This blog is the final blog in our series on happiness Our brains are wired to prioritise our survival over happiness.  Throughout evolution, humans have become predisposed to focus on potential threats and negative experiences as a means of self-preservation. This makes sense.  However, this negativity bias can overshadow positive emotions and make it challenging to sustain feelings of happiness. Yet, our modern world is replete with images of happy people, social media is saturated with this.  We also now have so much, yet this gap between what we wish for and the way our brai ..read more

In attempting to understand happiness, we need to look at un-happiness, or discomfort. It is true that much of life is unsatisfactory, filled with imperfections, discomfort and pain. When we fight with this, we only suffer more. We also cannot know happiness if we do not know sorrow. The beginnings of contentment arise when we can hold both of these notions.  Life is difficult and involves suffering, and embracing joy and sorrow equally is the beginning of greater understanding. The actual word ‘happiness’ contributes to this problem.  Happiness implies a state free from pain or disc ..read more

We all want to be happy.  Typically, we also want more happiness in our lives.  It is a worthwhile pursuit if we try to obtain happiness in skilful ways.  But what is happiness?  In the first blog in our series we discussed how having-it-all is no guarantee of happiness.  So how do we find happiness?    The Role of the Mind Happiness is all about perspective. The mind is the key.  We perceive the world through our senses and our mind.  Obtaining more of something doesn’t ultimately bring happiness because we are still vulnerable to our runaway minds ..read more

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are two distinct mental health conditions, but they can co-occur in some individuals. There is some evidence to suggest that there may be an association between them. Here’s an overview of  ADHD and PTSD. Common Symptoms:  One of the challenges in understanding ADHD and PTSD is that they can “look” very similar to the untrained eye. For example, both ADHD and PTSD can present with symptoms of hyperarousal. In ADHD, these symptoms are typically related to a biologically driven hyperactive state, p ..read more

Western Ideas of Happiness In the West, happiness is often associated with conquest and acquisition.  At a more personal level, this tends to equate to materialism and striving for more. More money, greater beauty, more sex or more power. Yet, this striving has the potential to undo the very thing that we are searching for.  An inexhaustible appetite for more, means that our satisfaction is only ever, at best, temporary.  It is not long before we are wanting more. Social media exacerbates this tendency to compare ourselves, and inevitably we judge ourselves as lacking. This mind ..read more

The pursuit of happiness is so often an elusive endeavour. Of course, we all want to feel happy. But the reality is that happiness can be hard to find. And then when we do find happiness, we can’t hold onto it, we can’t make it last. This is the truth about happiness. It is fleeting and ephemeral. In contrast, so much of our lives are complex and challenging. Life brings stress and distress, anything but happiness. Many people are also afraid to be happy, to let go of worry or sadness. It can be hard to enjoy the moment. Old habits can die hard, and worry or despair can feel like familiar comp ..read more

Nearly all psychological conditions can negatively impact your sleep in some way. Anxiety and Depression Can Disrupt Sleep For example, anxiety can make it hard to fall asleep at the start of the night or return to sleep if you wake during the night. A racing mind is not conducive to sleep, and worry can escalate in the quiet of night when you have nothing else to focus upon.  It can be hard to quieten your mind and find calm, especially if you begin to worry about the fact that you aren’t falling asleep, and how hard tomorrow is going to be for you! Depression can also contribute to waki ..read more

This is part two of a blog series. You will find part one here. There is a huge amount of advice about strategies to improve sleep. Yet, how should you decide what to do to sleep better? Back in 2017, I tested out 25 different sleep strategies for two weeks each. I rated each strategy based upon four criteria. These are my top four strategies. 1. Stimulus control: 85/100 Only go to bed when sleepy. Don’t use the bed or bedroom for anything apart from sleep or sex. If you can’t fall asleep within 15-20 minutes, get out of bed and do something relaxing in another room until you feel sleepy agai ..read more

Living with someone who has Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be challenging, and it’s important to take care of your own well-being while providing support. Here are seven important reminders to help you live with someone with PTSD: Educate Yourself: Take the time to learn about PTSD, its symptoms, and how it can affect your loved one. Understanding the condition is the first step in offering meaningful support. Understanding what PTSD is (a combination of re-experiencing symptoms like flashbacks and nightmares, avoidance of triggers, high arousal, and negative mood and beliefs) will ..read more

Which Sleep Strategies are Most Helpful for You? Seeing a Psychologist For Sleep Problems It can be a huge step going to see a psychologist for the first time. Often, people put off seeking help. It is not unusual to want help with an issue that you have had for a long time, which is causing you a great deal of distress. Sleep difficulties are no different. People often underestimate the important role a psychologist can have with helping with sleep difficulties. Whether it is depression, anxiety, sleeping difficulties, work stress or relationship concerns, you have probably already researched ..read more