Introduction:
In the pursuit of a fulfilling and joyful life, Positive Psychology emerges as a guiding light. Unlike traditional psychology, which focuses on addressing mental health issues, Positive Psychology places its emphasis on fostering well-being, enhancing positive emotions, and cultivating a sense of meaning and purpose. By following a few fundamental steps, you can harness the power of Positive Psychology to elevate your happiness level and satisfaction with life.

Step 1: Cultivate Gratitude
Gratitude is the foundation of Positive Psychology. Take a moment each day to reflect on the things you're grateful for. This simple practice helps shift your focus from what you lack to what you have, fostering a positive mindset. Try writing down 3 things every day, what happened, what it made you feel and what it means to you

Step 2: Embrace Positive Relationships
Human connections play a crucial role in our happiness. Invest time and effort into nurturing your relationships. Surround yourself with people who uplift you, share your joys and challenges, and provide a support network. 

Step 3: Discover Your Strengths
Identify your strengths and capitalize on them. Engaging in activities that align with your strengths boosts your self-confidence and provides a sense of accomplishment. Leverage your talents to enhance your well-being and contribute to others' lives.

Step 4: Engage in Meaningful Activities
Find activities that resonate with your values and bring a sense of purpose to your life. Engaging in meaningful pursuits not only fosters a feeling of accomplishment but also contributes to a deeper sense of fulfillment.

Step 5: Practice Mindfulness and Resilience
Mindfulness cultivates awareness of the present moment, reducing stress and enhancing well-being. Additionally, building resilience equips you to navigate life's challenges more effectively. Both practices are integral to Positive Psychology.

Step 6: Foster Optimism
Nurture an optimistic outlook on life. Rather than dwelling on setbacks, focus on opportunities for growth. Optimism encourages problem-solving and helps you maintain a positive perspective.

Step 7: Prioritize Self-Care
Taking care of your physical and mental health is essential for happiness. Engage in regular exercise, maintain a balanced diet, ensure adequate sleep, and practice relaxation techniques. A healthy body supports a healthy mind.

Step 8: Engage ​in Acts of Kindness
Perform acts of kindness towards others. Whether it's a simple gesture or a more significant contribution, acts of kindness boost your mood and create a positive ripple effect in your social circles.

Step 9: Set Meaningful Goals
Goal-setting provides direction and purpose. Break down your larger goals into smaller, achievable steps. As you progress, celebrate your accomplishments and acknowledge the progress you're making.

Step 10: Practice Positive Self-Reflection
Regularly reflect on your journey towards happiness. Acknowledge your growth, setbacks, and learnings. This self-awareness enhances your ability to adapt, learn, and continue on your path to well-being.

Conclusion:
Positive Psychology offers a roadmap to a happier, more satisfying life. By incorporating gratitude, positive relationships, self-awareness, mindfulness, and other practices, you can foster a profound transformation in your overall well-being. Remember, happiness is a journey, and embracing these steps can guide you towards a life filled with purpose, positivity, and contentment. To get help and support in building these steps into you life book a session with me.

Procrastination is a common issue that can have a negative impact on various aspects of life, including work, academics, and personal goals. Understanding the causes and symptoms of procrastination can help in developing effective strategies for overcoming it. Let's delve into the topic:
Causes of Procrastination:

1. Fear of Failure or Perfectionism: Some individuals may fear that their work won't meet their own or others' expectations. As a result, they delay starting or completing tasks to avoid potential disappointment or criticism.
2. Lack of Motivation or Interest: When tasks are perceived as uninteresting or lacking personal relevance, motivation can wane, leading to procrastination.
3. Poor Time Management Skills: Difficulties in planning, prioritizing, and organizing tasks can contribute to a cycle of procrastination.
4. Avoidance of Discomfort: People often procrastinate to avoid uncomfortable or challenging tasks, seeking short-term relief instead.
5. Overwhelming Tasks: Feeling overwhelmed by the magnitude or complexity of a task can be paralyzing, leading to procrastination.

Symptoms of Procrastination:

1. Delayed or Missed Deadlines: Procrastinators frequently struggle to complete tasks within the designated time frame, leading to increased stress and frustration.
2. Last-Minute Rush: Procrastinators often engage in frantic, last-minute efforts to meet deadlines, compromising the quality of their work.
3. Lack of Progress: Chronic procrastination can result in a lack of progress toward long-term goals, leading to dissatisfaction and a sense of stagnation.
4. Increased Stress and Anxiety: Procrastination can create a cycle of increased stress and anxiety as deadlines approach, contributing to reduced well-being.
5. Self-Criticism and Guilt: Procrastinators may experience negative self-judgment and feelings of guilt or shame due to their delayed actions.

