Monday, 13 July 2015

Causes of Anxiety in Women and How to Alleviate Them?

In the modern times, anxiety has become more common among women than men in Bondi Junction, NSW. While some anxiety issues rise from societal and cultural expectations, others may also be triggered by hormonal imbalances occurring in the body, the former being the primary cause.

Stress At Workplace :
While this can be the cause of stress for most people, the workplace of a woman is more likely of including discrimination and harassment, as well as work pressure. All of these can be quite difficult to combat with, because it is often subtle and easy for miscreants to deny or disguise their wrongful deeds. Besides that, work pressure can also take tolls on a woman trying to maintain balance between office and home.

Overload of Domestic Responsibility :
Women are usually expected to perform the duties of two or more members within a household. Most men are culturally brought up or trained to regard that women bear the primary responsibility of conducting domestic tasks like cleaning, cooking, and attending children. Such a situation can be extremely stressful for a woman who also has to work outside home.

Sexist Demeanors from Family :
Besides being assigned with additional domestic responsibilities, women are often pressured by their family members to pursue specific goals like getting married, bearing children, or doing jobs with low pay so that it does not overawe a spouse. Such pressure can be very stressful for a woman because it becomes very difficult to maintain a positive connection with those family members.

Hormonal Changes :
During the course of her life, a woman will often find her hormones thrown off from balance quite often. Most of the times, it can adversely affect her physically as well as emotionally. Hormonal imbalances can have many symptoms that trigger anxiety, like cramps, irregular growth of hair, hot flashes and sleep disorders. Some of the common natural causes for hormonal imbalances include -
  • Menstrual cycle
  • Pregnancy
  • Lactation
  • Menopause
  • Thyroid dysfunction
Besides these natural factors, hormonal imbalances may also be caused by some unnatural causes, such as -
  • Obesity
  • Contraceptive pills
  • Consumption of animal products that are non-organic
  • Overuse of cosmetics

Ways to Alleviate Anxiety :
No matter what the cause maybe, anxiety can be successfully coped up with and also alleviated by following certain measures. Domestic responsibilities can be shared equally with other members in the family. If one or more family members are pressurising to do something, a respectful explanation should be provided about the resulting discomfort. To maintain an equilibrium between home and work, your daily tasks and responsibilities should be analysed or help from a reputed counsellor in Bondi Junction must be taken. Adequate amount of sleep and a properly balanced diet are necessary as well. Oriental and holistic treatments or therapies can also help to combat stress. 

Monday, 6 July 2015

Why and When Should You Seek Couple Counselling?

While most statistical records show that around 50 per cent of first wedlocks in Bondi end in separation, the matter of major concern is that this figure has been constant for the last three decades. All these prove that the rates of marriage are supposedly on the slump. 

Divorce rates vary with couples’ level of education and several other influencing factors. But the consequences of divorce are harsh on couples and their children. Children involved in the divorce may also experience adverse effects like denial, aggression, guilt, blame, and feelings of abdication. 

Divorce is not always the best solution and can turn things upside down for many people. A couple encountering marriage problems should thus seek always counselling for many reasons before taking the decision of divorce. 

Negative Communication :
If communication between couples starts deteriorating, it can often be very difficult to put things back in order. Negative communication may make partners feel depressed, disregarded and insecure, and keep them from having amiable conversations with their spouse. Sometimes, it may even lead to physical and mental abuse.

Extra-marital Affairs :
If one of the partners has had an extra-marital affair, it can be very difficult for the other one to recover from the shock. It takes a great deal of will power to forgive as well as move forward. Couple counselling can help a lot in salvaging such marriages and determining ways for both partners to take things in the right direction.

Inability to Resolve Differences :
Sometimes couples who are experiencing problems in their married life might be trying to sort out the differences, but are just not being able to find the right ways to do it. They are aware of the discord, and struggling to put an end to it. In such cases, involving a third party can be a wise decision. A skilled counsellor may be able to help them resolve their differences.

When Children are The Only Reason for a Couple To Stay Together :
It may so happen that couples emotionally distant from each other are staying together only for the sake of their children. But sometimes this can have a negative impact on the kids. Usually they can detect the fake happiness exhibited by their parents. Seeking couple counselling in Bondi can help to find ways for bridging the emotional gap between such partners, which in turn is definitely beneficial for the children involved as well. 

