Mental health crisis: Responding to Someone in Need
Sadly, people in our communities sometimes experience a mental health crisis or even end their own lives. How do you recognise when someone is struggling, and what can you do to help? People often avoid bringing up concerns to their friends, fearing they might make things worse. Unsure what to do, they try to distract. …
Strategies for dealing with unhealthily high levels of anxiety
Anxiety is an important emotion as it keeps us physically safe. When a psychotic rabies-infected emu threatens to maul you, anxiety will prompt you to flee the danger. But that doesn’t happen often. Unhealthily high anxiety levels are generally not helpful. Words: Paul Martin is the Senior Psychologist at the Centre for Human Potential. Anxiety can severely …
Avoid addiction: recreational drug use during party season
Clutch your pearls and hose off your powdered apricot crotchet short shorts. It is party season! For some in our communities, a central element of partying is recreational drug use. While this can add a sense of fun to the festivities, there are obvious risks including addiction. Being human and given the way our brains …
Gender Diversity and coming out – shame versus PRIDE
Shame can often prove a roadblock to coming out as gender diverse (or LGBPA+). Fortunately, with a deeper understanding of it and strategies, shame about gender diversity is something that can be overcome! Paul Martin is Senior Psychologist at the Centre for Human Potential (CFHP). Shame is one of the most powerful emotions we have …
Relationship Checkup! Valentine’s Day is the ideal opportunity
On Valentine’s Day, we celebrate love. But Paul Martin says it’s also an excellent opportunity to perform a relationship checkup. Paul Martin is the Senior Psychologist at the Centre for Human Potential. Being in love and in a relationship (or multiple relationships if you are polygamous), is one of life’s great joys. It can provide …
Gender diversity: Getting support to find your authentic self
“Nature loves diversity. Unfortunately, society hates it.” This quote from the grandfather of gender diversity Micky Diamond summarises so much about the unnecessary damage done to many in our LGBTIQ+ communities. Gender and sexual diversity is in our species DNA. However, sadly, our brains also hard-wired wariness of others who seem different to ourselves. Consequently, …
How to avoid the mental health pitfalls of COVID-19 isolation
Social connections with our fellow humans is not just something that adds richness to our lives. We actually need to do it for our mental health. Social isolation can lead to underlying psychological issues becoming amplified or re-triggered. It can also add new psychological problems. Outcomes can include anxiety, depression, conflict, outbursts of anger, and …