Treatment for Overcoming Procrastination:

1. Cognitive Restructuring: This involves identifying and challenging unhelpful thoughts and beliefs that contribute to procrastination, such as "I have to do everything perfectly." Replacing them with more realistic and motivating thoughts can reduce procrastination tendencies.
2. Goal Setting and Planning: Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable steps and setting specific, achievable goals helps individuals gain a sense of progress and control.
3. Time Management Techniques: Learning effective time management strategies, such as using schedules, prioritizing tasks, and setting deadlines, can enhance productivity and reduce procrastination.
4. Behavioral Activation: Engaging in structured activities, even if initially unappealing, helps individuals overcome the avoidance pattern associated with procrastination and build momentum.
5. Increasing Self-Compassion: Cultivating self-compassion involves treating oneself with kindness and understanding. Being compassionate towards oneself reduces the fear of failure and encourages persistence in the face of challenges.
6. Seeking Accountability and Support: Sharing goals and progress with trusted individuals, such as friends, family, or a therapist, can provide external accountability and support, enhancing motivation and reducing procrastination tendencies.

It's important to note that the treatment approach may vary for each individual, and seeking guidance from a qualified therapist can provide tailored strategies and support. While the principles of CBT have been found to be effective in addressing procrastination, further research continues to explore additional interventions and techniques.

As an experienced Cognitive Behavioural Therapist specializing in insomnia, I have had the privilege of helping numerous clients overcome their sleep difficulties. In this article, we will explore the causes and treatment of insomnia, with a focus on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). 
What is Insomnia? Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by persistent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or experiencing non-restorative sleep. It can lead to various daytime impairments, including fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and reduced overall quality of life. Insomnia can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term), with causes ranging from stress and lifestyle factors to underlying medical or psychiatric conditions.
Typical Symptoms and Behaviours:

1. Difficulty initiating sleep: Individuals with insomnia often struggle to fall asleep, spending extended periods tossing and turning before finally dozing off.
2. Trouble maintaining sleep: Those with insomnia frequently wake up during the night and find it challenging to return to sleep. This can result in fragmented sleep patterns and overall insufficient rest.
3. Early morning awakening: Individuals may find themselves waking up too early in the morning, unable to fall back asleep despite feeling tired.
4. Daytime impairment: Insomnia often leads to daytime symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and decreased productivity. These symptoms can impact work performance, relationships, and overall well-being.
5. Sleep-related anxiety: The fear of not being able to sleep or the anxiety associated with poor sleep can create a cycle of heightened arousal, making it even more challenging to fall asleep.

CBT-I Treatment for Insomnia: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the gold standard treatment for chronic insomnia. It focuses on identifying and modifying the thoughts, behaviours, and environmental factors that contribute to sleep difficulties. Here is an outline of the CBT-I treatment program:

1. Sleep Hygiene Education: Clients are educated about the importance of maintaining a consistent sleep routine and implementing healthy sleep habits. This may include establishing a regular bedtime and wake-up time, creating a comfortable sleep environment, and avoiding stimulating activities before bed.
2. Stimulus Control Therapy: Stimulus control therapy aims to associate the bed and bedroom with sleep. Clients are encouraged to limit their time in bed to sleep and sexual activity, avoiding activities like watching TV or working in bed. This helps strengthen the association between the bed and sleep, enhancing the likelihood of falling asleep more easily.
3. Sleep Restriction Therapy: Sleep restriction involves temporarily limiting the amount of time spent in bed to match the individual's actual sleep duration. This technique helps consolidate sleep and reduce time spent awake in bed. Over time, the sleep window is gradually expanded as sleep efficiency improves.
4. Cognitive Restructuring: Cognitive restructuring focuses on identifying and challenging negative or unhelpful thoughts and beliefs about sleep. Clients learn to replace irrational thoughts, such as "I'll never be able to sleep," with more balanced and realistic thoughts that promote relaxation and positive sleep expectations.
5. Relaxation Techniques: Learning and practicing relaxation techniques, such as progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness, can help reduce physiological and psychological arousal, facilitating the transition to sleep.
6. Sleep Diary and Monitoring: Keeping a sleep diary helps individuals track their sleep patterns, identify sleep-related behaviours, and monitor progress throughout the treatment. This self-monitoring assists in identifying patterns and making adjustments as necessary.

Conclusion: Insomnia can significantly impact an individual's quality of life, but with the help of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), restful sleep is attainable. By addressing the underlying thoughts, behaviours, and environmental factors that contribute to sleep difficulties, CBT-I empowers individuals to regain control over their sleep patterns and enjoy the benefits of restorative sleep.
If you or someone you know is struggling with insomnia, seeking help from a qualified mental health professional trained in CBT-I is recommended. Remember, a good night's sleep is within reach, and effective treatment can guide you towards achieving it.

Introduction:
Welcome to this comprehensive guide on health anxiety, a condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. As a seasoned Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, I have witnessed first-hand the challenges faced by individuals struggling with health anxiety. In this article, we will explore the main features, typical symptoms, and behaviours associated with health anxiety. Furthermore, we will outline an effective Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) treatment program to help individuals overcome this debilitating disorder.
 
What is Health Anxiety?
Health anxiety, also known as illness anxiety disorder or hypochondria, is a psychological condition characterized by excessive worry and fear about having a serious medical illness. Individuals with health anxiety often experience persistent thoughts, concerns, and preoccupations regarding their health, which can significantly impact their daily lives and overall well-being.
 
