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Showing category "Managing Stress" (Show all posts)

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

Posted by K Clark on Sunday, May 9, 2021, In : Managing Stress

Latest Worksheets

Posted by K Clark on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, In : Managing Stress

I've been working on improving some of my existing worksheets and gradually adding a few more. Here are the most recent additions:

Mindfulness full body scan colouring sheet

The idea of this is to combine the mindful body scan, where you work your attention down your body from your head to your toes 'checking in'. While you do this the colouring sheet provides a place to record how you are feeling, for instance, where you are holding tension, where you feel pain or discomfort and also where i...

Hertfordshire Enters Tier 2

Posted by K Clark on Thursday, December 3, 2020, In : Managing Stress

The latest Government and NHS guidance regarding what is permitted for people and organisations in Tier 2 areas, such as Hertfordshire. To find out more visit the UK Government guidance page.

7 Things to Remember During a Lockdown

Posted by K Clark on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, In : Managing Stress

Looking After Your Mental Wellbeing When You Are Self-Isolating

Posted by K Clark on Monday, March 23, 2020, In : Managing Stress

Christmas Shopping When You Live With Anxiety

Posted by K Clark on Monday, November 18, 2019, In : Managing Stress

To read the full post click here.

Building Resilience in 6 Steps

Posted by K Clark on Thursday, January 3, 2019, In : Managing Stress

6 Tips for Staying Well in a Heatwave

Posted by K Clark on Monday, July 9, 2018, In : Managing Stress

With the temperatures soaring across the UK, it's important for those who live with ongoing health issues to take extra care. Below are some simple suggestions for helping you to achieve this.

For up to date weather information and forecasts check the Met Office website. There is also useful advice on coping with a heatwave on NHS Choices.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2018: Stress - Are We Coping?

Posted by K Clark on Friday, May 18, 2018, In : Managing Stress

World Mental Health Day 2016: Emotional and Psychological First Aid

Posted by K Clark on Monday, October 10, 2016, In : Managing Stress

Each year the events for World Mental Health Day are focused around a different theme. This year the theme is of Psychological First Aid (PFA) and hopes to raise awareness of the value of emotional and psychological supportive interventions during a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster or serious incident. The aim of this approach was to reduce the impact of these events and therefore reduce the chances of people developing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The thinking behind...

Five Quick Strategies That Can Help You Manage Exam Anxiety

Posted by K Clark on Thursday, May 19, 2016, In : Managing Stress

As we approach the summer months many students will be preparing for exams. Exams can be a source of great anxiety so learning to manage your anxiety in an exam situation will help you to perform your best. Below are some tips you can practice to help you manage exam nerves.

1. Breathing exercises
When you feel your anxiety levels rising take a few moments out to refocus on your breathing. Place your hand on your tummy as this can help you feel more connected with your breath. Inhale through...

Tips to Help You Manage Anxiety when Travelling to New Places

Posted by K Clark on Thursday, January 7, 2016, In : Managing Stress

Travelling to a new location can be daunting, especially if you experience anxiety. Sometimes, however, it is unavoidable. You may need to travel somewhere new to attend a health appointment, visit family or a friend, attend a meeting or interview or start a new job or study. Below are some steps you can take to manage the feelings of anxiety you may experience in this new situation.

Plan journey
If you are travelling via public transport you can use websites such as Travelline or National Rai...
Continue reading ...

Christmas Shopping Tips if you Suffer with Anxiety

Posted by K Clark on Tuesday, December 1, 2015, In : Managing Stress

Christmas shopping can be stressful at the best of times, but if you suffer with anxiety it can be especially tough. Below are some tips to help you manage your anxiety levels while you do your shopping.

Plan Ahead
Planning ahead will help you to stay focused and enable you to work out a strategy for how to tackle your shopping. Make a list of the items you want to purchase and think about where you could get these items from. You can then make yourself a list per shop and take one shop at a...

How to Survive a Blip in Your Mental Health

Posted by K Clark on Monday, July 13, 2015, In : Managing Stress

Mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety and schizophrenia, can fluctuate over time. Sometimes you will feel well and like you are managing your mental health really well and at other times things will seem to be going less well. Some dips in wellbeing are very normal so learning strategies to help you through these times will help to reduce the risk of these tough spells progressing into full relapses.

Everybody living with a mental health condition will have a unique experienc...

5 More Apps to Help Manage Your Mental Health

Posted by K Clark on Sunday, June 21, 2015, In : Managing Stress

Following on from an earlier blog post where I reviewed some apps that can help you to manage your mental health, I thought it would be helpful to share some more.

1. Buddhify

Buddhify is one of the best mindfulness apps I have come across. It has over 80 different guided mindfulness exercises which are broken down in to categories based on your need and environment. Some are more introspective while others make use of the sights and sounds from your present environment. Most of the guided e...

Help to Minimise the Effects of Self Destructive Behaviour

Posted by K Clark on Sunday, March 15, 2015, In : Managing Stress

This could potentially have been a blog post about self harming but I know that many of us tend to have behaviours that don't strictly fall into this category but the behaviour is potentially harmful nonetheless. With this in mind I have widened the topic to include all forms of self destructive behaviour. This is because we are all vulnerable and likely, at one time or another, to have taken actions that are self destructive or self sabotaging and slow down the process of achieving of an e...

Five Apps for Positive Mental Health

Posted by K Clark on Monday, February 2, 2015, In : Managing Stress

Following on from a blog post last year reviewing apps that can help you to improve your life skills, I thought I would share 5 apps that I have come across that aim to help with the management of mental health and wellbeing.

