Lovejoy Counselling Blog
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Lovejoy Counselling
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Accredited by the British Association of Counsellors & Psychotherapists (BACP)
Gratitude may feel impossible, but neuroscience proves if we recognise what we have rather than what we don't have it rewires our brain, reducing cortisol which is our stress hormone and boosting dopamine and serotonin which promotes mood and sleep.![]()
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Life isn't always as simple as being grateful though. If you're struggling maybe counselling can help. ![]()
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Longterm depression, trauma, abuse, addiction, anxiety and mental health problems often need much more than being grateful. Talking is needed, in a space. I can offer you that. Please get in touch. 😊![]()
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www.lovejoycouns#onlinecounsellingl#onlinetherapy![]()
#buxtont#mentalwellbeingm#mentalhealthg![]()
#mentalhealth
Overthinking, ruminating, repetitive thinking, circular thinking, call it what you will. We all have a tendency to find ourselves thinking the same thought, problem, mistake or negative unhealthy thought repeatedly .![]()
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It may not surprise you to know we tend to overthink negative thoughts. The positive thoughts are fewer and we don't overthink them. ![]()
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We can also choose what to think and what not to think. ![]()
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Notice your thoughts.![]()
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Decide if they are healthy. Notice your negative bias.![]()
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Notice or observe your overthinking.![]()
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Challenge your thinking, interrupt your thinking. ![]()
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Notice your trigger thoughts that send you spiraling.![]()
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We can even set aside "overthinking" time (if we insist on overthinking, boundary the time we do it for). ![]()
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Noticing our overthinking can be the first step to stopping.![]()
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www.lovejoycounselling.co.uk/![]()
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#counselling![]()
#onlinetherapy![]()
#buxton![]()
#mentalhealth![]()
#anxietyanddeppression
Sometimes we need to "parent" ourselves. ![]()
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As adults we can make our own choices, eating habits, spending habits, relationship decisions, self care choices. We don't have a parent telling us what to do. ![]()
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However maybe we do need a benevolent inner parent to help us do the right thing for ourselves. Growing our inner parent is important.![]()
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www.lovejoycounselling.co.uk/![]()
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#innercritic ![]()
#intrusivethoughts![]()
#selfcare![]()
#addictions![]()
#onlinetherapy
Are you lost, overwhelmed, stressed, depressed, anxious or confused? Comparing yourself to others? Questioning yourself or needing clarity? ![]()
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Do you find you need someone to talk to and yet can't say the words out loud for fear being judged or rejected? Do you find yourself turning to AI for help? ![]()
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AI might give us reassurance. It accepts the parts of us we don't want others to see. However we may be losing something here..... ![]()
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Learning to use our own intuition, trust our own feelings and judgements and grow in self confidence, personal development and become a "better self" is important. If we look to AI we may always need it....🤔![]()
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When we journal we can build true strength and resilience. We can be our own best friend, strategist, helper, cheerleader, developer, comforter. ![]()
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We can learn to use our intuition, trust our feelings, sit in logical thought and grow in self confidence.![]()
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Journaling honours our self, brings clarity, perspective and validation. Journaling means sitting with our unfiltered self, without performance or perfection. ![]()
Our written thoughts don't require to be read, ever....but giving them somewhere outside of us to land does help us process our emotions and work out a way forward.![]()
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Finding someone to talk to is also useful. A counsellor or therapist can help too. 😊 Please get in touch if you want to.![]()
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www.lovejoycounselling.co.uk/![]()
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#onlinetherapy![]()
#onlinecounselling![]()
#personaldevelopment![]()
#mentalhealth![]()
#ai
When it feels like we've had an uphill struggle, sometimes we need to pause and look down the mountain.![]()
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When we've been working hard on ourselves: maybe by developing a "better self", ending addiction, health and fitness improvement, self reflective therapy work, job changes, working on relationship difficulties, or even the mountain of stress, grief and depression we've been forced to climb.![]()
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Making time to pause and look at the view can be really rewarding. To see how far we've come, what we've struggled through, how we've achieved and grown in resilience, is important.![]()
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So stop, take time to breathe and enjoy the view. ![]()
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www.lovejoycounselling.co.uk/![]()
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#onlinecounselling![]()
#onlinetherapy![]()
#personaltransformation![]()
#selfmotivation![]()
#mentalhealthdifficulties
Sometimes we all need a metaphorical comfortable blanket. Life is tough! ![]()
Babies have things that remind them of caregivers, to comfort and soothe in the caregivers absence. ![]()
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As adults we turn to other things to soothe. Perhaps money, food, pets, alcohol, drugs, hobbies, cars. ![]()
Sometimes the things that soothe us are healthy... sometimes not so much. Or maybe we use one particular one excessively and end up hurting ourselves or others. Addiction or using them instead of friends or relationships can hurt and not help us.![]()
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Finding healthy ways to support us in the anxiety, stress and depression of life is important for our mental and physical wellness. Learning to regulate our emotions can help us to use the things we soothe ourselves with less and create more support systems. More flexible strategies to support ourselves. ![]()
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www.lovejoycounselling.co.uk/![]()
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#addiction![]()
#counselling![]()
#mentalhealth![]()
#onlinetherapy![]()
#traumatherapy
Sometimes we may crave connection and so we may settle for any connection that's offered. It may present as an unhealthy or even abusive relationship, a propensity to believe love bombing is real, going deep in a relationship too soon. ![]()
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We may have had the breadcrumbs of connection as a child (because a parent is busy, mentally unwell or cruel). This can set us up for taking any connection we're offered as an adult...even if it's not the best...or healthy. We may feel used. We may settle for the breadcrumbs of connection and this may result in depression, anxiety, stress, burnout, exhaustion, feeling shame, lack of confidence, feeling not good enough.![]()
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You are worth more. Therapy can increase our understanding, awareness and ability to use boundaries in relationships. Therapy can help us become unstuck, recognise toxic cycles in relationships, become more aware of our own behaviour and increase our mental health and wellbeing.![]()
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www.lovejoycouns#traumac#abuse![]()
#relationshiptherapyt#mentalhealthy#counsellingth![]()
#counselling
New experiences are important for psychological wealth, health and brain neuroplasty. New experiences increase dopamine, confidence, personal growth and can break cycles of negative thinking. ![]()
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So whether it's a new sport, shop, social group, food or a new job,...new experiences can be really good for you.![]()
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www.lovejoycounselling.co.#challengel#mentalhealthe#counsellingl#buxtonu#therapyerapy
High stress makes us less flexible in our ways of thinking. ![]()
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High stress makes us more stuck in "ruts", routines and restricted living. ![]()
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However by making time to be creative we can lower our stress/cortisol levels. Whether it's changing the placement of furniture in a room, adding some flowers to our home, gardening, painting or taking a photograph... creativity lowers our cortisol levels and stress.![]()
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Whatever your skill level, take time to be creative in your world today and give your brain and body a rest.![]()
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#stress![]()
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#playful![]()
#relaxationtechniques