Typical Symptoms and Behaviours:

• Preoccupation with physical symptoms: People with health anxiety frequently focus on bodily sensations and interpret them as signs of a severe medical condition. For example, a minor headache might be misinterpreted as a brain tumour. 
• Excessive medical research and seeking reassurance: Individuals may spend excessive amounts of time researching medical conditions, seeking information online, or visiting multiple healthcare professionals for reassurance. However, these efforts rarely alleviate their anxiety and may even reinforce their fears.
• Frequent doctor visits and medical tests: People with health anxiety may repeatedly visit doctors, specialists, or emergency rooms seeking validation for their fears. They may undergo numerous medical tests and procedures, despite the absence of objective evidence of a serious illness.
• Misinterpreting normal bodily sensations: Even minor changes or normal bodily sensations can be interpreted as catastrophic symptoms. For instance, feeling a slightly rapid heartbeat may be seen as a sign of an imminent heart attack.
• Continual body checking: Constantly monitoring and checking the body for signs of illness or abnormalities, such as lumps, rashes, or irregularities, becomes a common behaviour in individuals with health anxiety.

 
CBT Treatment for Health Anxiety:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach widely recognized as an effective treatment for health anxiety. It focuses on challenging and modifying the negative thoughts, beliefs, and behaviours that contribute to the maintenance of the disorder. Here is an outline of the CBT treatment program for health anxiety:
 
Psychoeducation:
Educating individuals about health anxiety is crucial in promoting understanding and reducing fear. Therapists explain the nature of health anxiety, its causes, and the role of thoughts, emotions, and behaviours in maintaining the condition.
 
Cognitive Restructuring:
Identifying and challenging negative, irrational thoughts related to health concerns is a key component of CBT. Therapists work with individuals to identify cognitive distortions and replace them with more realistic and balanced thoughts. This process helps individuals develop a healthier perspective on their health and reduce catastrophic thinking.
 
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP):
ERP is an essential component of CBT for health anxiety. It involves gradually exposing individuals to feared situations, such as not seeking reassurance for perceived symptoms or avoiding excessive medical research. By resisting the urge to engage in anxiety-driven behaviours and learning to tolerate uncertainty, individuals can break the cycle of anxiety and reduce their dependence on reassurance-seeking behaviours.
 
Relaxation Techniques and Stress Management:
Learning relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness, can help individuals manage anxiety symptoms effectively. Additionally, stress management strategies, such as time management and self-care, contribute to overall well-being and resilience.
 
Relapse Prevention:
Once significant progress has been made, the therapist and individual collaborate on developing strategies to prevent relapse. This may involve identifying early warning signs, implementing coping skills, and creating a plan to address future challenges.
 
Conclusion:
In conclusion, health anxiety can significantly impact an individual's life, causing distress and interfering with daily functioning. However, with the help of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), individuals can learn to manage and overcome health anxiety.
 
If you or someone you know is struggling with health anxiety, it is important to seek help from a qualified mental health professional. Remember, you are not alone, and effective treatment is available to support your journey towards overcoming health anxiety and living a healthier, happier life.

​Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is a type of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) that is commonly used to treat anxiety disorders, specifically Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). It is based on the premise that exposure to anxiety-provoking situations and the prevention of compulsive behaviours can help individuals learn to manage their anxiety and decrease their OCD symptoms.

ERP involves gradually exposing you to situations that trigger their OCD symptoms, such as touching a dirty object or not checking a lock multiple times. During exposure, the therapist helps you to resist their urge to perform compulsive behaviours. Over time, repeated exposure and response prevention can help reduce anxiety and decrease the frequency and severity of OCD symptoms.

One of the key benefits of ERP is that it can help individuals learn that anxiety will eventually decrease on its own, without the need for compulsive behaviors. By learning to resist compulsions, individuals can regain control over their thoughts and behaviours and develop greater self-confidence in managing their anxiety.

ERP is typically conducted in a structured, step-by-step approach, with each step building on the previous one. The therapist will work with you to create a hierarchy of anxiety-provoking situations and develop a plan for exposure and response prevention. Sessions may involve practicing exposure exercises, reviewing progress, and discussing any challenges or setbacks.

It's important to note that ERP can be challenging and may initially increase anxiety symptoms. However, with the guidance of a qualified therapist, individuals can learn to tolerate the discomfort and manage their anxiety more effectively.

Research has shown that ERP is an effective treatment for OCD, with long-lasting benefits. In addition to reducing OCD symptoms, ERP can also improve overall quality of life and decrease the need for medication.

In conclusion, Exposure and Response Prevention is a type of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy that can be highly effective in treating OCD and other anxiety disorders. By gradually exposing individuals to anxiety-provoking situations and preventing compulsive behaviors, they can learn to manage their anxiety and decrease their OCD symptoms. If you are struggling with OCD or other anxiety disorders, consider speaking with me about ERP and other treatment options that may be helpful for you.

