When your child comes to you and says they’re being bullied it can feel really upsetting. You might feel confused as to what you should do next, and some common questions might come up for you, such as, who should you speak to about it? How should you support your child? What do you need to do to make them feel safe so they can share their thoughts and feelings? Children and young people need to know that they are being heard, that their feelings matter, and that their issue will be investigated respectfully. Bullying should be taken seriously. The following 4 tips may be helpful to get you through the process.
Compassion: How you can finally practice it on yourself.
As human beings, we generally have a lot of compassion for other people. Every day we care for our family, our friends, our co-workers. Typically, when we notice people we care about suffering, we generally respond with care and kindness, and a desire to help ease the suffering in some way. We are all equipped with the tools to be compassionate beings. However, all too often we do not harness these tools when it comes to ourselves!
How self-compassion can help with body dissatisfaction during the pandemic.
How many of us have turned to delicious food as a way to cope with the stress and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic? This is completely natural and we all do it from time to time. At the same time, with all the lockdowns, we are spending more and more time on social media, where we are inundated with filtered images of filtered thin women and “buff” men, who represent the beauty ideals that are reinforced as attractive in our society. As well as this, how many messages and advertisements have we seen suggesting programs, meal plans, and supplements suggested to help us shed the “COVID kilos”. Being exposed to all of this naturally increases negative feelings about our own bodies, whether we realise it or not. The Butterfly Foundation tells us there has been a sharp spike in the number of people seeking support for body image concerns and eating disorders during the pandemic.
Managing ADHD in Teens
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neuro-developmental disorder impacting approximately 300,000 Australian children and adolescents. ADHD is due to differences in the brain's development and function, namely the impairment of our brain's executive functions. Executive functions are essential for daily life and include our short term memory, the flexibility of thoughts, and self-control. Every day executive functions are utilised to help us study, work, and govern our lives.
Bouncing Back When You Have Study Fatigue
Students around Australia right now are celebrating the end of term 3 and for most students this will be a time of rest and relaxation, even with the challenges being in lockdown. Year 11 and 12 students however might not be feeling the same way. This is a tricky time for students at the end of their secondary school education as this is the time when exams are imminent, and energy and motivation levels are often at their lowest. Feeling fatigued and struggling with motivation is a normal and predictable component of the ‘marathon’ of VCE studying. It is worth thinking about how to recognise fatigue and burnout, and to have a plan in place to help you bounce back. If you are currently studying or know someone who is, these tips might be of use.
What happens after R U Ok Day?
With R U OK Day and World Suicide Prevention day just gone, we need to keep in mind that we need to keep the message going. Checking in with each other is something that needs to happen consistently, not just on awareness days. So how do we check in with the people we care about and open up the communication channels with people who may be having a hard time?
This year the message of the campaign was: Are they really OK? Ask them today.
Checking in is perhaps more important now than ever before. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and extended lockdowns, many of us are feeling lonely, isolated, down, anxious, and stressed. While taking good care of ourselves is vitally important, we also need to feel equipped to support those around us who might be struggling. It is important to note that somebody doesn’t have to be visibly distressed or in a crisis to need support. Asking someone how they are really going can be, simply put, life changing.
R U OK? breaks down the conversation into 4 simple steps for asking someone if they are OK:
Give it a try today and don’t forget to keep this message going! You may be surprised how much somebody might appreciate just being asked the question sincerely and openly and then being listened to and heard, We don’t need to solve the problem we just need to hear each other out.
For more tips and resources, you can check out their website at ruok.org.au
If you need support with your mental health and would like to take action please contact our administration team on (03) 9882 8874 or visit our website at melbournewellbeinggroup.com.au.
This blog was written and prepared by Ms Hannah Gersh - Psychologist here at MWG.
Image credit: www.ruok.org.au