Loyiso Maqubela, Clinical Psychologist, Akeso Milnerton “I’m a survivor I’m not gon’ give up I’m not gon’ stop I’m gon work harder” Sometime in 2001, Destiny’s Child sang these lyrics in their jungle-themed music video for their hit single, Survivor. Despite many of us being petulant pre-teens at the time, we may remember their words […]
COPE Therapy Team, Akeso Pietermaritzburg A balanced lifestyle is an essential part of your mental wellbeing. Living a balanced life can reduce stress, bring you joy, and keep you happy and healthy. Check in with yourself and ask if all these elements are in your daily life, and are you dedicating the same energy and […]
Anxiety, extreme worry, and fear are normal reactions to stressful situations. It can be overwhelming when your heart starts pounding, your palms get sweaty, and your thoughts start racing, and while you may know many coping skills to ease these symptoms, they can be difficult to remember in the moment. A self-soothing kit is a […]
Megan Hosking, Psychiatric Intake Clinician, Akeso Clinics The loss of a loved one is something that is very difficult to go through. We often don’t know what we could expect to feel or experience in a time that feels unreal. Loss doesn’t only apply to losing a loved one – it can also include loss […]
Juanita Donkin, Occupational Therapist, Akeso Milnerton Do you find yourself tossing and turning at night and feeling that you don’t get enough quality sleep? Sleeping well has a direct effect on our mental and physical wellbeing. New research shows that adults require 7-9 hours of sleep at night. When we don’t get enough sleep it […]
It is predicted that by the year 2050, the global population of people aged 60 years and older will more than double, from 900 million in 2015 to about 2 billion, with the vast majority of older people living in low- and middle-income countries (World Health Organization, 2020). If the proportion of elder abuse victims […]
Burnout was first described in the 1970’s by Maslach who defined it as a psychological syndrome with three categories: exhaustion, depersonalization, and diminished sense of personal accomplishments. Chronic work-related stress, long work hours, and working with others in difficult situations all contribute to the development of burnout. Categories of burnout The three categories of burnout: […]
Monique Prior, Occupational Therapist, Akeso Randburg – Crescent Clinic One of the biggest challenges you may face is how to bring up the subject of your mental health with those closest to you. The truth is, whether you have a long-term mental health condition or are feeling a bit run down – you need to […]
Megan Greeff, Occupational Therapist, Akeso Kenilworth We can all relate, to some extent, that after a long day’s work, all we want to do is ‘plonk’ down onto the couch with our Netflix account as our best friend. We are often so tired that we don’t communicate with our loved ones, we struggle to engage […]
Stress. A six-letter word that nobody is immune to. It may be defined as the body’s natural response to pressure; this response can produce physical and emotional responses which are caused by different situations/events. We all experience stress on a daily basis; from trivial issues to more serious stressors. The impact stress has on the […]