Pure O, or Purely Obsessional OCD, is a type of OCD that involves obsessions without visible compulsions. These obsessions can be intrusive and repetitive, causing significant distress and anxiety. There are different types of Pure O intrusive thoughts, and it's essential to understand them to seek appropriate treatment.

• Harm-OCD: This type of Pure O involves obsessive thoughts about harming oneself or others. Individuals with Harm-OCD may have intrusive thoughts about hurting loved ones, strangers, or themselves. They may also have thoughts of causing accidents or disasters.Intrusive Thoughts/Pure O
• Sexual-OCD: This type of Pure O involves obsessive thoughts about sexuality. Individuals with Sexual-OCD may have intrusive thoughts about engaging in unwanted sexual acts or behaving inappropriately with others. They may also have thoughts about their sexual orientation or identity.
• Relationship-OCD: This type of Pure O involves obsessive thoughts about relationships. Individuals with Relationship-OCD may have intrusive thoughts about their partner's fidelity or compatibility, or they may obsess about their own feelings and behaviors in the relationship.
• Existential-OCD: This type of Pure O involves obsessive thoughts about the meaning of life, death, and existence. Individuals with Existential-OCD may have intrusive thoughts about the afterlife, their purpose in life, or the meaning of suffering.
• Health-OCD: This type of Pure O involves obsessive thoughts about physical health. Individuals with Health-OCD may have intrusive thoughts about having a severe illness or disease, even when there is no evidence of it. They may also obsess over their physical appearance or bodily functions.
• Scrupulosity-OCD: This type of Pure O involves obsessive thoughts about religious or moral beliefs. Individuals with Scrupulosity-OCD may have intrusive thoughts about committing a sin or doing something wrong that goes against their religious or moral values.

It is essential to seek professional help when dealing with Pure O intrusive thoughts. A qualified therapist can provide the guidance and support needed to manage these thoughts effectively. Treatment for Pure O may involve Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), medication, or a combination of both.

In conclusion, Pure O intrusive thoughts can vary in type and severity, and it's crucial to understand the different types to seek appropriate treatment. Harm-OCD, Sexual-OCD, Relationship-OCD, Existential-OCD, Health-OCD, and Scrupulosity-OCD are some of the common types of Pure O intrusive thoughts. With the help of a qualified therapist and appropriate treatment, individuals can manage their Pure O intrusive thoughts and lead a more fulfilling life, free from the distress and anxiety caused by these thoughts

Pure O, or Purely Obsessional OCD, is a type of OCD that involves obsessions without visible compulsions. These obsessions can be intrusive and repetitive, causing significant distress and anxiety. However, there is a treatment available for Pure O in the form of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

In CBT, therapists use a variety of techniques to help individuals manage their Pure O obsessions. One such technique is Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). ERP involves exposing individuals to their obsessions, allowing them to feel anxious, and then preventing them from carrying out any compulsive behaviours that would usually follow. Through repeated exposure, individuals learn to tolerate the anxiety that their obsessions create without feeling the need to perform compulsive behaviours.

Another CBT technique used to treat Pure O is Cognitive Restructuring. In this technique, individuals learn to identify and challenge their negative thoughts, replacing them with more positive and realistic ones. This process helps to reduce anxiety and stress, making it easier to manage obsessions.

Mindfulness-Based CBT is another technique used to treat Pure O. This technique involves learning to be present in the moment and to accept thoughts and feelings without judgment. Individuals learn to identify their obsessive thoughts and observe them without getting caught up in them. This process helps to reduce anxiety and stress, making it easier to manage Pure O.

It is essential to seek professional help when dealing with Pure O obsessions. A qualified therapist can provide the guidance and support needed to manage these thoughts effectively. Additionally, individuals can use self-help strategies to manage their Pure O obsessions. These strategies include:

• Recognize and Label Obsessions: Identifying the thoughts as obsessions and labelling them as such can help individuals distance themselves from these thoughts and reduce their emotional impact.
• Reframe Obsessions: Reframing the thoughts into more realistic and positive ones can help individuals reduce anxiety and stress.
• Mindfulness Techniques: Mindfulness techniques can help individuals manage their Pure O obsessions by teaching them to observe their thoughts without getting caught up in them.
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) teaches you how to distance yourself from the thoughts gradually 'diffusing' them. It also trains you to commit to positive /rational behaviours.
• Engage in Relaxation Techniques: Engaging in relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, can help individuals manage their anxiety and stress levels.

