Tag: mental health
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The “Little Things” That Make Life Beautiful
Nature’s gentle awakening is usually followed by my not-so-gentle awakening from my puppy as he springs onto the bed with his crazy, infectious excitement for life. I am not a morning person, but it is hard to resist the look of certainty in his eyes that the day will be a good one, no matter…
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4 Important Life Lessons I Share With My Kids
That crazy decision was terrifying at the time but I do believe it made us stronger, more resilient, and gave us an incredible learning opportunity. It has given me more time to recover in the wake of family crises, more time for self-care and exercise – the best therapy for my brain – and the…
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Modern Parenting: A Full-Time Job With No Off-Switch
Parenting needs a rebrand. With more of us working and the pressure to parent perfectly, “doing the best we can” seems much more achievable. With unacceptable behaviour escalating in classrooms and youth suicide on the rise, something must give.
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Life Lessons: Measuring Success Beyond Society’s Standards
At some point during the last few years, I experienced a light bulb moment and finally realised who I want to be during this next stage. I realised when I looked back, that society had indoctinated me to seek its narrow definition of success – where, ultimately, materialism is the most popular measure, in the…
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Anxiety and The Hidden Power of Uncertainty
The worst advice someone can give people like me is to stop worrying. Not only is that reductive, telling me to stop worrying makes me worry about why I worry so much. I am an Olympian in overthinking, and controlling my spiralling thoughts is just not that simple. It is also exhausting.
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11 Life Lessons My Dog Taught Me
Prior to our vet’s final visit to our home, I cradled our fifteen-year old dog Luna in my arms, sobbing uncontrollably. I thought I was prepared, but in that moment of our total vulnerability, it was all too much. It felt wrong to end her life this way, and when her body went limp, and…
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How to Support A Loved One Struggling with Mental Health Issues
With a decade of experience in this area, I feel an obligation to share with anyone in a similar situation the strategies that have helped us support our loved one and our own mental health along the way.
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Tragedy at Bondi Junction: Who’s really to blame?
None of the current conjecture matters to the victims of Bondi Junction. They won’t witness any hasty amendments the government implements to knife laws, mental health care, or mall security. They won’t see the wreaths of flowers left in their honour, the tears and lifelong sadness of their families, or their children grow up.
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Why Do Anti-depressants Still Get Such a Bad Rap?
I question the responsibility and wisdom of sensationalising the side effects of anti-depressants and potentially alienating the very people whose lives might be saved by them.
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Do I Really Have To Give Up Drinking?
My choice to drink less has nothing to do with “seeing the light” in terms of my health, or because I’ve managed to avoid the dangerous lure of addiction that runs through my family tree. It is not even based on the advice of my doctor – although I’m sure she would back me wholeheartedly.…
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Mental Illness: Why Love and Acceptance Must Be the First Line of Treatment
With love and acceptance – what I believe should be the first-line of treatment for people with mental illness – people like my son feel less isolated, judged and ashamed. Though “tough love” may be the gold standard approach to care for some mental illnesses, it is a risky choice and one that doesn’t necessarily…
LOUISA SIMMONDS 