C Skeffington Counselling

🤌🏻 - ( my new favourite emoji, I’m over-using it massively )

Just Go - if only it was that easy. If you can’t today, set a plan to soon. Just Try. Don’t be hard on yourself if it is too much. Take a breather and tell yourself, I tried. We go again tomorrow. 🌿

🙊

👇🏼 So important. Delighted to see this being highlighted 👏🏻

Mental health: Unqualified therapists exploiting vulnerable patients BBC News has spoken to people who had bad experiences with unregistered therapists they found online.

👌🏼

Wales have it sussed! 👌🏼

Loneliness a 'bigger health risk than smoking or obesity'

Just finished watching...

“Are you ok?....”.”yeah”

“Are you really ok though?”

❗️ ASK AGAIN ❗️.https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p098hsv6

BBC Three - Roman Kemp: Our Silent Emergency Roman Kemp explores the mental health and su***de crisis affecting young men.

Love love love

Massive well done to all involved! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Watch: NI famous faces lend their voices to poignant mental health video From Michelle O'Neill to Niall McGinn and Gerry Armstrong the message on mental health is clear

Coronavirus doctor's diary: We're getting self-harming 10-year-olds in A&E More children are self-harming or taking overdoses, and at younger ages, says doctor John Wright.

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Understanding childhood worry and anxiety Short animation with some useful strategies to help your child overcome fears and worries. For a more detailed video on understanding anxiety contact RISENI....

I have experienced quite a drastic increase in 11-18 yr old referrals since March 2020. This article is no shock to me - this really needs awareness.

Parents- not that we need any more worries or pressure at the moment but it is so important to check in with our young people, and ask how they are coping, what are their worries and do they need help?

It can be easy for us to dismiss new behaviours as ‘normal given the circumstances’- but it might not be.

Behind closed bedroom doors, a teenage mental health crisis is brewing | Gaby Hinsliff Britain’s schools shutdown risks creating a generation of angry, withdrawn young people. Who will pick up the pieces, asks Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff

Good riddance January! 👋🏼👋🏼

🤔🌿

Depression is more than just feeling sad.

Depression is the unimaginable fatigue and exhaustion after a day of not doing much because you can’t find the energy to try.

The guilt and shame of long days in bed and the not being able to explain why. Feeling lazy and worthless even though inside your a soldier fighting hard to do the small things like take a shower or make yourself a meal.

Not wanting to eat but forcing food into you to stop questions of why you’re not eating..or have you eaten today?

Depression is not caring enough to get dressed anymore, and feeling rotten as a result. More shame.

You can’t just ‘cheer up’.

Depression is sleeping too much and still feeling wrecked, or not sleeping at all and wondering how you’re even functioning.

Depression is convincing yourself that you’re a nuisance and a burden to those around you, yet feeling like you deserve to be happy and questioning why this is happening to you.

Depression is promising yourself you’ll do something tomorrow to feel good, but tomorrow rolls on to the next tomorrow, and the next after that. Depression is beating yourself up that today you weren’t able to keep that promise.

Depression is lonely, it’s wanting to be alone, but the loneliness is crippling.

Depression is crying. Depression is irritability, anger, sadness and pain. Depression is sore.

Depression takes strength. A battle to get through each and every day, not knowing when it will pass. Depression takes stamina, and courage, yet you feel you’re weak and useless.

Depression keeps you quiet- how will anyone understand? I can’t understand it myself. People ask - “what have you to be sad about?” , “you’ve got so much to be grateful for, and so much going for you”.

Depression is phoning in sick. It is cancelling arrangements, and not really telling why.

Depression is an unwelcome intruder. People do not invite it in.

Depression is isolation, too much effort to try smile or laugh- not wanting to bring the mood down.

Saying no, or making up excuses to avoid going places, even though you’re longing for company and connection.

Depression is loss. Losing yourself, losing connections and forgetting what happiness feels like.

It is heavy, it is dark, but depression is not as strong as it feels. And you are not alone. Depression weakens with every connection regained. It weakens in every conversation it is exposed. It loses power in every walk or run, in every laugh, or every hug. It is not forever-even if it feels as though. It is hard work, but the reward is worth every step.

❤️

Anxiety is more than just worrying.