In conclusion, CBT is an effective treatment for Pure O intrusive thoughts. Through the use of Exposure and Response Prevention, Cognitive Restructuring, and Mindfulness-Based CBT, you can learn to manage your obsessions effectively. With the help of a qualified therapist and self-help strategies, you can lead a more fulfilling life, free from the distress and anxiety caused by Pure O

Does online therapy work?
The simple answer is yes. All the research shows that treating someone via video can be just as effective as face to face therapy. Many people are already used to using this type of communication socially and at work, though some of us need a bit of updating on how to use it properly
Previously I used online therapy with people who were unable to get to the clinic as they were too far away or because their anxiety prevented them from going out. Now of course we are all staying in so online therapy is useful for everyone.
How it works
I prefer to use Zoom to deliver online therapy. The video quality is good so we can see each other clearly. It is very secure and easy to use. It also enables me to show the whiteboard I use to explain the CBT process to you. You can also record the session to play back to yourself later. Please look at this guide to getting started from Zoom. You will be sent an invoice for each session which can be paid via bacs or Stripe.
It important to prepare for the session. Find a quiet space where you know you wont be disturbed. Have a notepad and pen ready. Check the wifi signal is good. Make sure your phone/tablet /laptop are fully charged so they don’t run out halfway through the session!
I also suggest you take a bit of time before the session to think of what you want to focus on or get from the session. It is good to have an agenda so nothing gets missed.
If you do not want to use video that is fine. A few of my clients prefer to just use the phone. This can work very well. It important to take notes if this is the case. I will send you any notes or diagrams that I make during these sessions.
Make an Appointment
Please call 01618345888
Email me at: david @manchestercbt.co.uk
Go to https://www.manchestercbtclinic.com/appointment.html

I hope you are coping well with this strange world we are in at the moment. I know my anxiety levels are raised. Due to the restrictions in place to control the spread of Covid-19 I am not working in the Manchester CBT Clinic at the moment. It is so important to do this to reduce the spread and to support the NHS; my wife is working in ICU as I write this.
The stress of the massive changes this has brought are affecting all of us. Worrying about the health of our family and friends, working from home or fear of losing our jobs, unable to go out and not knowing how this will end, information overload from constant news about the pandemic can lead to feeling overwhelmed. This is all a recipe for high anxiety and spiralling negative thoughts.

Here are some steps that could help you cope:

Reframe “I am trapped” to “I can now focus on myself”
Rather than focussing on what you can’t do now, focus on what you can. What opportunities does this bring you?  Doing one productive thing per day can lead to a more positive attitude. Focus on long-avoided tasks, think of things you want to learn or create.  Make a list and plan how to make them happen. This is your chance to slow down and focus on what is important to you.

Avoid constantly checking the news about Covid-19
It is very easy to keep checking the news about Covid-19. This constant stream of death and illness into your brain will increase your stress level and affect your overall mood and motivation. It is important to control this information overload. It would be good to limit this to watching or reading something once a day. Make sure it from a trusted source that you know will give you good quality information.

Build a routine and stick to it
Try and maintain a structure to your days. Work normally gives us that so you need to design your days. This is important for families with children. They need a routine to follow. It gives us a sense of control over the day. Working from home can be hard as it is tempting to fall into a more lethargic lifestyle, which could lead to negative thinking. Wake up and go to bed around the same time, eat meals, shower, adapt your exercise regimen, and get dressed! Sticking to your normal routine will keep you active and less likely to spiral down It will also be easier to get back to the outside world when this is over.

A messy home can lead to a messy mind
Anxiety is linked to uncertainty and a lack of control, which is how the world seems at the moment. It is important to bring certainty and control to your home. Try to keep the things organized, predictable and tidy. If you can set up fixed areas for your daily activities. This can be helpful to organize your day, so set up a workspace, eat at the table, have an area to exercise.  A lack of boundaries can affect your routine and can make the day feel very long. Lastly a disordered and cluttered home can increase your stress level and make it feel even more claustrophobic, so try to keep it tidy.

Choose a new lockdown ritual/habit
Try starting a new morning ritual. Get up early, use a journal to write down your thoughts and plan your day, do some form of exercise (jog, yoga etc) and try starting a mindfulness program. I recommend using the Headspace app. Think of all the people you could reconnect with, make a list and start calling them. Are there any things you have always wanted to do but never had time? Learn to paint, speak Spanish (Duolingo app) , bake ….? Make time for these things. It is good to have things to look forward to in the day.

If your anxiety becomes too much seek help
Many therapists are offering therapy online. Remember to reach out for help if your anxiety is reaching proportions that is unmanageable without professional help.
​
All my sessions are now being run online using Zoom and Skype. I have run sessions online for many years for people too anxious to come in and for people living too far from the clinic. I have found it to be a very effective way of running CBT sessions and the results have been as good as face to face sessions.
Please give me a call if you want any help or advice - 0161 8345888 or you can book a session online at www.manchestercbtclinic.com/appointment.html

Many people worry about their health but for some it becomes a much bigger problem. Health Anxiety or Hypochondria is much more common than you might think- 5% of the general population. So, if you are worrying too much about your physical health you are not alone.
Health Anxiety is when you obsessively worry about one or a number of health problems. You spend many hours in the day thinking about your health and checking your symptoms. The worry thoughts often escalate and go out of control. This can take over your life.
Health anxiety is related to the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) spectrum of anxiety disorders.

So what are the symptoms of health anxiety?
The first symptom is constantly worrying about your health, more than other people you know.
It is very common to be checking your body repeatedly for signs of illness like lumps or rashes.
You may also seek reassurance, from medical professionals or family, that you are OK. It is also very common to obsessively check your symptoms on the internet.
 
