Addiction in its different forms is formally referred to as substance abuse and addictive disorders. Previously, we believed that addiction was only related to substances that are consumed. Now, we understand better that behaviors such shopping and gambling are also addictive. Symptoms Symptoms can vary depending on the type of addiction but the common ones are: Craving and compulsive use: Strong cravings and inability to control when substance or behavior is used. Tolerance and Withdrawal: Needing increasing amounts of the behavior or substance to feel satisfied and experiencing significant ..read more

Schizophrenia is a word of greek origin and translates to splitting of the mind. The first part “schiz” mean to split and “phren” means mind. This is because schizophrenia a person experiences a splitting in personality, emotions, thoughts and reality.  Symptoms: The 3 groups of symptoms of schizophrenia are: Positive symptoms (positive here means the presence of something, think of a plus sign, rather than something good):  Hallucinations – experiencing sensations that are not there (auditory – hearing sounds that aren’t there like someone talking to you; visual – seeing things tha ..read more

One very common symptom of depression is feeling no desire to do much. This is seen especially with regard to things we previously enjoyed doing. The symptom is not about whether you do these things or not. This is because sometimes, we show up and do things even though on the inside, we’re not present or struggling. This is especially common in the African society, where depression can look different. Whether or not you’re in therapy or on medication for depression, here are some helpful ways to cope with depression.  Physical Activity A lot of research has been done to find out whether ..read more

  Many research  studies using a technique called fMRI, have shown the power our thoughts have on emotions, behavior and experience in life. More than 90% of your life is shaped by the thoughts you have about yourself and others, as well as your experiences. Read more about this here. With this in mind, it is necessary for you to be intentional in learning to reshape your thoughts so that they are more positive/healthier. Being intentional about this really shifts the manner in which you live and go through life. Here are 4 ways to do this.  Gratitude Gratitude is a great way to ..read more

As an unashamed fan of unscripted television, there isn’t much that shocks me. Being a genre of TV known for exposing the good, the bad, and the ugly, it gets away with a lot under the pretence of depicting raw, unfiltered reality. There is, however, something deeply unsettling about the wave of shows on South African TV that make entertainment out of supposedly mediating people’s deeply personal struggles, potentially re-traumatising them in the process. This isn’t to say that television has no role in confronting difficult topics. There is value in holding up a mirror to the dark underbelly ..read more

The state of mental health among Africans in Africa and beyond, is less than ideal. We are gradually learning that there are very unhealthy aspects of African culture, that harm our mental health. Examples include suppression of the opinions and abuse of children in the name of ‘discipline,’ the art of presenting a “perfect” appearance and covering up terrible things, amongst others. This can make it easy to condemn our culture altogether.  However, there’s a saying that, “You don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.” There are positive African values that when applied in a healthy ma ..read more

I found out about therapy about 5-6 years ago. I was skeptical about trying it for a number of reasons. At first it was because I didn’t think I could afford it. Then later on, I was just nervous about going to have an awkward interaction with a stranger. About 2 years ago, some work issues caused my self esteem to get even worse than it previously was so I decided to try therapy. I had two sessions over a 5 month period. I didn’t really like it. I didn’t want to try again. Then I had 3 miscarriages within a year. That broke me. I couldn’t cope. I didn’t know what to do. After conversations wi ..read more

Psychologist, counselor, psychiatrist, social worker etc., are all types of mental health professionals you’ve probably heard about before. The question is what’s the difference? What do they do and who do I need to see for what I need? Well, ask no more. This article will address these questions. It will also help guide anyone interested in studying to become a mental health professional, to decide which path to chose. Note that in mental health practice, any of the professionals below who conducts psychotherapy with clients is referred to as a therapist. In many countries, these professional ..read more

Seeking support for mental health challenges for the first time can be nerve wracking.  Navigating something so crucial alone can be overwhelming. You’re contacting a complete stranger whom you hope can help you work through the challenges you’re facing. So where do you start from? We have put together a few things that might help make starting therapy a little less daunting. Looking for a Therapist/Professional Counselor Once you have decided on starting therapy, you may do your own research or get a referral/recommendation from someone. Keep in mind that one person’s experience wit ..read more

Definition Anxiety is a mood characterized by strong feelings of fear and worry. Symptoms include heart palpitations, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, chest pain, hyperventilation (rapid breathing), trembling, stomach/digestive problems, avoiding things and situations that cause anxiety, nightmares, headaches, panic attacks feelings that something bad is going to happen (dread). These symptoms can be situational or exist continuously.  Causes Like many mental health conditions, the cause of this disorder is one or a combination of the following: genes, life experiences (especially tr ..read more