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Feeling under pressure to have the ‘perfect Christmas’?
After the restrictions and disappointments of last year, Christmas 2021 can’t come quickly enough for some people, with many…
Going back to work after parental leave
Feelings of uncertainty, separation anxiety and guilt are all very normal for someone who’s returning to work after parental…
Anti-Bullying Week: overcoming the impact of bullying
Being bullied can have a major impact on us, however old we are when it happens. This week (15th-19th November) is Anti-Bullying…
Covid-19
Handling Anxiety on Public Transport
Whether it’s something that bothered you before the pandemic, or you’re nervous about starting to travel by bus, train or…
Getting back into the swing of things at work
While the furlough scheme is due to end on 30th September, many people who were supported by the Coronavirus Job Retention…
Getting used to 'life after the vaccine'
With every day that passes, the number of people in the UK who’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 rises. This is naturally…
Leaving lockdown
Transitions can be hard – and we’ve experienced a lot of them over the past year! Even a transition which is viewed as a…
Alan's story
“I was finding life really difficult. It wasn’t just related to the pandemic, and to lockdown – but that didn’t help, on…
Anxious about lockdown lifting? 5 tips to consider and cope with anxiety
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to heightened levels of anxiety over the last 12 months, both during lockdown and when restrictions…
Dealing with disrupted plans
Do you know anyone who rushed off to book a holiday as soon as the government announced its roadmap for leaving lockdown?…
Preparing for ‘a jab’ if you don’t like needles
The number of people receiving a coronavirus vaccination is rising every day, which is good news for all of us. For anyone…
Living through a pandemic when you have OCD
This time last year, someone who felt so worried about becoming ill that they followed strict rules about wearing a mask…
Overcoming feelings of loneliness
It’s not unusual to experience feelings of isolation or loneliness in the winter months, as bad weather and dark evenings…
Managing the long-term effects of coronavirus
One in 20 people who’ve had coronavirus are likely to end up suffering from ‘Long COVID’, according to data from ZOE’s COVID…
How to handle winter 2020
It’s likely that very few of us are looking forward to winter this year! With coronavirus restrictions still in place up…
Covid 19: Are you struggling?
When it comes to the coronavirus pandemic, everyone’s in the same storm – but we’re all in different boats. Everybody’s…
Coronavirus: Coping with worries about money
Financial concerns are affecting a lot of us at the moment. Some people will have lost their jobs due to coronavirus, or…
Coronavirus: Coping with grief and loss
Many of us have experienced losses of one kind or another during the coronavirus pandemic. The structure and routine of our…
Preparing to go back to school
The thought of going back to school after the summer break has always brought up mixed feelings. Moving up to a new class…
How do you feel about leaving lockdown?
If you’re a bit nervous about lockdown easing, or apprehensive at the thought of starting to go out more, you won’t be alone.…
Returning to work as lockdown eases
If you’ve been furloughed or working from home, your employer may have contacted you about going back to work, in line with…
Men’s Health Week 2020: Protect your mental health during COVID-19
Almost one fifth of men say their mental health has got worse since the start of the coronavirus outbreak, according to research…
Coping with exam stress
We all feel a certain amount of stress about taking exams, but the coronavirus has brought a lot of changes that might be…
Coronavirus FAQs: making sense of how you feel
The word ‘unprecedented’ is used a lot at the moment, but it’s true that we’re all experiencing something we’ve never been…
How to cope with low mood in lockdown
It’s undeniable that our lives have been turned upside down by the coronavirus outbreak. Work life, home life, social life…they’ve…
Coping in a time of uncertainty and disruption with the coronavirus outbreak
Many of us will currently be feeling anxious, on edge and down about the coronavirus outbreak. This is understandable, as…
Our position on COVID-19: Supporting our partners and patients with easily accessible…
We're open, we're building our online therapy capacity, and we're here to support the NHS in any way we can, over the coming…
Sleep
How CBT can help you get a better night's sleep
In our previous blogs about sleep, we’ve looked at why sleep difficulties can happen(sleep-and-mental-health), and how they’re…
10 tips for a better night's sleep
10 tips for a better night’s sleep We spend up to a third of our lives asleep! It’s really important for both our physical…
Sleep and mental health
We all have restless nights now and again. Things like stress, the temperature in our bedroom and something we’ve eaten or…
Anxiety
Handling Anxiety on Public Transport
Whether it’s something that bothered you before the pandemic, or you’re nervous about starting to travel by bus, train or…
Waking up with anxiety
Have you ever suddenly jolted awake in the middle of the night with your heart pounding? Or do you wake in the morning feeling…
Coping with a break-up
Going through a break-up can be extremely difficult in a number of ways: emotionally, practically, financially and socially.…
Getting used to 'life after the vaccine'
With every day that passes, the number of people in the UK who’ve been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 rises. This is naturally…
Managing health anxiety as we come out of lockdown
People who experience health anxiety may find it has intensified in recent weeks, as the UK gradually emerges from lockdown.…
Why am I getting these symptoms…?
