Acceptance & Commitment Therapy
Interest in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, also known as ACT, is rapidly growing among mental health providers in Australia. With ACT providing a gentle and effective approach to treating mental health difficulties, many counsellors, therapists, social workers, teachers, psychologists, GP’s, occupational therapists, coaches and community nurses have chosen to learn more about what ACT has to offer. ACT offers a simple and modest approach to gaining health and wellbeing at an emotional, physical and mental level. Through teaching mental flexibility, ACT encourages the...
Panic Attack Tip Sheet
An overwhelming sense of sudden fear and anxiety is known as a panic attack. These attacks most commonly affect those who suffer from panic disorder however almost all conditions of anxiety can also have panic attacks in their presentation. When a person experiences repeated panic attacks, it is considered that they are going through a symptom of panic disorder. Often those afflicted will experience significant anticipatory anxiety which can bring on additional panic attack which can then cycle and repeat itself. Panic attacks can occur randomly and without warning however often occur in...
A New Mental Health Paradigm
Mental illness is a term that suggests that someone is sick, their thoughts are distorted and their views are wrong. What if there were a paradigm shift were we viewed mental illness not as a sickness or pathological condition but rather an experience of discomfort, distress and mental pressure that is a normal part of life. The acceptance of the label ‘clinical depression’ would be viewed as experiencing low mood and there would be varying levels of distress that come from this. We would not suggest that depression does not exist but rather see it as a fluid moving series of mood...
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Generalised Anxiety Disorder Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is one of the various forms of anxiety disorders. GAD is believed to be characterised by a person feeling anxious, nervous or worried for most of the time for at least 6 months when they are not under threat of any particular danger. Situations and events that commonly contribute to anxiety are generally based on details relating to finances, family, health, friendship problems, death, workplace issues, trying to maintain others happiness and not wanting to be judged. Approximately 2.7% of adult Australians experience...
Kleptomania
Kleptomania Kleptomania is a psychological disorder in which a person feels an overpowering urge to go out and steal items which have no real use or value to them. A person who suffers from kleptomania generally will feel an urge or tension to steal a vast category of items ranging from paper clips to laptops. When a person with kleptomania steals an item the tension that they feel is suppressed for that moment, but often sufferers find that the urge will just come back stronger. Kleptomania can be debilitating to a person. It arises as an urge, feels like it needs to be suppressed and...
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder described as being fearful of public or open spaces which may be difficult or embarrassing to escape or get away from. A person with agoraphobia will often distance themselves from situations such as crowds, large social interactions, marketplaces, shopping centres, trains, planes etc. Essentially a person with agoraphobia will try to not leave a place in which they perceive to be safe such as their home, and will try to avoid any place they perceive to be dangerous to them, or difficult to escape from. Though busy or crowded places may be...