We’ve heard of taking a sick day off work or school, but what’s a mental health day? Whether they are official or not, a mental health day is when someone takes a break from their regular responsibilities to rest, recuperate and care for their mental health. Often they will function the same as a sick day - because our bodies and brains are so connected, and when we will experience physical and mental burn out at the same time. And because we have an internal stigma about our mental health and so many of us think we should “push through” or “get over it,” we don’t stop to process and recupe ..read more

When people talk about trauma, we tend to think about it like it is reserved for certain situations: People who have experienced war, Survivors of natural disasters or crises, Someone who has had it “much worse” than us. While extreme events can lead to trauma, it has nothing to do with the “mental toughness” of a person. Anyone can experience trauma, at varying levels, over their life. And in essence, a trauma response is the body trying to protect itself from danger. If we are unable to process that the danger has passed, we can stay in our fight-flight-freeze-fawn response. We also know ..read more

We are so excited to share that Watersedge has been named one of the Top 100 Mental Health blogs on the internet for the second year in a row by Feedspot! Featuring blogs and organisations from across the globe, we are honoured to be listed among NAMI, Mindful Magazine, Sane Australia and more. Thank you for supporting the work of Watersedge Counselling and reading our blog for the last decade. We couldn’t have done this without you! What are you waiting for? We have 12+ years of mental health blogs for you to read. Go and check out our archive now, and find something that interest you. From ..read more

It’s normal for kids and teens to occasionally defy their parents or guardians. They tend to push back (metaphorically) to test how strong our boundaries are and see if our connection is secure. But there is a difference between testing the waters and openly defying any authority figure over and over again. In fact, some people experience Oppositional Defiance Disorder. The Mayo Clinic says OOD “includes a frequent and ongoing pattern of anger, irritability, arguing and defiance toward parents and other authority figures. ODD also includes being spiteful and seeking revenge, a beh ..read more

Going to bed at a reasonable time is important for our health. But if we’re honest, there are some evenings (or nights) when the clock ticks later and later…until finally, we’ve procrastinated so long, we fall into bed exhausted. The next morning, we wake up groggy, lethargic and feeling depressed. We delay our bed time for all sorts of reasons – a lack of ‘us’ time, a need to recharge and decompress, or a fear of not being able to sleep due to anxiety, insomnia or night mares. But what if you could reframe your bedtime routine, so instead of it being something that ‘takes away’ from ‘you ..read more

The holidays magnify our emotions – if we’re excited and filled with Christmas spirit, we can’t help breaking out in carols. But if we’re feeling stressed or depressed, the festivities can make us turn inward. The holidays aren’t easy, and that’s why it’s important to prioritise your mental health over these coming months. This infographic by Rehab 4 Addiction – an organization based in the UK, reminds us that it’s normal to feel a range of emotions this time of year. Experiencing anxiety from crowds while shopping, becoming stressed about social interactions, and panicking about money are co ..read more

As a kid, many of us assume that the close friends we make will be forever. And while we tend to stay connected with one or two, as we enter adulthood, we realise friendships change. Whether you drift apart, move interstate or have a falling out, the friendships we lose as adults have a heavy grief associated with them. Partly, because we never expected the friendship to end. Saying goodbye to that person feels like we are saying goodbye to a significant chapter of our life.  Especially if a person was present during our pivotal years as a teenager, or at a wedding. How do we move to n f ..read more

In a world of 90s sitcom reboots and throwback podcasts, the new series from actor Alyson Stoner is set apart. Known for their roles on Step Up, Cheaper By The Dozen and Camp Rock, the dancer, model, singer and entrepreneur is on a mission to transform celebrity culture with their series Dear Hollywood. And it comes after years of working on their own trauma, recovery from sexual abuse, an eating disorder and attachment issues. So what does this have to do with the average everyday person? Most of us aren’t in the spotlight and couldn’t relate to growing up on film sets. But what makes Alyson ..read more

In a world of 90s sitcom reboots and throwback podcasts, the new series from actor Alyson Stoner is set apart. Known for their roles on Step Up, Cheaper By The Dozen and Camp Rock, the dancer, model, singer and entrepreneur is on a mission to transform celebrity culture with their series Dear Hollywood. And it comes after years of working on their own trauma, recovery from sexual abuse, an eating disorder and attachment issues. So what does this have to do with the average everyday person? Most of us aren’t in the spotlight and couldn’t relate to growing up on film sets. But what makes Alyson ..read more

Anyone can experience anxiety – a racing heart, sweaty palms, the brain fog… it happens as part of our body’s fight-flight-freeze response. But it can be difficult to get through when you don’t understand what is going on. Teaching kids and teens about emotions gives them the toolkit to navigate anxiety. And, as a parent or caregiver, understanding emotions helps you to better support them…and to better understand yourself! Recently, FindMyTherapist shared free worksheets that will teach your kids about emotional regulation. Taken from a new workbook by practitioners Amanda Crowder, Julianna ..read more