Anxiety is the restless nights of sleep, as you toss and turn. It’s your brain never being able to shut off. It’s the thoughts you over-think before bedtime and all of your worst fears become a reality in dreams and nightmares.

It’s waking up tired even though your day just started.

Anxiety is learning how to function with sleep deprivation because it took you until 2 am to shut your eyes.

It’s every text you wonder ‘how do I word this properly?’ It’s a double or triple text in case you messed up. Anxiety is answering texts embarrassingly fast.

Anxiety is the time you spend waiting for an answer as a scenario plays out in your mind of what they could be thinking or are they mad?

Anxiety is an unanswered text that kills you inside even though you tell yourself, ‘maybe they’re busy or will answer later.’ Anxiety is that critical voice that says ‘maybe they’re deliberately ignoring you.’ It’s believing every negative scenario you can come up with.

Anxiety is waiting. It always feels like you’re waiting. It’s the inaccurate conclusions drawn as your mind takes off and you have no choice but to follow it’s destructive lead.

Anxiety is apologizing for things that don’t even require the words, ‘I’m sorry.’

Anxiety is self-doubt and a lack of confidence both in you, yourself and those around you. Anxiety is being hyper aware of everyone and everything. So much so, you can tell if there’s a shift in someone merely by their tone or word choice.

Anxiety is ruining relationships before they even begin. It tells you, ‘you’re wrong, they don’t like you, they’re going to leave.’ Then you jump to conclusions.

Anxiety is a constant state of worrying and panicking and being on the edge. It’s irrational fears. It’s thinking too much, it’s caring too much. Because the root of people with anxiety is caring.

It’s sweaty palms and a racing heart. But on the outside, no one can see it. You appear calm and at ease and smiling but underneath is anything but that. Anxiety is the art of deception for people who don’t know you. And for the people who do, it’s a constant stream of phrases like, ‘don’t worry’ or ‘you’re overthinking this’ or ‘relax.’ It’s friends listening to these conclusions you’ve drawn and not really understanding how you got there. But they’re there trying to support you, as things go from bad to worse in your mind.

Anxiety is wanting to fix something that isn’t even a problem.

It’s the stream of questions that make you doubt yourself.

Did I lock the door before I left?’

Did I turn off the stove?

Is the straightener still on?

It’s turning back around just to double check.

Anxiety is the uneasiness at a party because you think all eyes are on you and no one wants you there. Anxiety is that extra shot you take and it seems like you’re finally relaxing. Until you wake up the next day hungover, full of regret and wondering what you said to whom and do you owe them an apology?

Anxiety is the overcompensating and trying too hard to please people.

Anxiety is being everywhere on time because the thought of being late would put you over the edge.

Anxiety is the fear of failure and striving for perfection. Then beating yourself up when you fall short. It’s always needing a schedule or a plan.

Anxiety is that voice inside your head that’s saying ‘you’ll fail.’

It’s trying to exceed people’s expectations even if you’re killing yourself to do so. Anxiety is taking on more than you can handle just so you are distracted and not overthinking something.

Anxiety is procrastination because you’re paralyzed with fear of failing so you hold it off.

It’s the triggers that set you off.

It’s breaking down in private and crying when you’re overwhelmed but no one will ever see that side of you. Anxiety is picking up and trying again because the only thing worse than overcoming other people is overcoming you and your own demons.

It’s beating that critical voice that says, ‘you really fu**ed up.’ or ‘you should feel awful right now.’

Anxiety is the want and the need to control things because it feels like this thing in your life is outside of your control and you have to learn to live with it.

But more than anything anxiety is caring. It’s never wanting to hurt someone’s feelings. It’s never wanting to do something wrong. More than anything, it’s the want and need to simply be accepted and liked. So you try too hard sometimes.

And when you come across friends who begin to understand, they help you through it.

Then you realize this might be a battle you face every day but it’s one you won’t have to face alone.
❤

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/23/meet-the-people-treating-nhs-workers-for-trauma?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&fbclid=IwAR1e-bygeBqwRa_rpM38lJ8lSMT-PLmon_A-hFVhRZc5uDSi_W9OwjOiuUc

‘They were freaking out’: meet the people treating NHS workers for trauma As the Covid pandemic reaches its peak, nearly half of intensive care staff are suffering from trauma. Who is caring for the carers?

