https://www.scmp.com/rss/502135/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Sometimes you can think yourself into a problem that isn’t actually as burdensome as it may feel. It is very common to have “unhelpful thoughts” - and it’s not something that ends with puberty; even pretty mature adults get them, too. Often, people will use the same unhelpful thinking style again and again throughout their lifetime. Unfortunately, not everyone becomes aware of their own thinking patterns, and they repeat thinking styles which are just not helpful. Becoming aware of any unhelpful... https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3027600/negative-thoughts-can-impact-your-mood-mental-health-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3027600/negative-thoughts-can-impact-your-mood-mental-health-and?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Nov 2019 00:00:13 +0000 Some people may worry that talking about suicide encourages people to harm themselves, or puts dangerous ideas into young people's minds. Suicide is a global phenomenon, and the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds globally. However, organisations such as the Samaritans and The American Association of Suicidology encourage young people to be open about their feelings and to talk about "taboo" subjects, explaining that this offers an opportunity to get help. A 2003 University of... https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3027105/its-important-talk-about-suicide?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3027105/its-important-talk-about-suicide?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Oct 2019 12:00:11 +0000 Sometimes, you want an almost instant solution to stress - and as tempting as it can seem, getting drunk won't ultimately help you, trust us. According to the Association of Reflexologists, reflexology is an ancient therapy that dates back more than 5,000 years. Treatments try to bring back balance to the body, encourage healing and increase relaxation, and can be done on the hands as well as the feet – similar to Chinese foot massages. You can pay a professional reflexologist to do this; but... https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3029650/reduce-your-stress-simple-hand-reflexology-you-can-do?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3029650/reduce-your-stress-simple-hand-reflexology-you-can-do?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Oct 2019 13:34:29 +0000 Developing a healthy sense of sense and figuring out how we fit into society is a fundamental stage in adolescence, according to developmental psychologists. Erik Erikson’s psychosocial theory (1968), suggests teenagers go through a stage of “crisis”, where they explore and form their sense of self and identity. This stage can (and often does) continue into adulthood. Ideally, people come out the other side of the “crisis” with a healthy understanding of their own unique identity. Identity... https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3027604/if-youre-lgbtq-self-acceptance-can-be-especially-hard-there?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3027604/if-youre-lgbtq-self-acceptance-can-be-especially-hard-there?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Oct 2019 13:00:04 +0000 There's so much our bodies do to ensure our survival without our being aware. One of the ways they act without our instruction is when we are faced with danger. Anxiety is the name given to describe our physical reactions if we encounter something that appears to be a threat. When this happens, our bodies will prepare themselves to run or fight, also known as “fight or flight”. In fight or flight mode, what we feel and how our bodies physically react is known as anxiety. Anxiety can be helpful,... https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3027610/anxiety-can-be-overwhelming-and-affect-your-physical-well?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3027610/anxiety-can-be-overwhelming-and-affect-your-physical-well?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Sep 2019 07:14:32 +0000 On the surface, striving for perfection sounds like a worthy goal: working hard, aiming for efficiency, pursuing excellence and being organised are all ideals to be applauded, in many areas of life. However, if you delve deeper into whether perfection actually exists, or whether it is an attainable goal, you may start to realise that aiming for it may be problematic. While having high standards can be a good thing, an excess of perfectionist thoughts and behaviour can cause high levels of... https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3027559/could-depression-and-low-self-esteem-be-partly-due-our-quest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3027559/could-depression-and-low-self-esteem-be-partly-due-our-quest?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Sep 2019 02:38:32 +0000 Whether it's penning resolutions for a new year or deciding to set new goals after a major life change, writing down a list of intentions can signal the beginning of some positive change, and can act as a powerful motivator. However, objectives aren’t always met. Perhaps the items on the list are unrealistic or vague, or perhaps life just gets in the way, and priorities change. In contrast to the traditional New Year’s resolutions list – where we are looking ahead and planning what we hope to... https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3029655/mental-health-benefits-writing-gratitude-list-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3029655/mental-health-benefits-writing-gratitude-list-and?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Sep 2019 02:22:05 +0000 What five words would you use if you were asked to describe yourself? Would you choose positive, uplifting terms, or would they be critical and harsh? Your answer reflects your own opinion of yourself; how we think about ourselves, and the value we place on ourselves, forms our self-esteem. Self-esteem can be influenced by others in our lives. Comments about our character made by parents, teachers, friends or siblings can affect the way we see ourselves. Someone who is heavily criticised by... https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3027542/5-easy-ways-improve-your-self-esteem-boost-your-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/better-life/well-being/article/3027542/5-easy-ways-improve-your-self-esteem-boost-your-confidence?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Sep 2019 02:17:50 +0000