Latest news: Psychology

Go easy on yourself and take some simple measures to care for your own mental health and of those around you.

When it comes to eating disorder recovery, stigma and shame are barriers to help-seeking behaviour. Sadly, studies show that 75 per cent of people with an eating disorder do not seek professional help.

It’s one of the first words we learn as infants. In fact, as parents, we actively encourage our infants and children to be able to say ‘No’. “Do you want this to eat? – No”. “Do you want to play with this? – No”. “Do you want to do this? – No”. So, why is it so hard as adults to say no?

Have you ever listened to how you speak to your body? How we feel about our body can affect our mood, self-esteem, eating, engagement in exercise, socialising, romantic relationships and anxiety. In extreme cases, a person with a very negative body image can develop an eating disorder, a severe mental health condition that affects a person’s mental and physical wellbeing.

Seeking help from a therapist can be daunting, but like any long-term relationship, it can take some time to find the right person.

In her regular column for Canberra Daily, ‘Why your mind matters’, founder of Anytime Counselling, Tina Kendall-Davis BA, BEd, DipCouns, GradDipPsyc, offers general advice to help us cope in everyday situations. This week’s topic: See global, act local.

In her occasional column for Canberra Daily, ‘Why your mind matters’, founder of Anytime Counselling, Tina Kendall-Davis BA, BEd, DipCouns, GradDipPsyc, offers general advice to help us cope in everyday situations. This week’s topic: Comparison. The killer of comfort.