To all of our clients, friends and family, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

From Amanda, Colleen, Roisin & Micky
🐿🎁🎄

☺️

A huge thank you to Niamh for this fantastic drawing of team acorn. We just love it. Fantastic professional service from a very talented local artist ❤️🐿

https://www.facebook.com/niamhillustrations/

Endings with clients are bittersweet. We get to know our clients so deeply and build a really trusting and transparent relationship, only to be working towards a time when they no longer need that relationship and say Goodbye.

This was one of those Goodbyes...and a real “yes! This is why I do my job” moment...

What a card to receive...I’m so proud of this client and all the hard work they put in to feel better 🌿

*posted with permission*

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Coalisland Fianna Mental health fund, organized by Sean Corr The last two years we successfully raised over £2000 for mental health related issues f… Sean Corr needs your support for Coalisland Fianna Mental health fund

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Relevant right now 💕💙

"Hi. Sorry I haven't texted you back. I̶’̶v̶e̶ ̶b̶e̶e̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶x̶i̶o̶u̶s̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶d̶e̶p̶r̶e̶s̶s̶e̶d̶. I haven’t had time to catch my breath, you know how life gets. I̶ ̶a̶m̶ ̶s̶o̶ ̶d̶r̶a̶i̶n̶e̶d̶ ̶I̶ ̶c̶a̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶e̶v̶e̶n̶ ̶c̶o̶l̶l̶e̶c̶t̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶e̶n̶e̶r̶g̶y̶ ̶f̶o̶r̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶m̶o̶s̶t̶ ̶m̶e̶n̶i̶a̶l̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶a̶s̶k̶s̶,̶ ̶l̶i̶k̶e̶ ̶t̶e̶x̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶b̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶o̶r̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶h̶i̶n̶g̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶o̶n̶e̶ ̶d̶i̶s̶h̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶i̶n̶k̶.̶ The weather has been beautiful right? Y̶e̶s̶t̶e̶r̶d̶a̶y̶ ̶I̶ ̶f̶o̶u̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶o̶f̶f̶ ̶a̶ ̶p̶a̶n̶i̶c̶ ̶a̶t̶t̶a̶c̶k̶ ̶w̶h̶i̶l̶e̶ ̶I̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶d̶r̶i̶v̶i̶n̶g̶.̶ ̶I̶ ̶h̶a̶d̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶p̶u̶l̶l̶ ̶o̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶b̶e̶c̶a̶u̶s̶e̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶v̶i̶s̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶b̶l̶u̶r̶r̶e̶d̶.̶ ̶I̶ ̶f̶o̶c̶u̶s̶e̶d̶ ̶o̶n̶ ̶h̶o̶w̶ ̶b̶l̶u̶e̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶s̶k̶y̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶.̶ ̶I̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶n̶’̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶h̶e̶d̶ ̶m̶y̶ ̶h̶a̶i̶r̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶r̶e̶e̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶s̶.̶ ̶I̶ ̶j̶u̶s̶t̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶s̶l̶e̶e̶p̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶ ̶t̶i̶m̶e̶,̶ ̶b̶u̶t̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶I̶ ̶t̶o̶l̶d̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶,̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶ ̶t̶o̶ ̶u̶n̶c̶o̶v̶e̶r̶ ̶a̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶s̶o̶n̶ ̶b̶e̶h̶i̶n̶d̶ ̶a̶l̶l̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶,̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶t̶a̶n̶g̶i̶b̶l̶e̶ ̶r̶e̶a̶s̶o̶n̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶a̶c̶c̶e̶p̶t̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶v̶a̶l̶i̶d̶.̶ How are you? I hope well. Let’s get dinner soon!"
—instagram.com/thealiciacook

artwork by instagram.com/nightmerss

In light of the new restrictions we just want assure our clients that we will remain open.
Your therapist will be in contact with you about further precautions that we are putting in place to ensure both you and our therapists continued safety.
All of our rooms facilitate 2-meter social distancing during therapy. Each room continues to be sanitised between client's.
Masks and visors remain available on request.
Online and telephone sessions remain available.
Please feel free to contact your therapist or us directly if you have any questions.