It is very easy to get into an unhealthy vicious cycle.
When actions and interactions have negative outcomes over and over, we feel anxious and low. If these negative feelings are not dealt with, and not interrupted, there is a high chance that it can progress to depression.
The more depressed we feel the less motivated we are to engage in the kinds of activities that will have positive outcomes. This, of course causes us to feel even more depressed and in turn we become less active – it then goes on and on perpetuating inertia and negativity about life.
This cycle continues until you feel very depressed and are very passive.
Different Results of Depression
- Inability to sleep
- Feeling guilty
- Feeling powerless
- Sadness
- Decreased energy
- Lack of concentration
- Change in appetite
- Excessive worry
- Tearfulness
- Pain
- Irritability
- Constant thinking and churning
- Anxiety & Phobias
- Brooding
This cycle is bound to spiral downwards and leave you feeling trapped and hopeless.
Consequences of Depression
- You become pessimistic:
- You perceive your interactions as not associated with positive outcomes.
- You become less hopeful, eventually you feel hopeless.
- You lose interest and it’s more and more difficult to do things if it requires effort.
- You wonder if something is wrong with you. You start feeling inferior and inadequate and start blaming yourself (there must be a reason for your misery).
- Because you are doing less and less you may be letting other people down – you start feeling guilty
It is vital to understand that the cycle of depression can be broken.
Break the Cycle of Depression
What we think and feel does not have to determine how we act. We don’t have to feel good to do something. Life does not have to be viewed from a deep, dark, black hole.
We can break the cycle and be in control of the depression rather than it being in control of us.
Reaching out for support and learning new skills is crucial to breaking this destructive cycle.
Feeling free to live a productive life with a clear vision for happiness and peace is your right and can be achieved.
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Between trying to balance work, family, friends and everything else, stress has become common in our society. Letting stress alter your lifestyle can cause depression and fatigue.
A recent Psychological Association survey of 1,850 people found that a disturbing 70% of respondents reported having physical and psychological symptoms of stress. The survey had some good news …….. 60% of those polled said they would be motivated to change, including learning to manage stress more effectively, in order to feel better.
Krys engages with her clients to clarify what the stress triggers are. Potential triggers could include painful circumstances like illness or loss, difficulties in relationships, work issues, conflict with loved ones, to name only a few.
Circumstances do not create stress – rather the stress results from how we respond to them.
Stress and Anxiety Definitions
Stress comes from wishing something were different and the worry that you cannot change it. This leads to feeling stuck.
Anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling of fear or imminent disaster.
Everybody feels some anxiety throughout their life. It becomes a problem if you feel so anxious that it interferes with your normal day-to-day activities.
Stress and Anxiety symptoms include
- irritability
- bad mood
- worried that something bad is going to happen
- getting overly upset with mistakes
- being a perfectionist
- being argumentative
- dry mouth/difficulty swallowing
- nightmares
- insomnia
- difficulty in concentrating
- muscle tension and headaches
- panic attacks
- rapid heart rate and breathing
If this happens it is extremely important to seek help to reduce and manage your anxiety.
Krys uses a number of effective methods for dealing with stress & anxiety. The emphasis in treatment is how to get unstuck.
Stress and Anxiety Relief – Effective Methods
- Being Acknowledged and Telling your Story
- Recognizing & replacing Negative Self Talk
- Awareness of Factors that Raise & Lower stress
- Decatastrophising & Prioritizing
- Rational versus Irrational Thinking
- Building Resiliency
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
- EFT ( Emotional Freedom Technique)
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing)
- Emotional Release Technique & Relaxation exercises
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Krys’ compassion, empathy and caring assist devastated clients to advance through the process of loss & grief. Her gentle demeanour helps clients to open doors to their painful memories and experiences so that healing can commence.
This allows a natural progression of recognition and transition when working through issues of loss, grief, abuse and trauma.
Krys has completed specific courses and programmes dealing with these issues. She has also presented workshops to other professionals.
An environment of confidentiality and respect is adhered to, and is imperative for continued disclosure and building of trust. Krys has worked with survivors of sexual abuse and victims of domestic violence. She has also been involved in workplace and home invasions where victims have been traumatised.
Grief and Trauma Counselling
Trauma is defined as a threat to life, but it also can be something much less than one would think. As opposed to rape, warfare, incest or horrible sources of things we acknowledge as trauma, it may in fact be any situation where one is faced with a threat to one’s well-being, one’s survival.
It can be losing a job, losing the love of a child/spouse, a surgical procedure gone wrong. It can be any of these situations and many others, combined with a state of helplessness, where one has no control over that event.
Grief and Trauma Therapy
Krys applies suitable strategies and approaches to suit the individual for greater efficiency in resolving problematic issues. The following are just a few of the techniques that are applied, to elevate the trauma and stress.
EMDR
She is experienced in using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing). This technique is highly effective in releasing trauma from the body quickly.
EFT
She also uses EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) which involves tapping on certain meridian points of the body. Clients are given instructions, and can learn and use this technique safely at home to assist with anxiety and any uncomfortable feelings.
ERT
Krys has also produced an ERT (Emotion Release Technique) that she freely avails her clients in CD form. The client is then able to make further progress within a shorter period of time.
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