Anxiety, anxiety derry, anxiety londonderry, panic attacks, stress, low mood

WHY DO I FEEL WORTHLESS?

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WHY DO I FEEL WORTHLESS

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought, ‘I look a mess, who on earth would ever love me.’ Believe it or not, this is a common phrase that a lot of people would say to themselves. They feel they are worthless and put little value on who they are. Of course, there are times when we all dislike who we are; however, if we loathe our actions and thoughts continually, it can be a sure sign of low self-esteem issues. Our worst critic

is ourselves. This internal critic repeatedly tells us that we are stupid and unlovable. Unfortunately, this voice is so convincing; we come to believe that what it says is true. We are so familiar with this voice as it’s been a companion of ours for years. Unfortunately, this companion is not a true friend.

To silence this internal critic, we have to consciously challenge the negative voice in our head by replacing the lie with an alternative statement. It’s not easy, but with practice and determination, the old critic voice will soon start to disappear. Try and be your own best friend. Remember, if you wouldn’t say these harsh things to your best friend, why on earth would you say it to yourself.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TRAVEL-LIGHT-HANDBOOK-MENTAL-HEALTH/dp/191626

 

 

Lose Those January Blues

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Article I wrote in 2011

This year has been particularly hard in getting back to work as we have all had such a long break. Our internal clocks are all turned upside down; most of us have gone to bed late and then overslept the next morning. It’s called having ‘Social Jet Lag.’

Source: Lose Those January Blues

How to relax no matter who you are

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Anger is a very strong emotion and unfortunately it can be a very destructive one. Although getting angry is a fact of life, it’s when it turns to rage is where the real problems happen. When people lose control and get into a rage they not only damage themselves but other people as well.

So what happens to our bodies when we get annoyed and frustrated? Why do we lose control? When we perceive fear, our body moves into a ‘fight or flight mode’ Even if we really are not in danger our body still reacts. All of a sudden our body is ready for ACTION! During this stage we don’t stop to think what is happening our bodies, we are too wound up with the event that is happening around us. The main physiological change that happens is the change in our breathing. Practicing and learning healthy breathing techniques will be of great benefit to the individual at this time.

When we are uptight we have a tendency to shallow breathe and to breath irregularly. Unfortunately when this happens oxygen finds it difficult to get into our blood system. It is important when we breath that enough oxygen is inhaled in order to purify our blood from toxic and poisonous waste. If we do not get enough oxygen it can cause us to feel tired and anxious. The best way of doing this is to practice breathing techniques.

Some people try these exercises and after a minute or so think it’s not working and give up. You need to set aside at least 15 minutes at a time to get any benefit from it.

  • Sit on a chair with you hands on your lap.
  • Inhale slowly through your nose on a slow count of three
  • Push stomach out as you breathe in.
  • Breathe out through your mouth on a count of six
  • As you breath out, drop you shoulders.

Repeat three or four times. You will soon begin to feel your body becoming more rested and relaxed. This technique will help to reduce muscle tension and manage the effects of the ‘fight or flight’ mode. By doing this exercise regularly, it will soon become a habit and will help to deal with life’s daily challenges.
Although these breathing techniques can be very helpful to reduce stress, it must be stated that it is important to go and see a qualified health professional if symptoms persist.

LINDA MARGARET COWAN
http://www.counsellingcaresersvicesni.co.uk