Health anxiety can also cause real, physical symptoms too, which could in turn make your anxiety worse. This of course leads to more worry thoughts.

Physical symptoms of anxiety
Stomach pain or nausea
Headaches and dizziness
Racing heartbeat
Tingling sensations

Treatment for Health Anxiety
A good first step is to record how much you worry each day at write down what your worries are, what it is your mind is predicting. This will give you a better picture of how bad the problem is. It will also show you that your fears don’t come true.
Pushing the worries away tends to make them worse, but you can delay them. Setting a time when you are allowed to worry can work for some people. Outside of this time you can tell your mind to leave it for now. The when it gets to your 30 minutes ‘worry time’ write your worries down. Don’t let them run around in your head. Writing them down will help you to be more rational, to get some distance from them.
 
When you get the urge to check your body for a problem change your focus to something else like doing some chores or meeting up with a friend or doing some exercise or some other task.

Some people may need more help to overcome their problems
They will need a trained professional to show them how to overcome their Health Anxiety. The therapy that has been proved to work is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
The main concept behind CBT is that our thoughts about a situation (such as the fear of cancer) affect how we feel (scared and anxious). Our behaviours then add to the problems by magnifying our fears.
A typical client has stomach pains that are misinterpreted as cancer. This triggers anxiety which worsens the physical symptoms. They then start Googling their symptoms. They then find more evidence that it is cancer as anxiety symptoms mimic many conditions (e.g. dizziness = stroke, palpitations  = heart attack). They will be constantly checking their symptoms getting caught up in a negative cycle of worry, anxiety and checking and reassurance seeking.  
CBT deals with this by helping you to rationalise your thinking and controlling your excessive worry. It also shows you how to reduce your checking, putting in healthy behaviours to change the cycle. These changes reduce your anxiety levels, gradually reducing the Health Anxiety.

If you want to discuss how CBT could help you please contact me.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder is a serious and disabling condition where people are convinced that they are ugly and that people will laugh at this 'imagined' defect or reject them for it. This can stop people from being able to leave home because of this fear of judgment. 

People with BDD remained convinced despite family an friends trying to reassure them that they look OK. 

BDD  leads to a number of behaviours that they use to help them cope with the anxiety and self disgust. They will often spend excessive time checking their appearance in the mirror. Sometimes spending hours studying their reflection. They also try to disguise or cover up their flaws using make up or clothing to hide their 'ugliness'. People often avoid going out at all or avoid social situations where they fear they will be noticed.

They often seek out surgery or other interventions to improve their appearance. The problem is though that they are very rarely happy with any procedures outcome. It usually makes their BDD worse as they feel they have done themselves harm. They may then have repeated procedures desperately seeking some escape from how they see themselves (Michael Jackson  probably had BDD). This can lead to depression and hopelessness. The suicide risk with BDD suffers is high as they cant see how to change their situation.

People are usually concerned with their face especially their nose and skin. It can though be any part of their body. They will see it as too big or small or distorted in some way. They have an image in their head of how they think they look and this is what they see when they look in the mirror. They also are convinced that this is what everyone else thinks - a common thing that the patients I see is that they look like "a freak".

BDD can be successfully treated with a specialised programme of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

Do you keep putting things off?
​
Do you leave things to the last minute and then rush to get them done.?

You are not alone. Everyone at some point will procrastinate, but for some people it becomes entrenched and can take over. The more you put off doing things the more you will put off doing things!

After a while even small tasks get delayed. Everything can feel like hard work or difficult. Your mind persuades you that it can wait. it will find you other 'more important things to do - like tidying!

It is a battle between 2 competing parts of your brain. There is the rational long term planner that knows the right path. It can see that doing the task now or putting in regular time on a taks is beneficial. There is also the more primative part of your brain that is only interested in feeling good now. It takes you towards pleasurable things like food or TV. It also tries to avoid anything it sees as painful or hard work. 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can help you overcome your procrastination. You can learn how to get on and complete all those tasks and goals with ease. Through your CBT programme you will understand how to break this cycle of avoidance. you will learn whow to set goals that your mind will want to do so that both parts of your brain are working together to achieve them.

Ben is in his thirties and runs his own busines. He had a constant sense of failure as he was putting off tasks. He always felt busy but he was never doing the important tasks. He never had time. This was causing huge problems leading to loss of work and debt. He was a chronic procrastinator. He started his CBT programme and after 8 sessions over 3 months. He has learnt how to keep the rational part of his mind in charge of his decision making. He has discovered how to set goals and keep to them. 
​
"I can now gets things done on time and I feel so much calmer and in control" - Ben

Do you know what is causing it? Work, finances, family…..
There are always solutions to problems. The more they are avoided the worse they tend to get. The best time to change is now!
Here are 10 Steps to feeling happier and more in control

