The language people use has a huge effect, so it’s important to use the right words at the right time! First rule: Never assume anything! When people fall seriously ill, we often say things like ‘you can fight this‘ or ‘you can beat this’ or ‘You’ll be fine…’ But you can’t say that because you […]

Do you feel someone is manipulating you? If any of the following ticks a box, the answer is probably YES… Do they relentlessly undermine you, or engage in very personal attacks, followed by instructions not to overreact? Fi they do this repeatedly, even over a period of time, then yes, they’re trying to manipulate you. […]

Trying to spot when someone is lying is not easy. For a start, the common belief that liars avert their gaze when they’re telling fibs is not true. Most of the time, they’ll be looking straight at you. A much more reliable way of detecting someone is telling you a lie is to concentrate on […]

Panic attacks can appear suddenly, starting without warning, and often resulting in intense feelings of overwhelming fear. Symptoms include a racing heart, shortness of breath and nausea. They often have no obvious cause and can happen to anyone. Regular panic attacks may be a sign of panic disorder — a condition characterised by sudden and […]

Researchers have proved that reminiscing and nostalgia can act as a mild painkiller, reducing pain by 10%, because it takes your mind off the stresses and strains of life. Nostalgia (a longing for the past that can be triggered by music, pictures and smell) has long been associated with reductions in stress and sadness. Researchers […]

What is Depression? It’s normal to feel a bit down from time to time, but if you’re feeling persistently unhappy for weeks or months on end, then you probably are suffering from depression. Depression is a genuine health condition which people can’t ignore or ‘snap out of’. Depression can affect anyone at any age and […]

Although the symptoms of depression and burnout are similar — both involve negative thoughts, lack of motivation and the need to be alone are tell-tale symptoms of burnout. Burnout is becoming more common and has been on the rise since Covid, possibly because burnout has become one of the most widely discussed health issues in […]

Does ADHD — Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder — really exist? It’s well known that private clinics have a relaxed attitude towards diagnosing ADHD, something which has become increasingly common. Part of the reason may be because private clinics can make a lot of money from diagnosing private fee-paying patients with what was once a condition […]

The research is in… Using cannabis (marijuana) can affect memory, concentration, decision-making and cause schizophrenia. Scientists at the University of Montreal have found that children who smoke the drug perform worse at school because the effects result of using cannabis persist well beyond the period of being ‘high’. Adults who use the drug could also […]

Children are not usually diagnosed with autism until they are three years old. But intervening when the child’s brain is still malleable can improve the social development of a child with Autism. Around one in 50 youngsters fall on the spectrum, but they are less likely to be diagnosed with autism if their parents take part […]

The act of closing your eyes and mentally rehearsing what you’re going to do (or not do) is the same as installing the neurological software in your brain that you need to change your behaviour and live in a different way. The first step is to just think about — imagine — the way you’re […]

The government recommends that 14 units off alcohol a week is the maximum you should be drinking — 14 units is equal to 6 pints of beer, 1.5 bottles of wine, 7 double whiskies, or 9 glasses of champagne. Give up alcohol for a month and you will benefit from better sleep, better skin and […]