Tag: mental health
-
Happy World Ego Awareness Day!
I can imagine that many of you reading this are asking, what is World Ego Awareness Day? You may even be thinking, with all the other celebrations and days to commemorate various people, groups and events in our life, why observe this one? When I first heard about this day, I must admit that I…
-
The Birth of a Mother
We go through pregnancy, labour and delivery, and a child is born. Along with a child, a mother is born too. The term “matrescence” was coined by medical anthropologist Dana Raphael (1975) who labels it as a period of transition quite similar to adolescence where a mother-to-be experiences dramatic hormonal, physical, and emotional changes including…
-
Simple mindful exercises that can improve focus
If you are a multitasker like me, you might be used to doing many things simultaneously. While multitasking is efficient, we develop different routines and habits over time and consistently operate in the “automatic pilot” mode, which is doing something without paying attention. Our brains are wired to be distracted. A study has shown that…
-
Friendship: Is it ever too late to build friendships?
Since we were young, the topic of making friends has been heavily promoted in our families and in school environments. As children, it came naturally for us to explore our world by interacting with people in society, especially our peers. At a young age, children are exposed to potential playmates through attending school, family gatherings,…
-
Surviving and Thriving: A Guide to Reintegrating into Work or School After a Brain Injury
Returning to work or school after a brain injury (e.g. traumatic brain injury, stroke, brain tumour, epilepsy, neurosurgery) can be a challenging and stressful process. One of the common mistakes individuals make when returning to work/school is returning too soon, assuming that they are ready once they recover physically. After a brain injury, an individual…
-
How you could be part of the change this International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination!
Before I even start this blogpost I’d first like to recognise my own privilege as a white cis South African male. Understanding my gender, racial and cultural privileges and how they’ve informed the formulation and output of this blogpost is extremely important to me. This may be a challenging post to read for some and…
-
Being different is normal
For more than a century, scientists have tried to understand humans through the evolving process of science. In order to grasp the vastness of what it means to be human, scientists started defining human variations in terms of standardised measures. The main goal of this process aimed towards increased understanding, as understanding could potentially lead…
-
Reflecting on International Women’s Day
Being a woman is a multifaceted and complex experience that is shaped by a variety of factors including biology, culture, society, and personal experiences. It can involve navigating social and political structures that have historically marginalised and oppressed women, as well as navigating personal identities and relationships. Leading up to International Women’s Day, I had…
-
Beyond Thinness: Breaking the Stereotype of Eating Disorders
The last week of February is celebrated globally as the Eating Disorder (ED) Awareness Week. It aims to prevent eating disorders and disordered eating while reducing the stigma associated with this disorder. The misconceptions of ED and social stigma continue to perpetuate the disorder and impede help seeking behaviours. It is crucial to recognise how…
-
The Boomerang of Kindness
Shortly before Christmas, my son and I were shopping around Orchard Road when we came upon a kind gentleman who sells tissues in the area. I have known this man for many years and, despite some disabilities, he is always extremely cheerful and grateful. Because of this, I usually try to give a little extra,…