Melinda offers counselling for the treatment and recovery of anxiety and it's associated disorders, depression, low self-esteem, pre and post natal anxiety and depression, anger management and more. At any one time, approximately 1.25 million Australians will be experiencing some form of mental health problem such as depression, anxiety related disorder, stress or low self-esteem. Needless to say... you're not alone. Many people never seek or receive treatment, yet these disorders have been proven to be treatable. The symptoms felt by those suffering from these disorders can be so overwhelming that it can interfere with a persons ability to function day to day. COUNSELLING WILL COMPLETELY CHANGE HOW YOU EXPERIENCE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE - STARTING TODAY! An understanding of your condition is the first step. To understand what’s going on and know why you think and behave in certain ways can be empowering, inspiring and motivational. The best defence against developing a serious depressive illness or anxiety related disorder is to nip it in the bud early. The longer you leave it, the more difficult it is to recover - so act NOW. BELIEVING IS JUST THE BEGINNING! It is ‘your thoughts’ about your situation/s that makes you anxious or depressed, not the actual situation. Throughout the counselling process, I will teach you positive and practical ways to overcome depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, stress, negative thinking and self-defeating behaviour. The common benefits that people see through the counselling process are: more energy, less worry and stress, higher self-esteem, effective communication, overall feelings of wellbeing and health and happiness. "Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so if you get a chance take it and if it changes you - let it. Nobody said life would always be easy, they just promised it would be worth it" Stressed? Anxious? Depressed? or suffering from Low Self-Esteem and want to know what to do about it? Then you must read 'my little book of hope' 'my little book of hope' is a guide to understanding and overcoming faulty thinking patterns which left untreated will result in depression, anxiety related disorders, stress, or low-self-esteem. It is an easy to read book (with no waffle!) that contains the essential, relevant and helpful information that you need to overcome your problems. It has straightforward and reassuring information on how to dispute your negative and self-defeating thoughts and behaviours. It has plenty of practical ways to deal with your issues and give you back your sense of control. It will help you find happiness again - something that is within everyone's reach. 'my little book of hope' will help you change your thinking and make a difference to your life - starting today! "So... what is the book about and how can it help me?" I hear you asking. Well, let me start from the beginning and we'll work our way through to the final chapter. Note that the the contents of the book are showed in CAPITALS in the information below...
Firstly, you will read and learn about the different types of ANXIETY DISORDERS such as Generalised Anxiety Disorder; Agoraphobia; Panic Attacks; Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. You will gain more of an understanding about the different conditions and their associated symptoms such as rapid heart beat, shaking, nausea or sweating and most importantly, you will read about what you can do about it and how you can be free from these unpleasant conditions.
Secondly, you will read about DEPRESSION, which is a very painful and lonely condition to live with. The different types such as reactive depression where it in response to a particular event or circumstance. You will also read about the associated symptoms and how it affects your body such as tiredness and fatigue, low energy, irritability and sleep pattern changes and then you will learn about the two main paths to recovery.
Next is COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY which is the approach used in the book. It teaches you how to recognise the thoughts and feelings that are making you feel bad so you can then learn to reframe them into more psychologically healthy ways of thinking which ultimately make you feel better. It also teaches you how to change certain behaviour patterns which result in feeling differently. "You can change how you feel in an instant if you change how you are thinking"
Read about FIGHT OR FLIGHT which is the bodies automatic reaction when you feel unsafe or there is danger approaching and the associated physical symptoms which include fast and strong heartbeat, restlessness, flushes or chills or dizziness. Learn how to overcome and eliminate these uncomfortable feelings and feel more in control.
Find out why you automatically respond and behave in certain ways in LEARNING, and how you can effectively challenge these reactions, returning them to a more realistic and appropriate level.
Discover what parts of THE BRAIN are effected when suffering from different conditions such as depression or panic attacks, why and how certain treatments work and how you too can naturally cause chemical changes in your brain.
Learn how to change the SELF-TALK that goes on in your mind such as "I can't cope" or "what if I embarrass myself" and how to see them in a whole new light.
IS MY THINKING FAULTY? is a good question to ask. In this chapter you will learn to identify the thinking errors that result in feelings of low self-esteem, depression or anxiety and then learn how to correct the thinking errors.