Be More Active
Exercise won’t make your stress disappear, but it will reduce some of the emotional intensity that you’re feeling, clearing your thoughts and letting you to deal with your problems more calmly.
Physical activity will help lift your mood. Evidence shows that it will protect you against anxiety.
Physical activity causes chemical changes in the brain, which can help to positively change our mood.
It will also improve your sense of wellbeing because it brings about a sense of greater self-esteem, self-control and the ability to deal with challenges
Try to do 30 minutes of activity a day

Take Control
There is always a solution to your problems.
Avoiding dealing with them makes them seem bigger and bigger. This can make you feel increasingly powerless. The act of taking control is empowering.
Make a list of your problems, all the things you are putting off. Break them into small bite size tasks. Then set a time to do them. Remember don’t overload yourself. Willpower is a muscle that needs to be built up slowly

Connect With People
A good support network of colleagues, friends and family can ease your work troubles and help you see things in a different way.
It is important to connect with people regularly. This means you will have support to turn to when you need help
Activities with your friends help you relax. Laughter is an excellent stress reliever.
Friends are also great for talking through problems. Helping you to get a different perspective
Make a list of your friends. Ask yourself if you put enough effort into nurturing your friendships. Set up regular calls with them. Plan times to meet up.

Look After Yourself
Life is hectic and it easy to get caught up in the list of things to do every day! There is no time to relax and take stock. You need time out, time to recharge. This will only happen if you make it a priority.
 
Set aside 2 evenings to focus on yourself. Time to relax. The to do list can wait. That conveyer belt never stops so it is important to step of it regularly. Listen to music, do you have a hobby? If not find one. Read a book, talk to friends.
Try meditation – e.g. Headspace app

Challenge Yourself
Setting yourself some short term and long term goals and challenges, whether at work or outside. This will help to build your confidence. This will help you deal reduce your stress.
Brainstorm ideas
Look at meetup.com and dayzeroproject.com for ideas
Don’t let your anxiety edit the list. Write them all down, even the extreme ones! Then pick the most important and plan out the steps. Decide what do I need to do right now to get closer to this goal?
The more you do the more you can do. You don’t know what your limitations are!!

Avoid Unhealthy Habits
Don't rely on alcohol, smoking and caffeine to cope. Avoid avoidance it only worsens things in the long term.
Healthy habits take practice and effort and determination. Healthy habits take about 3 months of daily practice to put in place. E.g. don’t just think of stopping smoking. Think more of what habit do I want in its place. Instead of reaching for a cigarette I will: write down what I will gain from giving up or meditate for 10 minutes or do some exercise or …

Help Other People
Helping other people improves how we feel.
Take time to offer help. This can be small things like praising or showing gratitude. It can be bigger things like volunteering.
Try to do 3 things every day to help someone else or offer praise

Work Smarter
Do you plan your day, your week/month? Or do you just race round trying to get everything done and feel you are failing continuously?
You list of tasks is never complete. It is important to set realistic goals that are manageable. It is also important to be fair in how you appraise your performance. If you complete 8 out of 10 tasks do you beat yourself up? If you get 80% in an exam you would be happy! At the end of the day take time to acknowledge what you have achieved, how far you climbed. Do this every day and you will notice your stress reduce.

​The Positive Filter
When we are stressed we tend to focus on the negative. On everything that goes wrong and on all the things we haven’t achieved. This can get stuck and it distorts how we see ourselves and the world. It is important to counter this by forcing your mind to notice the positive. This can be small things. Do you notice how you beat yourself up if you lose your keys for example? How often do you notice when you know where they are? 90% of the time?
Over time recognising the positive rebalances your thinking.
Everyday notice at least 3 things that have gone well. Things you are grateful for.
 
Seek Help
Change isn’t always possible on your own. Sometimes we need a little help to understand the problem better. To get an outside perspective. Often we need to learn new skills to do this.
Speak to a trusted friend. Maybe one who has overcome a similar problem to get their advice.
Read a good book: e.g.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Dummies
Finding peace in a Frantic World
To get more personalised and professional help try seeing a CBT therapist who can set up a treatment programme to teach you how to overcome your problems and then how to build a happier more satisfying life.

The ideal body for men has been gradually changing. Surveys of media images and body building shows the increase of muscle size and definition that are seen as ideal. This has resulted in many men especially being worried about and their bodies. In order to obtain the perfect body, many men engage in excessive weight training. Lifting weight leads to many health benefits and may bring men closer to the perfect body.

Unfortunately, some men who lift weights also suffer from severe body dissatisfaction. These men see themselves as smaller and weaker than they actually are, are preoccupied with their muscles, and become consumed with weight training. These men may suffer from a body image disorder called muscle dysmorphia. Research has shown that 10% of body builders have this condition

Muscle Dysmorphia behaviours
People who have muscle dysmorphia display a number of similar behaviors. Here is a list of typical behaviors of someone who is experiencing muscle dysmorphia.

