Mental Health

Social Support and Self-Care - By LIVIN Psychologist, Luke Foster

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Social Support and Self-Care - By LIVIN Psychologist, Luke Foster

By Luke Foster, LIVIN Psychologist  Steady your bucket! “WARNING, ALARM BELLS – COVID-19 IS SPREADING FAST…” Sound familiar? Headlines like these are everywhere at the moment. People and organisations – some qualified to comment, some very unqualified to comment - are speaking at length about this respiratory virus. Of course, we need to listen to the medical experts (those who are qualified to comment) and take all necessary precautions to prevent infection from spreading: like regular hand washing; covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze and cough;; avoiding close contact in social situations; taking appropriate measures to socially distance...

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Why we need to check In with ourselves and each other

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Why we need to check In with ourselves and each other

Article by: Kelly Malloy With actions such as ‘social distancing’ and ‘self-isolation’ now dictating our way of life, it can be easy to unconsciously start withdrawing from social connection as our everyday routines and interactions change drastically. We’re no longer speaking with our work colleagues in the office every day, seeing other parents at school drop-off, catching up with friends for a drink or even stopping to chat to our neighbour who’s walking the dog.  We are only going out when we have to and there is no stopping for a chinwag if we do happen to see someone we...

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Mindful Handwashing

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Mindful Handwashing

BY LUKE FOSTER, LIVIN PSYCHOLOGIST  One of the most preached about ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 is washing your hands regularly. We think this is important, according to the medical experts for your own physical health, but also believe it provides a unique opportunity to improve your mental health. WASH YOUR HANDS…MINDFULLY!! Let’s briefly chat about mindfulness. What is mindfulness and why it can be good for YOU! There is a lot of hype and information about mindfulness out there. Please don’t start thinking religious pilgrimages, meditation retreats, sitting still and humming for hours at a time, this...

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How to Deal with Stress - By LIVIN Psychologist, Luke Foster

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How to Deal with Stress - By LIVIN Psychologist, Luke Foster

BY LIVIN PSYCHOLOGIST LUKE FOSTER One of the best ways to deal with stress is to learn about it and change the way you think about it. It might be hard to think positively about stress when most headlines focus on the negative effect stress can have on our health and wellbeing, but it is important to be aware that not ALL stress is bad. If you understand and believe that stress can be your friend, not always your enemy, it may not have a negative effect on you at all. For a lot of people, the moment you feel...

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When the News makes us anxious

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When the News makes us anxious

Article by: Kelly Malloy Australia in particular has been hit with extraordinary news and events for the past four months with the drought; being replaced with the two months of news covering the devastating bushfires; being replaced by some regions experiencing flash-flooding and now we all have to buckle up as the Coronavirus (COVID-19) does a full headline take-over as the world tries to contain what has now been listed as a pandemic.  Phew! That is a LOT to take in with no real time for anyone to come up for air.  While it is normal to be concerned, emotionally...

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