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What does trauma-informed care look like? When do we need to use trauma informed care? The very first thing we need to have awareness of is just how common trauma is, and to recognise that almost every person who seeks treatment could have experienced at least one traumatic event in their life. We don’t always need to probe people about these experiences; instead, we need to assume that they may have this history and act accordingly. Trauma Informed Care (TIC) is appropriate for all our clients, regardless whether they disclose a trauma history or not. Care that is trauma informed involves prevention, recognition, and response to trauma-related difficulties. Experts agree that incorporating an awareness of trauma into medical care requires a systems-wide approach.

  I’m not clumsy. I am not stupid and I hate having toothpaste on my shirt.   Understanding Dyspraxia – A parent and teen’s guide   ‘Everyone called me stupid, clumsy too. My Mum was worried that sometimes I didn’t think about things like my brother. I was worried about being bullied, losing my football […]

Drugs come in many forms; illegal, prescription and even over the counter medications that, if abused, can lead to a serious dependency. From street drugs, such as heroin, cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine to prescribed medications, like Oxycodone and Vicodin and even those bought from a pharmacy, for example, codeine; all alter the chemistry of the brain and create a need, both mentally and physically to continue feeding the addiction.

Alcohol is the most readily available drug to society, and as such has long been used and abused. If it were to be invented today the likelihood is that it would be banned and criminalized. According to Professor David Nutt, an English neuropsychopharmacologist specializing in the research of drugs that affect the brain and conditions such as addiction, ‘alcohol is more harmful than heroin or crack when the overall dangers to the individual and society are considered’.

‘Insomnia’ is a word that we use and hear often. How much do we truly understand about insomnia and the links to depression? What can we do to help? Insomnia comes from the Latin ‘in’ (no) and ‘somnus’ (sleep). Insomnia is a pattern of severely reduced sleep or no sleep. It is a subjective diagnosis based upon being dissatisfied with the amount of sleep that we are getting.

Dependency on alcohol can sneak up on you without ever having realised there was a problem. A habit that is hard to break, it becomes all-consuming. A few harmless drinks or a few too many? Rewarding yourself with a few drinks at the end of a hard day has become somewhat of a norm. Whether in a social situation or even once home alone, the draw to have a drink or few in order to relax and unwind can quickly become a habit that creates a false sense of security and an ultimate escape from reality.

Intimate Partner  Violence (IPV) is on the rise. In fact, over 50% of women will experience relationship violence at some point in their life. Violence against male partners is increasing too; with reporting steadily increasing across the globe.

The jokes and quips like, ‘does my bum look big in this?’ and the length of time it takes to get ready for a night out are often rooted in light-hearted fun. However, for approximately 3% of people, how they feel about their looks, body and image can have severe implications on life, home, work and relationships.