Mental Health and Wellbeing

Symptoms of insomnia include; Difficulty falling asleep despite being tired Trouble getting back to sleep if awakened  Waking up frequently during the night Waking up too early in the morning  Relying on sleeping pills or alcohol to fall asleep Daytime drowsiness, fatigue or irritability Difficulty concentrating during the day When to seek insomnia treatment  If you’ve tried changing your lifestyle and it hasn’t helped, you may need to see a doctor or sleep disorder specialist…

Insomnia is characterised based on duration:  Acute insomnia (short term) is brief and often happens because of life circumstances (for example, before an exam or after receiving stressful or bad news). Many people experience this type of passing sleep disruption, and it tends to resolve without any treatment. Chronic insomnia (ongoing) is disrupted sleep that occurs at least three nights per week and lasts at least three months. Chronic insomnia disorders can have many causes: Changes in…

Thomas Insel, the director of the National Institute of Mental Health, announced he would be joining the growing ranks of Google Life Sciences. Insel has served as NIMH's director for 13 years. He wrote in his statement,  "The [Google Life Sciences] mission is about creating technology that can help with earlier detection, better prevention, and more effective management of serious health conditions. I am joining the team to explore how this mission can be applied to mental…

Depression can manifest itself in many different ways. Learn to recognise signs of depression in a friend or a family member.  Counsellor Animitra Ghatak shares the surprising signs of depression and how you can help.   Depression is a mood disorder that may affect any of us at some point in our lives. This can be triggered by setbacks in life, bereavement or a chronic illness. Depression is not just about feeling sad or down. It affects the mind and the body. It…

By family practitioner and paediatrician Dr Gita Mathai. How much sleep we need, the best time to go to bed, effects of sleep deprivation and how to improve your sleep practice.  How much sleep do we really need? We actually sleep away one third of our lifetimes. In infancy, a baby may sleep anywhere from 14-17 hours a day. Their sleep requirements are not controlled by outside forces like light, sound or work. So, babies sleep as much as their body needs. As age increases, the number of…

You can try some of our self help steps listed here http://www.patientsengage.com/conditions/12-tips-help-relieve-anxiety-and-depression. But if that does not help, please consult a specialist listed below Your support team: Who can help General practitioner Psychologists and psychiatrists Mental health nurse practitioners Social workers in mental health Occupational therapists in mental health Counsellors Complementary health practitioners Other specialists as required

Anxiety disorders respond very well to treatment and often in a relatively short amount of time. The specific treatment approach depends on the type of anxiety disorder and its severity. Mild symptoms may be relieved with lifestyle changes (eg regular physical exercise) and self-help (eg online e-therapies). Where symptoms of anxiety are moderate to severe, psychological and/or medical treatments are likely to be required. But in general, most anxiety disorders are treated with behavioural…

Can anxiety be prevented Everything from your activity level to your social life affects anxiety. Set the stage for success by making a conscious decision to promote relaxation, vitality and a positive mental outlook in your everyday life. Learn about anxiety. In order to overcome anxiety, it’s important to understand the problem. Cultivate your connections with other people. Loneliness and isolation set the stage for anxiety. Make it a point to see friends; join a self-help…

Self-diagnosis If you think you may have an anxiety disorder, ask yourself the following questions. If you identify with several of the following signs and symptoms, and they just won’t go away, you may be suffering from an anxiety disorder and you need to consult a doctor. Are you constantly tense, worried or on edge? Does your anxiety interfere with your work, school or family responsibilities? Are you plagued by fears that you know are irrational, but can’t shake? Do you believe that…

There are different types of anxiety. The six most common anxiety disorders are: Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD): A person feels anxious on most days, worrying about lots of different things, for a period of six months or more. If patients have GAD, they can feel worried all the time and this can seem out of control. They may feel this way though there is no real reason for worry. Patient might feel ‘on edge’ and very alert to surroundings a lot of the time. This can affect day-to-day life.…