Although some of the symptoms of the winter blues are less severe than those of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), they can still impact your daily routine. Symptoms of winter blues Symptoms of the winter blues may differ from person to person but there are some common signs to look out for if you think you might be affected: Fatigue Change in sleeping habits Low mood Change in appetite What causes the winter blues? It’s believed that the lack of sunlight contributes most to the winter blues as your body doesn’t receive as much vitamin D as it would during the spring and summer months. Our body needs sunlight to regulate the production of melatonin, which can make us feel tired and lethargic. Sunlight also produces serotonin, the feel-goo...

The greatest difference between a person who is sympathetic and empathetic is that an empath is much more sensitive to their surroundings and the people around them, often placing themselves in another person’s shoes to understand how they are feeling. According to the National Library of Medicine , “Important research on empathy and altruism has demonstrated that enhancing perspective taking, the capacity to see a person’s situation from his or her point of view, coupled with enhanced value being placed on the welfare of those who are unfamiliar can override bias.” While empaths often suffer from being highly emotional, oversensitive to crowded environments and can feel overwhelmed by intensely close relationships, there are, however, many benefits. 1. Intuitive Owing to their enhanced sensitivity, empaths tend to be extremely intuitive. This is a great skill to have as they’re able to read situations and people and avoid any negative environments. By noticing subtle signs such as...

How often have you travelled somewhere and when you arrived, you have little or no recollection of the journey? Or how many times has someone been speaking to you, and although you’ve shown signs that you’re listening, such as a head nod, you actually have no idea what they’ve just said to you? It’s not uncommon for wandering thoughts to take over our mind but when they do, we miss out on so much good stuff. When we’re preoccupied with our internal chatter, it’s difficult to live in the present moment and focus on the here and now. Continually listening to your inner voice, when you should be focusing on something else can be a cause for concern when it starts to affect your mental wellbeing. It can lead to feelings of anxiety, stress and in some cases, symptoms of depression. How we can be more present When we learn how to hush our inner voice and be in the present moment, there are so many benefits that we can enjoy. Not only can it increase your energy levels and motivation, but it ...

While people have been cold water swimming for centuries, its popularity has soared in recent years owing to its incredible health benefits. The effect of the cold water not only improves our physical health, but it also has a powerful impact on our mental wellbeing. How does cold water swimming effect our body? When we submerge ourselves in cold water, our body goes into fight or flight mode due to the sudden shock. This then triggers the stress hormone, noradrenaline, to kick into action, making us feel more alert. How can this boost our physical health? Ongoing research has found that there are many physical benefits of immersing yourself in cold water. Because your body has to work harder to keep warm when you’re in cold water, it speeds up your metabolism, which in turn aids weight loss and promotes better sleep. Your heart pumps more blood to your organs, improving circulation, reducing inflammation of muscles and flushing toxins from the blood. When your body goes into flight or...