Articles
Sharleen Pillay
Social Worker Manager | Childline KZN
Topic: Self-Harm
Break the Stigma surrounding Self-harm by learning to feel comfortable to start the conversation..
Help by doing the following :
1. Stay calm. You might feel angry that someone you care about is hurting their own body, but reacting with anger can shut the conversation down. That person you care about needs your kindness right now.
2. Acknowledge their emotions. Self-harm is a sign of serious emotional distress. You can ask open questions about their feelings. These can be as simple as ‘How are you feeling?’ or ‘What are you feeling?’. Remember, this is about them expressing their emotions. You might feel you need to urgently understand why they are doing it, but it’s usually best to give them time and space to talk in their own words.
3. Show care and concern. Focusing on people’s emotional distress can help people feel cared for and heard. We know that caring relationships are key to helping people who
self-harm.
4. Be non-judgmental. There is a lot of stigma around self-harm.
People can feel really apologetic and embarrassed, which can add to their distress and make them less likely to speak about
it. Let the person in your life know they don’t need to be apologetic or say sorry to you.
You are there to listen and support them to find a way through.
Cindy Narasimooloo
Doctor
Topic: Exam Stress
Managing yourself during your exam preparations
Anxiety and stress doesn’t have to be a big part of your life at this crucial time of your academic year. You just need enough stress to motivate you to finish your daily goals and to keep you accountable for your time.
1. Don’t let stress become distress. Distress is felt in your body through headaches, tummy aches, muscle tension, sweating, insomnia and moodiness. If you experience this then you need to put the books down and destress.
2. Evaluate and manage things in your control especially your thoughts, mindset and behaviour. Think positive, believe in yourself and avoid negative behaviour such as drugs, alcohol and binge eating. Opt for the healthy snack instead of junk food.
3. Be practical:
Regarding the exam: know the date, time, venue, and materials required for the examination. Know what content you will be tested on and ensure you have the material.
Regarding studying: set realistic goals to achieve at each study session.
Structure your time using a study timetable as a tool
Regarding mental health: sleep for 8hours, study for 8 - 10hours and
play for 6-8hours. During play - exercise, connect with friends and family and do something you enjoy.
Dale Moodley
Doctor | PHD in Psychology
Topic: Depression
Depression is a REAL condition caused by one (or multiple) significant prolonged stressful event(s) in an individual’s environment such as family, physical, occupational and relationship difficulties.
In response to these social stressors, the brain starts to produce certain neuro-chemicals responsible for the physical symptoms of depression.
Depression, then, is the result of a complex interplay between the individual’s social environment and their brain’s neurochemistry.
It is important that we treat this condition
with extreme caution and care.