• Extreme exercise, especially resistance and weight training
• Many hours lifting weights
• Constant mirror-checking
• Avoiding social situations where they may appear muscularly small Compare their muscular build to others
• Extreme attention to diet
• Lifting while being injured
• Anxiety when missing a workout
• Neglecting family, friends, and job in order to exercise
• Use of anabolic steroids to enhance muscle mass

​

Body Dysmorphic DisorderPeople with BDD suffer from a disabling preoccupation with perceived defects or flaws in appearance. It affects both men and women equally. It makes sufferers check their appearance repeatedly, try to camouflage or change the defects they think they have. They often seek out cosmetic treatments. They are usually dissatisfied by the results and often have repeated procedures.  Family and friends are unable to help or try to give reassurance because they cannot see what the BDD sufferer does. BDD causes extreme distress and interferes with their ability to function socially.

Why are so many lawyers so unhappy?

I've seen quite a few lawyers in my clinic over the years. 
There must be a reason for this. According to a Lawcare survey:

56% suffer from stress

2.4% are addicted to alcohol

17%  have  taken time off work due to stress in the last year.

35% have had depression in the past,

20% said they were currently suffering depression.

60% report being overloaded with work

35% report a lack of appreciation

41% report long hours

66% said they would “be concerned about reporting feelings of stress” to their employer.

70% of respondents said they worked late either every day or several times a week.

60% agreed they were “not working to the standards you want to achieve”

People outside the profession may find these figures surprising. If you speak to people in the legal profession you get a different story. What is it about the job or the person that leads to this?

The Psychological make-up of the "Typical" Lawyer

Over the last 20 years of working as a therapist I have come to recognize common characteristics among people in this profession.  Most tend to be highly ambitious and over-achieving individuals (type A).  They are almost always perfectionists (not perfect but think they or what they do should be!). They tend to be perfectionists in nearly every area of their lives.  At a low level it is not a bad thing, but under stress it can become rigidly applied, it can then become problematic

The Nature and Practice of Law 

The legal profession is not like an episode of ‘Suits’!  The job can be very demanding and extremely stressful.  It can be hard to stay calm and keep a good work life balance.  At some point the pressures of working in the legal field will break down their defences.  Lawyers are not trained how to deal with stress effectively.

All lawyers experience a certain degree of stress and emotional burn-out during their careers.  It is not unusual for lawyers to work 60, 70, 80 hours a week with no time for rest or recuperation. The adversarial nature of the profession itself leads to stress, feeling constantly under attack from outside the organisation or sometimes from within. 

I have worked with people across the legal profession, from trainee solicitors to judges. They have all managed to learn how to cope better with the stress of their profession through the use of a number of CBT techniques.

Practical Steps   

Here are some things that you can put into practice now

1. Set realistic and obtainable goals based on what you have accomplished and experienced in the past. Don’t overload your diary. Read Getting things Done by David Allen
2. Learn to prioritize your life, i.e., focus and put your efforts into action items that are truly important.  Let go of those items that are either insignificant or not time-sensitive.
3. Recognize that "mistakes" are a part of life, essential, and often present the opportunity for important learning opportunities. Make sure you acknowledge what you do well. Act as your defence lawyer!
4. Notice what you are feeling. This is the alarm that indicates things are going wrong.
5. Mental Fitness.  A lawyer needs a healthy brain. This means a calm one. When we a stressed we make bad often short term decisions. Mental fitness takes regular exercise. CBT gives you the exercises to practice. Read CBT for Dummies by  Rob Willson
6. Work Life Balance.  Take time to care for yourself so that you can care for your clients.  It is easy to neglect your physical, psychological and interpersonal lives
7. How to manage your stress Learn to relax. The most effective technique is Mindfulness mediation see www.franticworld.com
8. The job is stressful.  “there is no such thing as bad weather only the wrong clothes” Billy Connolly. Learn to what works for you in dealing with the stress.
9. Know your personal strengths and weaknesses Realise you are not perfect and therefore by definition fallible.
10. It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help!  What avenues are open to you? What personal or professional help do you have?  If you feel you are constantly "stressed out," depressed, or struggling with substance abuse/dependence issues, get professional help. 

We all get them but we just don't like to admit it. I get more than my fair share after years of experience working with clients who do! My brain has a large database of possible thoughts and images. This includes thoughts of being harmed or harming other people, doing or saying embarrassing things and many more.

 It is not the thought that is the problem. It is what you think about them and then what you do in reaction to them. If you want to be troubled by increasingly frequent and disturbing thoughts follow these rules:
Believe you shouldn't get thoughts like this and that it means you are mad,bad or dangerous.

• Think you should be able to control them
  
• And that if you don't that the thought may come true.
  
• Then to create more problems do this:
  
• Try really hard to push the thoughts away by distraction, argue back or seek reassurance.
  
• If you follow these steps you are sure to develop Obsessive intrusive thoughts that take over your life.
  

The problem is if you try to escape a thought your mind sees it as dangerous, looks out for it and brings it back. The harder you try not to think something ( like pink elephants) the more you will think of it. CBT teaches you how to change this behavior and how to accept the thoughts as unimportant "mental junk". Once your brain sees it as boring it will fade away like NY other background noise.

The start of a new blog on a new website!