INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

"LEARNING NEVER EXHAUSTS THE MIND"

― Leonardo da Vinci

Identity - Who am I?

Do you find yourself questioning: "who am I?" or "where am I going?" - You're not the only one.

A lot of anxiety and distress can come from feeling like we haven't achieved what we would have hoped, and feeling concerned about our future.

In reality we often base our life satisfaction on what others deem to be appropriate versus what we value and want. This can lead to a lot of confusion and low self esteem which impacts how we relate to the people and the world around us.

Understanding who are is a process of exploring your own wants, needs and beliefs so that you can act in a way that truly aligns with what you value. Therapy is safe place to explore your identity so that you can live a happy and fulfilled life.

Contact Matina for more information or to make an appointment.

Adolescent Mental Health

Up to one third of Australian young people report experiencing poor mental health. A lot of the time changes in mood and behaviour in young people are dismissed by the adults in their lives as a result of puberty or sensitivity. As a result, a large portion of young people, do not get the support they need. This can result in long term mental health issues, poorer academic and social outcomes and long term health implications that last well into adulthood.

Signs of distress in teenagers include:

Withdrawal from friends and family
Loss of interest in activities they previously enjoyed e.g. sport, seeing friends, going to school etc.
They seem more irritable, or on edge, than usual
Changes in diet and or appetite
Difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual
Decreased self care
More easily overwhelmed

If your teen is reaching out for support or is demonstrating shifts in their mood and behaviour, don't hesitate to reach out for more support.

What is Depression an do I have it?

Depression is more than sadness, it is a persistent period of low mood characterised by feelings of helplessness or hopelessness. It's also not uncommon for people with depression to feel "numb" or flat (i.e. no emotion at all). Individuals with depression often report that their mood impacts their ability to work, socialise and take care of themselves.

Common signs and symptoms of depressions can include:

Difficulties sleeping or sleeping too much
Changes in appetite
Irritability and low mood
Agitation
Low motivation and energy
Withdrawal from friends and family
Decreased interest in pleasurable activities
Decreased sex drive
Suicidal thoughts

If you, or someone you know is experiencing any of the above symptoms, reaching out and getting psychological support can help. Contact Matina for more information or support.

In need of urgent support? Contact Lifeline 13 11 14 or in case of emergency contact 000 or go to your local emergency department.

Navigating Grief - How to move on

Grief is what we experience after devastating loss. Traditional definitions of grief tend to focus on the pain people feel following the death of a loved one, however you can also experience grief in response to the end of relationships and unfulfilled expectations and goals.

Contrary to what most people believe, grief does not get smaller over time; we just learn to grow around the grief. In other words, we learn to cope with the loss and continue moving forward.

Processing and healing from loss is something you can explore more in therapy, regardless of what it is you are grieving.

What Am I Doing Wrong?Dating and relationships

Do you find yourself asking "What am I doing wrong?" when it comes to dating and relationships? Does moving beyond the "talking phase" seem impossible? Navigating relationships and building new ones, especially when dating, is hard work.

The type and quality of our adult relationships is largely underpinned by what is called your attachment style. There are 3 types of attachment styles that describe patterns of behaviour across a range of relationships.

Understanding your attachment stye and how it developed is vital in helping you build secure, healthy and longterm relationships.

Contact Matina to learn more about attachment styles and how you can improve your relationships and start creating new meaningful connections.

Do I Need Therapy? Am I just over-reacting?

The common misconception is that therapy is reserved for people who have "hit rock bottom". Clients often say, "Well its not as bad as what other people experience" or "I can still get our of bed and go to work so it's not that bad". Often feeling guilty about coming in to therapy. Because of this, people put off getting the support they need until they feel totally overwhelmed.

The reality is that early intervention is an important predictor of successful longterm treatment outcomes. Getting support when you start to notice changes in your mood and behaviour means that you can get the skills to navigate challenges sooner, to feel better quicker and prevent you from feeling worse.

Feel like therapy might be helpful? Contact Matina to discuss your concerns further.

Am I anxious or am I just stressed?

Anxiety and stress, whilst similar, also differ in key areas. Stress occurs in context of a specific triggering event/situation and usually doesn't last long. Anxiety on the other hand, can manifest in the absence of a clear trigger, and last for an extended period of time. This impacts a persons ability to work, socialise and engage in day to day activities.

Signs you may have anxiety:

Feeling uneasy or on edge most of the time
Finding it hard to stop worrying
Feeling tired and/or irritable
Difficulty concentrating
Physical symptoms which can include periods of increased heart rate, rapid breathing, sweatiness, feeling flushed/warm, shaky hands/legs, stomach pain/cramps and dizziness.

Some people experience anxiety about a range of things or scenarios, whilst others may have specific tiggers for their anxiety.

Whether you are feeling stressed or think you have anxiety, therapy is a great place to develop skills and strategies to hep you cope better. Contact Matina more more information or to make an appointment.

Binge Eating and Body Image

People of all genders and backgrounds can experience issues with body image. How we feel about our weight and shape is often dictated by experiences growing up, social media and societal expectations and norms. Sadly, recent statistics indicate that 1 in 3 Australians report feeling dissatisfied with their body.

Body image issues often result in unhealthy behaviours. These includes, restrictive eating which can be followed by periods of binge eating, excessive exercise or focus on calorie and macronutrient tracking, and frequent body checking. These behaviours can real and serious impacts on overall health and wellbeing.

Contact Matina to start building your body confidence and ditch unhealthy and unhelpful eating habits.

Burn out

Post pandemic we have heard a lot about burn out - but what is it?

Burn out describes emotional and phsyal exhaustion, associated with decreased workplace motivation. It is a real and serious issue that impacts more than 50% of the Australian working population.

Burnout occurs in 3 phases. Initially people report feeling emotionally and physically exhausted at work or in anticipation of work. Unfortunately we can only operate at this level of distress for so long before we lose capacity to concentrate and engage in work at all. This results in a sense of apathy, or feeling like we just don't care. In the final phase of burnout you may find that you are totally checked out of your career and workplace, and may find yourself looking at new career opportunities or jobs.

Think you're experiencing burn out? Find out more about how to manage and prevent burn out by booking an appointment Today.