In FLEXIBLE THINKING you will read about converting self-labelling, rigid or overgeneralised thoughts such as "I have nothing" or "I am worthless" into more helpful and realistic ways of thinking.
SELF-ESTEEM is a major contributing factor to developing a mental health problem. In this chapter you learn about why you may have developed low self-esteem such as social conditioning, and how to increase your self-esteem to a healthy level.
In the chapter FEAR, you will learn how to 'decatastrophise' thoughts such as "what if I faint" or "what if I fail" so you don't perceive things in such a 'disastrous' or 'all or nothing' way.
Developing MINDFULNESS is a most important aspect of recovery. Read about how to 'be aware' or your thoughts and keep your mind in the present. Anxiety and depression are a result of focusing on past misfortunes or future predictions such as "my future looks hopeless".
Learn to QUESTION YOUR BELIEFS as these hold your thoughts up to logical scrutiny and helps to discredit them resulting in thinking differently about your situation or feelings.
Read about and how COPING STATEMENTS work on your mind and why SETTING GOALS is a very helpful tool in overcoming depression or anxiety.
Read about REWARDS, both good and bad, and how they affect the decisions you make time after time and how they reinforce certain thoughts and behaviours.
In the chapters IMAGE MODIFICATION and VISUALISATION learn how to use your mind to your advantage and eliminate fears and upsetting thoughts using these specific exercises. You'll be amazed how you can use your mind in different ways that you never thought of before.
The following chapters DOING THINGS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD and ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE GOOD THINGS are essential to developing a healthy self-esteem which help lift feelings of depression, anxiety or stress.
Learn how to MEDITATE and relax! This type of exercise will help you understand and get more in touch with your mind and body which is an important part of recovery.
Learn how you can let go of CONTROL in situations where you feel a need to think about your worries, as if it were protective in some way.
SUICIDE is a topic that needs to be discussed, so in this chapter you will read about the thoughts that may go through your head such as "everyone would be better off without me" or "I can't stand the pain" and learn how to put it into perspective so you don't feel so desperate and that suicide is the only answer - IT IS NOT!
The chapters BEING HAPPY and LAUGH AND KEEP ON LAUGHING are two fantastic chapters that will encourage and inspire you. You will also read about how laughter affects the body physically and it's great benefits.
In the next three chapters THOUGHT CHALLENGING, BEHAVIOURAL EXPERIMENTS and SEPARATING OUR THOUGHTS you will read and learn about the practical exercises that you need to practise to overcome your problems. Packed full of tips, notes and important points, these chapters will take you through step by step and will allow you to work through and overcome your negative and unhelpful thoughts and self-defeating behaviours so you can finally live that ideal life you have been dreaming of for so long. It's now time to wipe the slate clean and start over - right here, right now!
In the second last chapter you will read about MEDICATIONS, the different types, how they work, the possible side-effects and the benefits of taking an anti-depressant or anti-anxiety medication combined with counselling.
And... the final chapter AFFIRMATIONS AND QUOTES TO INSPIRE YOU will do just that. Inspire you. They remind you of the 'big picture' and what is truly important in life.
Who knows what fantastic things are just around the corner for you. Things that you can't even imagine now but believing is just the beginning. Imagine what you can do from this day forward. So go ahead, get out there, find your joy... and live it because life is too short to wake up tomorrow with regrets. My little book of hope is available for purchase online and can also be purchased at the Illawarra Centre of Homeopathic Medicine located at shop 1, 125 Balgownie Road, Balgownie. "Melinda McKeown's insights into the impact of depression, anxiety, stress, grief and loss, and low self-esteem is priceless. More importantly she points us to the hope we can offer suffering and hurting people, and also those who try to help them. Reading this book will not only have impact on the person but on their family and those who love them. Along with her practical suggestions and with the patient understanding language used, this book can be of an immense help to all who read it. Finally, this book is a much needed resource, that members of the clergy/chaplain have been waiting for. It is a factual account of those who have walked the path, and been the fingers of God during times of life's turmoil". Major Ron Anderson AFSM Senior Chaplain, NSW Rural Fire Service Many blessings and kind regards, Ron Anderson "Who knows what fantastic things are just around the corner for you" BELIEVING IS JUST THE BEGINNING! |