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Mental Health

Our mental health is just as important as our physical health - it impacts every aspect of our life Whether you’d like to get a better understanding of a mental health condition, learn about self-care tips or even how to improve your social and emotional wellbeing, we’re here to help.

Is it Time for Your Mental Health Check Up?

Is it Time for Your Mental Health Check Up?

Dr. Michela Sorensen
By
When was the last time you had a mental health check up? Do you even know what it looks like? Like all aspects of health, whether it be physical or mental, it is best to be on the front foot and recognise the early warning signs of ill health. So, just like you might book in a regular blood pressure check, make sure you schedule a mental health check too. After all, prevention is always better than cure.
Category:Mental Health, Stress and Anxiety, Depression
Articles 34 to 36 of 166

Hospital Cover

No one wants to go to hospital, but if the worst happens, having Hospital cover can make a stressful experience easier and more comfortable. You may be thinking, “But why do I need private health insurance when we can have the public health system, Medicare?” Well, there’s a number of reasons why private hospital insurance is a better option than relying solely on the public system – one of the most important one being that your policy allows you to choose your own hospital and treating doctor. Plus, you’ll typically have a much shorter wait time for any elective surgeries that you may need in the future.

Find out more

How to Relax More – Dr. Happy’s Top Tips

How to Relax More – Dr. Happy’s Top Tips

Dr. Happy
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I’m so busy. I’m so stressed. I’m so exhausted; sleep deprived; burned out! These are frighteningly common responses, these days, to the simple question “How are you?” According to Dr. Happy, "Stress and anxiety have become so common place and accepted that many of us have forgotten life doesn’t have to be like that. In fact, too many people have come to embrace these states of being, thinking they’re helping us function and perform better. So, what’s the answer? What would it be like to have fewer factors causing stress and anxiety?"  In his latest article for HIF, Dr. Happy shares some simple strategies that will help us to learn how to keep calm and relaxed despite the common stressors in our lives. 

Category:Mental Health
Why social media might be destroying your happiness (and what you can do about it)

Why social media might be destroying your happiness (and what you can do about it)

Dr. Happy
By
Did you know the average Australian spends more than 12 hours each week on Facebook? These numbers prove that social media use is a big part of lots of lives. According to Mental Health expert, Dr. Happy, "Social media can have a negative impact via social comparison. This is when we compare our lives to others and often, judge our own situation less favourably. One of the most common mistakes we typically made is to imagine other people’s “posts” are a true reflection of their lives when the reality is, most people only post the “best” bits. If, therefore, we compare our “bloopers” with other's “highlights” we’re bound to feel underwhelmed." In this article, Dr. Happy invites us to consider his top tips for enjoying social media, while minimising any negative impact it might have. 
Category:Mental Health
Less Common Forms of Eating Disorders

Less Common Forms of Eating Disorders

Dr. Happy
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What about the other types of eating disorders or 'disordered eating'? The ones that people don't often hear about and don't realise are also problematic? HIF mental health expert, Dr. Happy responds to a reader's concerns about other types of disordered eating and provides his advice on what to do about it. 
Category:Mental Health
How to Stop Self-doubt

How to Stop Self-doubt

Dr. Happy
By
At one point or another, we all question whether or not we are doing enough or doing the right thing. Self-doubt is common; self-doubt is normal; self-doubt might even serve a useful purpose…at certain times and in certain contexts. According to mental health professional, Dr. Happy, "Our goal should not necessarily be to stop self-doubt but rather, to minimise it and/or to use if effectively and constructively. We certainly don’t want doubt to paralyse or to cripple us, but we do want to find ways we can use it to our advantage." So how might we achieve this? Check out Dr. Happy's top 10 tips for turning self-doubt in to self-confidence.
Category:Mental Health
World Mental Health Day – Do You See What I See?

World Mental Health Day – Do You See What I See?

Dr. Happy
By
Did you know that one in five Australians will experience an episode of mental illness in any one year? According to mental health professional, Dr. Happy, "Too many people still don’t seek help because they’re afraid of being judged; because of the perceived shame and embarrassment associated with being labelled. With this in mind, Mental Health Australia has adopted a theme that aims to tackle some of this head on – and it’s great. Their “Do you see what I see?” campaign targets the overly negative images of mental ill-health by inviting everyone to view mental illness from a different perspective; the perspective of someone suffering OR the perspective of someone coping and functioning well! In this article, Dr. Happy encourages us all to make an effort to see mental ill-health in a more positive light and also invites us to “Make a (mental health) Promise”. Click through to the article to read his advice. 
Category:Mental Health
Spotting the Signs of an Eating Disorder

Spotting the Signs of an Eating Disorder

Dr. Happy
By
Did you know eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia are on the rise in children and adolescents? According to mental health professional, Dr. Happy, "Body dissatisfaction and/or some degree of dieting is extremely common in young women (and increasingly in young men). But not all of these have or will ever have a formal eating disorder so two common and important questions from parents and friends are – how do I know when “normal” becomes “abnormal”? And what do I do if I notice any warning signs?" With this in mind, we chatted to Dr. Happy to get his advice on everything you need to know about eating disorders. Including the red flags to look out for and what to do if you spot any of the symptoms. 
Category:Mental Health
How Kindness Can Improve Your Mental Health and Happiness

How Kindness Can Improve Your Mental Health and Happiness

Dr. Happy
By

Did you know that being kind is associated with being happier; having a healthier heart; ageing more slowly and having better quality relationships? According to Dr. Happy, "The positive emotion we experience as a result of just selfishly pursuing what’s best for us doesn’t go deep and it doesn’t last long. In contrast, one of the most significant contributors to genuine, lasting happiness is connecting with others. The quality (and to a lesser extent the number) of our relationships indubitably reflects the quality of our lives; including the extent to which we enjoy satisfaction and contentment." In this post, Dr. Happy explains why loneliness and isolation are major contributors to poor mental health and offers his top tips on how to enjoy a healthier and happier life.

Category:Mental Health
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Dr. Happy
By
How often do you hear the phrase, "I'm a bit OCD"? According to Dr Happy, "It's a common term and the reality us, that most people do "have a bit" of OCD. But there is a big difference difference between having some (in the majority of cases, minor) obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and having a full-blown obsessive-compulsive disorder. In this article Dr Happy discusses both and offers his advice on how we can understand this difference. 
Category:Mental Health
Why we jump to conclusions – and how to stop!

Why we jump to conclusions – and how to stop!

Dr. Happy
By

Do you have a habit of jumping to conclusions quickly? According to Dr. Happy, "One of the greatest misperceptions of human functioning and especially, human thinking, is that we are, by and large, rational creatures. Although there’s no doubt we can and do think logically at times, there’s also no doubt that much of our thinking, much of the time, is nowhere near as rational or as accurate as we assume it to be." In this article, Dr Happy discusses some of the more common 'distortions' or 'thinking mistakes' we make and offers his advice on what we can do to combat these unhelpful and often unrealistic thoughts.

Category:Mental Health
How to Declutter Your Mind

How to Declutter Your Mind

Dr. Happy
By
Do you feel overwhelmed with your thoughts? Feel stressed out from too much going on in your life? If you've answered yes then it might mean it's time to declutter your mind. According to mental health expert, Dr. Happy, "It’s the commonly held belief that “more is better”! This is most definitely not true when it comes to wealth and possessions; and it’s just as not true when it comes to what goes on within our minds. So be happy thinking less; because you may well find that when it comes to happiness, less is more!" In his latest article, Dr. Happy provides his Manifesto for Simple Living.
Category:Mental Health
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