Have you ever experienced physical symptoms to do with your heart or your breathing, and Googled them to find out what they…
The difference between panic attacks and anxiety attacks
The terms ‘panic attack’ and ‘anxiety attack’ are sometimes used interchangeably, but the two things are not quite the same.…
What does anxiety feel like?
We’ve looked at the symptoms of anxiety in a previous blog, including the common physical and emotional feelings that tend…
5 tips for managing health anxiety
People with health anxiety find themselves worrying a lot about getting ill, or that they might already be ill. In particular,…
Social anxiety and phone calls
Would you rather do just about anything than pick up the phone? Do you put calls off for as long as possible? Does your heart…
Overthinking
Most of us are prone to overthinking at times. We might go over and over something in our mind, or wrestle for days with…
Breathing exercises for anxiety
When we’re feeling anxious, our breathing is one of the things that can be impacted very quickly. Anxiety triggers a number…
Online CBT
The legacy of Dr Aaron Beck – the ‘father of CBT’
You may never have heard of Dr Aaron Beck until this week, but if you’ve ever had cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) you’ll…
CBT for people with learning disabilities
Around 2% of adults in the UK have a learning disability. Of this group, 40% experience problems with their mental health,…
9 assumptions about CBT
When we talk to people about CBT, we often find there are things they’ve heard or believe about the treatment that don’t…
Using CBT to manage pain
Perhaps the title of this blog made you do a double take! But psychological therapies including CBT are recommended by the…
Those ‘intrusive thoughts’ – and what to do about them
We’ve looked at intrusive thoughts – what they are and why we might have them – in a couple of earlier blogs. This time we’re…
Expanding choice with video therapy
Giving people a choice of ways they can access mental health treatment is important. If someone is able to participate in…
The psychological impact of diabetes
Having diabetes can affect people both physically and psychologically. In this blog we share a few ideas and CBT-based techniques…
How CBT can help after a sexual assault
If you’ve experienced a sexual assault in the past, you may have found yourself thinking more about it lately due to recent…
Managing long-term conditions: asthma and arthritis
Being diagnosed with a long-term medical condition can have a significant psychological impact, and this can vary hugely…
Dealing with anger
Feeling angry is OK. It’s a commonly held view that anger is something we should try to suppress, or avoid feeling altogether,…
Alan's story
“I was finding life really difficult. It wasn’t just related to the pandemic, and to lockdown – but that didn’t help, on…
Why am I having these thoughts?
Many of us have thoughts at different times in our lives that leave us worried, confused and even distressed. If you’ve ever…
Students
Making the most of uni life
Whether you’re a fresher, or you’re going back to campus for the first time in ages, the excitement of being at university…
University Mental Health Day 2021: Some ways to stay OK
With students across the UK still dealing with lots of disruption and uncertainty, University Mental Health Day – which falls…
Overcoming feelings of loneliness
It’s not unusual to experience feelings of isolation or loneliness in the winter months, as bad weather and dark evenings…
Talking to youngsters about mental health
One in eight children has a diagnosable mental health disorder, according to the charity Young Minds, while one in six young…
Covid 19: Are you struggling?
