Saturday 1 December 2012

Recommended Books about Anorexia





I recently compiled this list of great books about anorexia.  It includes the recent best-seller Wintergirls but also includes a few lesser know books about individuals struggling with an eating disorder.

Thursday 22 November 2012

A Great Book to help Children learn How to Deal with Anger

A Volcano in My Tummy is a great book which helps children learn how to deal with anger. Many people might find it surprising that children also suffer anger management issues but anger is a natural emotion which, if not managed correctly, can affect a child's interaction with his/her family, school and peer group.

This book is a great anger management workbook for adults to work through with children to find fun ways to understand and manage anger,

Click here to learn more about A Volcano in My Tummy

Friday 16 November 2012

Personalized Gifts for Teens

I have joined Squidoo recently in a bid to vary the sites that I write for. Every few weeks they assign quests where they ask authors to write on certain topics. Last week I was asked to write about gifts for teens so I chose to write about personalized gifts for teen girls. What girl doesn't like receiving a personalized gift? It makes us feel special.

Check out my list of great personalized gifts for teen girls!


Wednesday 14 November 2012

The Simple Joy of a Reusable Hand Warmer!

I have suffered with cold hands through countless winters with white/yellow/blue (any color except skin-color) fingers. Raynaud's leaves my fingers and toes constantly cold and without proper circulation. When you combine a stressful environment with the cold winter months it can be a recipe for disaster when it comes to circulation in my fingers. I can't use my mobile phone outside as my fingers with lose all feeling if they are not kept firmly in my pockets.

I had always seen those reusable hand warmers advertised in shops and assumed they were a gimmick until I finally relented and tried one. What can I say? I'm now addicted to them! I have one in each pocket now when I go out and I can 'activate' them when my hands get cold. They provide around 15 minutes heat (and decent heat too!). When I return home I simply place them in a pot of water and boil them for 15 minutes to 'reset' them for use again.

There are actually a variety of different types of hand warmers on the market today. Check this great article on the different types of hand warmers available and where to purchase them. The reusable gel hand warmers I described above are actually a lot more inexpensive than I had thought. Happy warm hands!

Tuesday 13 November 2012

Christmas Psychology Gift Ideas


It's Christmas gift buying season again! When buying the perfect Christmas gift for someone it's always best to take into account their personal interests. If someone you know is a psychology major, a psychologist or even just has an interest in psychology check out the link below which contains my list of gift ideas for psychology gifts.

It contains a Freud finger puppet and Freudian Slips Sticky Notes. I shall say no more! :)

Saturday 27 October 2012

Kick start your career with an online psychology degree

Although many of the online psychology degrees currently offered on the internet are not fully accredited by psychological associations, they can provide a great stepping stone for anyone who wants to get into the field of psychology. Typically costing a lot less than degree programs in traditional universities, many online institutions offer some online degree programs in psychology which can help kick start your career.

Check out this regularly updated list of current online psychology degrees.

List of psychology degree programs online

Note: If you are intending to follow a professional career in either clinical or counseling psychology it is highly recommended to check the accreditation of each qualification.

Thursday 25 October 2012

Borderline Personality Disorder


Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is one of the most recent and controversial additions to the DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV). Estimated to affect about 1-3% of the general population BPD is a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive disturbance of personality function, self-image and moods. Although medication is generally not recommended as a frontline treatment for the disorder many therapies are proving promising in helping individuals manage and control their borderline tendencies.

Monday 9 July 2012

As a sufferer of depression, and being a psychologist by profession, I tend to be super critical of portrayals of mental health issues in films.

Here is a list of some movies which I have really enjoyed which all feature individuals dealing with depression.

Films about Depression

Sunday 10 June 2012

Great Quotes for people with Depression

I've gathered together all of the quotes that comfort or motivate me when I'm depressed and put them in an article for others to read.

If you have found any other quotes useful in dark times please let me know and I'll include them in the list.


Inspirational Quotes

Tuesday 29 May 2012

Books on Stress Management

I'm often been asked to recommend books on stress management so I have gathered together my list of the top 10 books.

Please check out my list here: Top Books on Stress Management

Friday 27 April 2012

Effexor Withdrawal (Venlafaxine Withdrawal)

The severe discontinuation syndrome experienced by individuals who choose to stop taking the anti-depressant Effexor (venlafaxine) has only recently been recognised. These Effexor withdrawal effects are severe enough that an effexor lawsuit is currently in progress. Please check out the article below for more symptoms and advice in relation to Effexor (and Effexor xr) withdrawal symptoms. I've also described my own personal journey of weaning off Effexor.

Effexor Withdrawal

Thursday 26 April 2012

Top 10 Books on Depression

This is a great list of books for individuals coping with depression. Each of the books has a slightly different approach to help in the fight against depression so you should easily find a book that suits your own recovery.

Top 10 Books on Depression

Intrusive Thoughts and Intrusive Images

Intrusive thoughts and intrusive images are common in many psychological disorders (OCD, PTSD, depression, anxiety) and managing them can be a challenge for anyone facing mental health difficulties. Check out this great article on the nature and treatment of intrusive thoughts and intrusive images:

Article about Intrusive Thoughts and Images

Do you know when you should go to a Hospital Emergency Room?



A recent trip to the emergency department in my local hospital prompted me to write a brief article about the signs and symptoms that warrant urgent treatment in an emergency department ward.


Click here to visit the article