Have you ever considered when you get your best ideas? Or what you’re doing when the solution to a problem pops into your head? It might be sitting at your desk in school, or working at a computer, but it could also be doing something unconnected such as taking a shower or washing the dishes. …
The blahs – you’ve maybe been there. It’s that listless feeling of boredom, like nothing excites or satisfies. The French have a different word for it, ‘ennui’, which loosely translates as a weary dissatisfaction with life. You might also recognise the term from the recent film Inside Out 2, where the emotion is illustrated as …
Lazy days in the sun, having picnics, sitting outside with friends all evening – these summer pursuits sound very enjoyable and relaxing. For some, however, the longer days and warm weather bring irritability, discomfort and gloom. This is known as seasonal affective disorder, or SAD. What is SAD? Clinically speaking, SAD is a type of …
What do panic attacks feel like? Imagine you’re out with friends and they decide to go to a funfair. You can’t explain why, but you just don’t feel like going. A sense of unease increases as you approach the crowd. Once there, the noise and lights become overwhelming, you begin to sweat and feel sick. …
How do you do a loving kindness visualisation? Follow these 10 steps: You can read more articles in the latest issue of Teen Breathe magazine.
Why there’s no one way to grieve for a pet In the immediate aftermath of any loss, it’s normal to experience a whole range of feelings. Along with sadness, there might be a sense of injustice, futility, anger and even guilt. Kirsty Godsell, an accredited pet bereavement counsellor based in Dorset in the UK, says …
Why comparing ourselves to others can cause feelings of anxiety Have you ever felt insecure because you haven’t yet experienced some of the things your friends have? It could be that you’re the only one in your friendship group still waiting to go through puberty or you had to take time out of school and …
Why you should schedule your ‘worry time’ Scheduling a short, regular worry time is one way to prevent negative thoughts from dominating the rest of your day. It’s a tool that’s sometimes used by health professionals to help people tackle their concerns and let their worries go. Catherine Hallissey, a chartered psychologist from the Republic …
Read moreHow setting aside ‘worry time’ could help you to reduce your anxiety
What are some signs that you’re suffering from social exhaustion? Signs of social exhaustion might include becoming more irritable, stressed, even anxious. Eventually, you might feel so overwhelmed that you shut off and stop socialising altogether. This behaviour, while understandable, can become problematic if it happens often. ‘If you constantly let your social battery run …
Read moreHow to prevent yourself suffering from social exhaustion
What is anxiety and what are the signs of it? Anxiety is often talked about as if it’s something new, but in fact, it’s an important protective mechanism that dates back to early humans. ‘The reason humans have evolved to have emotions is to teach us and help us remember what we’ve learned,’ explains Natasha …