When it comes to the coronavirus pandemic, everyone’s in the same storm – but we’re all in different boats. Everybody’s…
Preparing to go back to school
The thought of going back to school after the summer break has always brought up mixed feelings. Moving up to a new class…
Waiting for results day: how to manage your mental health
Awaiting exam results can be stressful enough, without throwing lockdown into the mix! For this year’s GCSE and A Level students,…
Coping with exam stress
We all feel a certain amount of stress about taking exams, but the coronavirus has brought a lot of changes that might be…
University Mental Health Day: How to support the student in your life
Students’ mental health has been prioritised by government organisations and the NHS in recent years. Events like University…
University mental health awareness day: How to start a conversation about your mental…
Despite the romantic image we often have of student life, for a lot of people university doesn’t live up to those high expectations…
Recognising changes to your mental health at university
By the time you go to university, you’ve some hopes and dreams to pack in your suitcase. Freedom beckons; your future awaits.…
Mental Health at University
University life is unique in many ways. It’s probably the only time you’ll enjoy the freedom of being able to wake up when…
Depression
How to cope with losing a pet
We all know about the special bond that exists between humans and their pets. In fact, enjoying the companionship of a pet…
Coping with a break-up
Going through a break-up can be extremely difficult in a number of ways: emotionally, practically, financially and socially.…
Overcoming feelings of loneliness
It’s not unusual to experience feelings of isolation or loneliness in the winter months, as bad weather and dark evenings…
How to help someone with depression
If you have a friend or family member who is depressed – or who you think might be depressed – it’s natural to want to help…
How to support a loved one suffering from depression
Watching someone you love suffer from depression is upsetting; their pain can sometimes become your pain. Often, family and…
Depression Awareness Week: Don’t keep depression under your hat
It’s Depression Awareness Week and this year focuses on challenging the stigma that many people with depression experience. Depression…
Stress
Understanding PTSD
What comes to mind when you think about post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? You might think about servicemen and women,…
Why am I getting these symptoms…?
Have you ever experienced physical symptoms to do with your heart or your breathing, and Googled them to find out what they…
Coping with exam stress
We all feel a certain amount of stress about taking exams, but the coronavirus has brought a lot of changes that might be…
Managing stress at work
Pressure on workers in many organisations has risen in recent years, especially in public services. Rising demands and tighter…
5 signs you might be experiencing chronic stress
Chronic stress is when someone has been suffering from the physical and mental effects of excessive pressure and strain over…
The importance of stress awareness
Three quarters of respondents to a 2018 study carried out by the Mental Health Foundation said they’d experienced stress…
How does CBT help stress?
‘I’m stressed!’ is something most of us have said at one time or another when we’re feeling under strain. But what does ‘stress’…
Entrepreneurs and stress
The number of entrepreneurs, sole traders and SMEs is on the rise, in fact according to the Department of Business, Innovation…
Tips for managing stress
If you have recognised that you might be struggling with stress, there are things you can do to help you manage, from lifestyle…
Spotting the signs of stress
Stress is something we hear about a lot and it is generally accepted as a normal part of busy lives. Many of us feel like…
What is stress?
It's Mental Health Awareness Week, and this year's theme is focusing on stress. We talk about stress a lot, but what is…
OCD
Demystifying OCD
Most people have heard of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), but misconceptions about the condition are common. The one…
Perfectionism
Perfectionism isn’t a disorder in itself, but it’s something we see as a trait across various conditions including anxiety,…
Living through a pandemic when you have OCD
This time last year, someone who felt so worried about becoming ill that they followed strict rules about wearing a mask…
How can I tell if I need therapy?
In recent months there’s been a focus on our physical health, which isn’t surprising. However, the coronavirus pandemic has…
Long Term Health conditions
The psychological impact of diabetes
Having diabetes can affect people both physically and psychologically. In this blog we share a few ideas and CBT-based techniques…
Managing long-term conditions: asthma and arthritis
Being diagnosed with a long-term medical condition can have a significant psychological impact, and this can vary hugely…
Moving on from a diabetes diagnosis
Being told by your doctor that you have diabetes can come as a shock. It might be hard to come to terms with the diagnosis,…
World Health Day 2016: Diabetes
The link between physical and mental health is very strong, regardless of what the illness is. If you have the flu, it is…
Workplace
Going back to work after parental leave
Feelings of uncertainty, separation anxiety and guilt are all very normal for someone who’s returning to work after parental…
What is burnout?