Friday, 12 June 2015

Depression During Pregnancy and Ways to Tackle it

Most of us might think that pregnancy is a time of cheerfulness, but this is not the case always, and also not for all women. Around 1 in every 10 women suffer from prolonged periods of depression when they are pregnant. You may feel like it is just a part of your normal mood fluctuations, but at times it can be more than a mere feeling of sadness. If not addressed to properly at the right time, it can turn into a serious issue.

There are several symptoms of pregnancy depression, and they vary from one person to another. Some women tend to experience low mood most of the time, while others feel sorrowful and irritable, or unworthy and may want to give up on themselves. Here are some of the commonly prevalent symptoms:
  • concentration problems
  • restlessness and bad temper
  • insomnia
  • acute and extreme fatigue
  • consistent negative thoughts
  • insatiable hunger or total loss of appetite
  • low spirits
  • helplessness and tearful
Depression during pregnancy can be the outcome of several factors, the most common being stressful events of daily life, physical problems such as morning sickness or heartburns, past experiences with childbirth complications, past infertility problems, emotional abuse or personal depression history.
Fortunately, there are certain effective and prudent solutions that you can follow if you are experiencing depression during pregnancy.
  • Try to talk about your problems with your midwife. Explain your condition and how you have been feeling.
  • Don’t let the sudden change in your life majorly affect your regular style of living. Give yourself adequate amount of priority. Read books, meet up with friends or go for short evening walks. 
  • Try some exercise to improve your mood. Swimming, pregnancy yoga, aquanatal classes and walking are some ideal options.
  • Instead of trying to withdraw from everyone, discuss your problems with your partner, friends and family. Their support can often work wonders and help you get rid of acute feelings of uselessness and undeserving.
  • Support groups and group therapy are also quite beneficial and may help you to break out from the repetitive cycle of pessimistic contemplation.
  • Share your experiences and feelings with others who might be going through the same problems as you. You can also learn how they are tackling their depression, and use those methods to cope with your own.
If none of the above methods seem to working out for you, then it is time for you to get some professional help. Book an appointment with the French psychologist Jade Couquaux, and get relief from your depression with her profound counselling and careful guidance.


Thursday, 4 June 2015

Relationship Advice for Couples


A healthy and a strong relationship can be the best support in your life. A good relationship can always strengthen your health, improve different aspects of your life, boost up your mood and help keep good connections with others who have value in your life. 

But if your relationship is not working, it can be an enormous drain. Relationships, after all, are like an investment. More you will put in, more you will get back. Here are some advice for couples who are having a tough time with their spouse in maintaining a good relationship. Read this out to know how to strengthen your relationship. 

Resolve conflict wisely :
It is natural for couples to fight but the way it is done is important. Some couples discuss things out quietly while there are some who raise their voices. No matter how you do it, the main point is you should not be fearful in expressing things that bother you and must be able to resolve conflict without humiliating your partner or insisting on the fact that you are always right. 

Keep outside relationships & interests alive :
Never expect everything from one person. That person won't be able to fulfil all your needs and expectations. If you do, you are simply putting unhealthy pressure on the relationship, which is not needed at all. Have friends and outside interests. This would not only strengthen your social network but also bring new insights & stimulation to your relation. 

Don't stop communicating :
Communication is one of the main ingredients of a strong relationship. It is very essential for couples to communicate their feelings, their needs, fears as well as desires because that strengthens the trust and bonds. Nowadays, there is lack of communication in many couples and that triggers a relationship  to go through most problems. 

Be intimate physically :
Getting physically involved and keeping the intimacy alive is the cornerstone of a relationship. Having sex is not only the method of physical intimacy. Affectionate touch on a regular basis like hugging, holding hands or kissing is important as well. While touch is an important part of maintaining a healthy relationship, it is even important to know what your spouse actually likes. Inappropriate overtures or unwanted touching may make your partner tense up & retreat, which you would definitely not want. 

If you are looking for more relationship advice, then you can visit a counsellor who offers relationship counselling in Bondi Junction. Some couples even benefit from the spiritual advices given by religious figures.