Lets Talk About It

Anxiety sucks 5 January
Clinically diagnosed anxiety is not just being a bit worried, you can't just "chill out a bit" or "get over it". It eats into your well being, your confidence, your health and your life and it is 24/7. When someone cancels, or ducks out, or makes a pathetic excuse please understand that it isn't personal, it isn't laziness, it isn't being rude. It's because they can't physically do it. When someone needs supporting/encouraging/ hand holding it isn't p...athetic, it isn't attention seeking, it isn't childish - it's because they are desperate to beat it but can't do it alone. "Anxiety sucks, being isolated and believing your friends don't care sucks even more 😢😢. How many of you have had a night out planned, or arranged coffee or a beer with friends and suddenly the 4 walls you inhabit seem the only safe haven because it's the only place you don't have to pretend you are ok, so you cancel. Or when you are invited out you tell them how terribly sorry you are but you're already booked up that weekend, when you are actually just really busy holding it together in your safe box. And so the first problem starts, all by itself. People stop asking you and the isolation that at first wasn't true becomes your only truth. Please don't give up on your friends. Ring them, go round, even when they don't want you to. Because they really do they just don't know how to say it. And in work every passing comment is a negative, you constantly do more to get over the feeling you are not good enough. The exhaustion from not sleeping because you panic all night over what you cannot influence means you make mistakes, you live in a fog and it is a vicious circle. Out of my Facebook friends usually less than 5 will take the time to put this on their wall to help raise awareness of and for those who have mental health difficulties. Rosemary Mather
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It is dark when you get up, dark when you go home from work, temperatures are dropping, and there are probably more delays in traffic and on trains than you would like. We all experience this, but if you have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) life can become very miserable. SAD is a form of depression. Spot the symptoms of depression in yourself or friends and family ... such as being more lethargic, loss of interest in things they like, being more irritable, being in a low mood. If a friend or partner suffers from SAD it isn't easy for them to snap out of it. They need help, maybe from you, or maybe professional help from me. Think about what they may be going through. #seasonalaffectivedisorder #depression

I have consulting rooms here at the Boathouse Surgery in Pangbourne. I usually work from here two days a week. If you feel in need of counselling for Anxiety, Depression or Bereavement, give me a call 0771 516 0337. I also cover Stress and Low self-esteem.

This picture makes me smile. But behind it is the thought of my loved animal going missing and not returning. I help people with Pet Bereavement. Especially to a single person a pet is the centre of their life and loss is highly emotional. Frequently another event in their lives causes depression and ill health. Do not feel afraid to express your feelings, they are only natural and I can fully understand what you are going through. #petbereavement

Christmas is great for people who are happy in their lives. But for those suffering from Bereavement, Anxiety, Depression or Stress it can be challenging to join in the festivities with family and friends. For anyone considering counselling, I am offering a free counselling assessment. In this we will discuss your overall problems and requirements and help you understand the benefit that counselling can bring ... and to give you confidence that my counselling can help you.

Cylex have just published an interview with me. :-) It was a few questions about counselling. Here it is https://www.cylex-uk.co.uk/…/lets-talk- about-it_25940992.ht…

I just picked up a book that I had read some years ago, when I was doing yet more training, and remembered what an excellent book it was. Talking with Bereaved People by Dodie Graves. Being a Bereavement counsellor can be a challenge. When a client can only see the negatives of the bereavement, it is necessary to reflect on the good times. I found that Dodie gave me some good insight then, and I believe I have carried that forward in my professional life. For any prospective counsellor, this is a good read.

This is the peaceful setting of my counselling room. Here you can commit yourself to thinking about your problem and exploring with me your thoughts and how there will be light at the end of the tunnel. The environment is safe and secure and we should be free from disturbances.... and of course everything we discuss will be confidential

http://letstalkaboutit.co.uk/bl…/depres sion-in-the-workplace