The pandemic has caused some people to experience work related burnout – and not only those in professions such as nursing,…
Getting back into the swing of things at work
While the furlough scheme is due to end on 30th September, many people who were supported by the Coronavirus Job Retention…
Returning to work as lockdown eases
If you’ve been furloughed or working from home, your employer may have contacted you about going back to work, in line with…
Managing stress at work
Pressure on workers in many organisations has risen in recent years, especially in public services. Rising demands and tighter…
Entrepreneurs and stress
The number of entrepreneurs, sole traders and SMEs is on the rise, in fact according to the Department of Business, Innovation…
Would you know where to go for mental health support in your workplace?
Rising numbers of employees face demotion, disciplinary action and even dismissal for disclosing a mental health issue to…
The six main causes of stress at work (and how to avoid them)
Stress is something that will likely affect all of us at some point in our lives. According to the Health and Safety Executive…
Perinatal
Going back to work after parental leave
Feelings of uncertainty, separation anxiety and guilt are all very normal for someone who’s returning to work after parental…
When dads feel down: coping with being a new father
Did you know that men can get postnatal depression (PND) as well as women? Fathers experience hormonal changes after they’ve…
Advice on coping with post-natal depression
When someone is pregnant, they’re presented with a picture by the media and people around them of how life should be: a perfect…
Being a good enough mother
What is a good enough mother? So many of us beat ourselves up for not being a “good enough mother.” The responsibility and…
The challenges of motherhood
There are many challenges in motherhood. Pregnancy and the post-natal period is one of the times in a woman’s life when she…
Postnatal Depression
Having a baby is a huge and life-changing event for every mother. During pregnancy, women will experience many emotional…
Mother’s Day and Mental Health
Being a mum is no easy feat – it takes a lot of sacrifice and hard work to care for and nurture children. Motherhood brings…
Here are some tips for coping with postnatal depression
However much you may have prepared and planned for a baby, no one can quite prepare you for what life will be like once it…
Awareness Days
Anti-Bullying Week: overcoming the impact of bullying
Being bullied can have a major impact on us, however old we are when it happens. This week (15th-19th November) is Anti-Bullying…
The Samaritans: Talk to us
When you notice the signs that you’re developing a cold – tickly throat, sneezing – do you try to head it off by taking vitamin…
Mental Health Awareness Week: The restorative power of nature
Has spending time outdoors helped you feel better during the pandemic? Have you found yourself noticing nature more? Lots…
Creating better mental healthcare for more people
For this year’s World Health Day (Wednesday 7th April), the World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling on people to join…
10 great books about wellbeing and mental health
Many of us have been reflecting more on our lives recently. Here are 10 of the best books to read if you’re looking for inspiration,…
A better new year?
We tend to see a new year as symbolic of a new beginning. This year, many people’s hopes are high that 2021 will be better…
World Suicide Prevention Day 2020
The theme of World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September) is ‘working together to prevent suicide’. According to the World…
World Health Day 2020
The mission of this year’s World Health Day (7th April) – decided long before the coronavirus crisis began – is more relevant…
The importance of stress awareness
Three quarters of respondents to a 2018 study carried out by the Mental Health Foundation said they’d experienced stress…
When Mother's Day is a difficult time
For lots of people, Mother’s Day is a time to remember and appreciate their mums, and thank them for everything they’ve done.…
10 tips for a better night's sleep
10 tips for a better night’s sleep We spend up to a third of our lives asleep! It’s really important for both our physical…
University Mental Health Day: How to support the student in your life
Students’ mental health has been prioritised by government organisations and the NHS in recent years. Events like University…
In an emergency Call 111 - if you urgently need medical help or advice but it is not a life threatening situation Call 999 - if you or anyone else is in immediate danger or harm Call the Samaritans 24 hours a day on 116 123