Optimism

This is a mental health monitoring app and is excellent for anyone looking to develop a greater insight into their own mental health. It allows you to keep track of symptoms, staying well strategies, triggers and symptoms with the option of also adding diary...

Top Tips for Surviving Christmas

Posted by K Clark on Monday, December 1, 2014, In : Managing Stress

Christmas and New Year can be challenging time for many people living with mental health issues. Below are some tips and suggestions on how to get through this time.

1. Plan Quiet Time
If you know that you are going to be around more people than usual over the Christmas period plan in some times when you have some quiet time to recharge. Socialising can be exhausting, especially if it's not something you are used to doing or you are going to around people you would not normally see. Having s...

Supporting an Anxious Child

Posted by K Clark on Monday, November 10, 2014, In : Managing Stress

I've had a few enquiries recently relating to helping children and young people with anxiety so thought it may be helpful to write todays blog post on that subject. Anxiety is an emotion we will all experience at one time or another and it's often a reaction to stress or a sign that we are not coping. Unfortunately anxiety is becoming increasingly common amongst children so I'm offering a few tips to help you to support an anxious child.

1. Listen and Observe

Children and young people wil...

Five Reasons To Do Something Creative Today

Posted by K Clark on Monday, September 1, 2014, In : Managing Stress

Creative hobbies have been steadily growing in popularity over recent years. This may be due to people needing to tighten their belts and be more creative with their money. The ability to find ways to repair and refashion old, worn out items can extend an items life span.

Creative hobbies covers a broad and ever expanding range of pursuits, including art and craft activities like painting, sketching, knitting, crochet, card making, sewing, embroidery and much more. They also include activ...
Continue reading ...

How to Create an Emotional First Aid Kit

Posted by K Clark on Sunday, August 3, 2014, In : Managing Stress

In an earlier post about preparing for times of stress or mental unwellness, I suggested creating your own emotional first aid kit. An emotional first aid kit works in a very similar way to a traditional first aid kit that you would keep in your home for treating minor injuries and physical health issues. The idea is that you create a central place where you can store the kind of items that would help you through an emotional crisis or time of stress.

As this may seem a little bit of an unus...

Five Tips for Managing Anxiety & Anxiety Attacks

Posted by K Clark on Tuesday, July 22, 2014, In : Managing Stress

According to the charity, Anxiety UK, anxiety affects one in six adults living in the UK. Anxiety is the term used to describe the physical and emotional sensation of fear or nervousness. You will be more prone to it's effects at times of stress, during and after a traumatic experience or when you are in a situation that scares you or makes you fear for your safety.

Some of the main symptoms include shortness of breath, palpitations, upset stomach, dry mouth, sweaty palms and tense musc...

Preparing for Stress and Mental Unwellness

Posted by K Clark on Sunday, July 13, 2014, In : Managing Stress

If you are someone who has a lower threshold for stress or you suffer with an on-going mental health issue then making a plan for how you will cope with difficult periods could help a great deal. Below are a few suggestions of ideas that may help you if you know you are approaching a stressful time or event.

1. Develop Your Support Network

Build friendships with people who you can be honest about your feelings with. Look for people who can listen and who will respect your wishes and allow yo...

Tips for Managing Change

Posted by K Clark on Friday, April 11, 2014, In : Managing Stress

Change is an integral part of life and for many can be a source of stress and upheaval. The following tips are some ideas and strategies that may help you to manage change in your life.

1. Research and Ask Questions
One of the toughest challenges with any change is the feeling of powerlessness. No matter what the change is, the more information you can arm yourself with the better. Sometimes it's hard to know what it is we don't know and need to know, so talking to a friend or family memb...
Continue reading ...

Relaxation

Posted by K Clark on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, In : Managing Stress

Learning to relax is a vital part of staying healthy, both physically as well as mentally. There is no right way to relax but you should ideally be aiming for an activity which calms you. When you are calm your breathing is slowed and it comes with ease, your muscles feel loosened and free of tension and your thoughts start to slow down and you feel able to think clearly.

There are a number of activities you can do to coax your body and mind into this state. These include the following:

- ...
Continue reading ...

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About Me

Katherine Clark

St Albans

I am experienced mental health worker with 15 years experience working with young people and adults with enduring mental health needs. I have set up this blog to share some of the tips and skills I have learnt along the way. If you have any suggestions or particular questions you would like me to answer feel free to email me at [email protected]

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Essential Life Skills

Showing category "Managing Stress" (Show all posts)

Mental Health Awareness Week 2021

Latest Worksheets

Hertfordshire Enters Tier 2

7 Things to Remember During a Lockdown

Looking After Your Mental Wellbeing When You Are Self-Isolating

Christmas Shopping When You Live With Anxiety

Building Resilience in 6 Steps

6 Tips for Staying Well in a Heatwave

Mental Health Awareness Week 2018: Stress - Are We Coping?

World Mental Health Day 2016: Emotional and Psychological First Aid

Five Quick Strategies That Can Help You Manage Exam Anxiety

Tips to Help You Manage Anxiety when Travelling to New Places

Christmas Shopping Tips if you Suffer with Anxiety

How to Survive a Blip in Your Mental Health

5 More Apps to Help Manage Your Mental Health

Help to Minimise the Effects of Self Destructive Behaviour

Five Apps for Positive Mental Health

Top Tips for Surviving Christmas

Supporting an Anxious Child

Five Reasons To Do Something Creative Today

How to Create an Emotional First Aid Kit

Five Tips for Managing Anxiety & Anxiety Attacks

Preparing for Stress and Mental Unwellness

Tips for Managing Change

Relaxation

About Me

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