Ask a Professional

Q: "For the past year or so I've started having random intrusive thoughts about harming myself. I've never actually self-harmed and I want to know how I can stop these thoughts because they really freak me out.”

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Q: "How do you cope with feeling overwhelmed?”

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Q: "Since being let go from work my anxiety has been at an all time high, I have constant tightness in my chest and my mind races at night keeping me awake, I’m exhausted. How can I calm down?”

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Q: "What are some simple habits I can implement to improve my mental health?"

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Q: "I want to know more about how to silence the inner critic. I have very low self-esteem and can’t help but feel fake when I try to praise myself."

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Q: "I have a lot on my plate at the moment and I'm feeling overwhelmed. I have a problem with trying to analyse and fix everything at once. How can I learn to set priorities and organize myself?"

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Q: "I find the holidays extremely stressful because I feel so much pressure to please everyone. I end up overcommitting and running myself into the ground. I also have to deal with overly critical family members. How can I learn to be more comfortable saying no and setting boundaries?"

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Q: "I feel mentally and emotionally numb. That sense where you want to care, but you simply cannot. How do I overcome/manage/get rid of this feeling? How do I become alive again?"

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Q: "Because of my anxiety I always feel a sense of urgency and like I'm in a rush with everything. I would like some tips for how to slow down and be more mindful?"

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Q: "I have a loud inner critic that's constantly bringing me down. How can I learn to start being kinder to myself?"

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Q: "My boyfriend has anger management problems and it’s starting to really take its toll on me. I’ve told him it makes me extremely anxious when he’s yelling but it keeps happening. It’s like living with Jekyll and Hyde. I’ve suggested therapy but he said he’s just an angry person, it’s just the way he is. The thought of splitting up makes me incredibly sad and I worry that I won’t find anyone better than him. I keep telling myself that nobody is perfect but then I worry that I’m putting up with what other people would not. What should I do?"

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Q: “I’m a newly qualified therapist suffering from burnout. I struggle with imposter syndrome and work-life boundaries. I find it very difficult to switch off after work and find myself worrying about clients. These past three months have been particularly stressful as my long-term relationship ended and I underwent testing for a serious health problem (turns out I’m okay). What are some practical steps I can take to recover from burnout?"

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Q: “I've been working long hours for the past few months and my body feels constantly tense, especially my shoulders and neck, and I keep catching myself tensing my jaw. I've started to have headaches and I think it might be related. Do you have any tips for how I can relax my body?"

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Q: "I just came across the term “splitting” and it’s definitely something I suffer from in my relationships. I’d like some tips on how to recognise when it’s happening and how to deal with it."

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Q: "Lately I've been feeling really bored, flat and like I have no energy to do anything. What are some steps I can take to feel more energised?"

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Q: "I've recently decided to start therapy, but I don't know how to go about it. I'm scared of making the wrong choice. How do you choose a therapist to work with?"

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Q: "I'm struggling with feelings of worthlessness that always come sneaking in. They seem to be kept away by the things I accomplish. I want to learn how to feel more confident and accepting of myself regardless of what I achieve. Can you help?"

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Q: "Can you give me some anger management tips?"

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Q: "I struggle to quiet my mind at night and it's stopping me from getting to sleep at a reasonable hour. How can I learn to switch off?"

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Q: "What are some concrete tools people can use to better sit with uncertainty?"

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Q: "I've been putting off an important task and the guilt that I feel about it has been bringing me down. I'm usually a very conscientious person but somehow, I just can’t bring myself to get on with it and this is taking a toll on my emotions. What may be the best way to conquer this?"

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Q: "When I get stressed, I fail to put into practice all the advice I have read and been given. In particular, mindfulness focused breathing, which should be relatively easy to put into practice (I have been doing yoga on/off for years). Why don't I think to put it to good use when I need it the most?"

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