Depression

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“Depression is more than just a low mood - it's a serious illness. While we all feel sad, moody or low from time to time, some people experience these feelings intensely, for long periods of time and often without reason. People with depression find it hard to function every day and may be reluctant to participate in activities they once enjoyed. Depression causes both physical and psychological symptoms. Depression is one of the most common of all mental health problems. One in five people experience depression at some stage of their lives."(http://www.beyondblue.org.au. )

Life can be tough and we all face different challenges from time to time which can cause us to feel depressed. The loss of a spouse, child or loved one, the loss of a job or loss of good health can leave us feeling depressed and often without hope. Even Christians can suffer from depression. People suffering from depression often have feelings of anxiety as well. Some of the symptoms of depression can include feeling sad/down or miserable most of the time; loss/gain of weight associated with decrease/increase in appetite; sleep disturbance (sleeping too little or too much); withdrawing from family & friends; loss of concentration; over reliance on alcohol & sedatives; irritability; lack of confidence & self esteem; feelings of guilt or suicidal thoughts. If you experience any of these symptoms for a prolonged period, it’s important that you speak to your doctor or health professional.

Depression is treatable and the road to recovery may involve being prescribed anti-depressant medication and speaking to a counsellor or psychologist. Don’t suffer alone. Help is available.
If you would like to discuss further please contact

Article written by Marina Dyson, Counsellor

If you’ve been feeling low and would like to make an appointment, please call: Counsel@CrossCulture 9639 3875

Habits Gone Wrong

"I have developed a certain type of habit/almost ritual-like behaviour over the years. Each time before I go out of the house, I have to check 5 times that I definitely have 4 things on me; wallet, phone, keys, and tissue. I have to check 3 times that I have turned off the lights, turned off the gas, and closed all windows. I will never use public toilets due to the fear of germs. If I ever touched something that I thought may potentially be infected with germs, I'll have to wash my hands at least 3 times to feel better. At work, I am very particular with details and have to check my work at least 5 times before I'm satisfied with it. These habits not only affected my daily functioning, it has also affected my ability to work effectively. My friends and family have also started noticing my habits, with a few expressing concerns, while others just felt somewhat irritated. Is there something wrong with me?"

The behaviours described are consistent with a diagnosis of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). OCD is characterised by the preoccupation with intrusive thoughts such as "If I use a public bathroom, I may be infected with germs." These unwelcomed, intrusive and often exaggerated thoughts can understandably cause great distress, anxiety, and even fear. In order to calm yourself, you may experience what is referred to as a 'compulsion', an urge to engage in repetitive habits. These can include, as mentioned, checking things over and over, repetitive washing of your hands and checking your work 5 times. Unfortunately, these behaviours do assist with alleviating the associated negative feelings, which in turn reinforces their use again in the future when these thoughts occur. It quickly becomes a vicious cycle and these habits are strengthened with every use. This can then lead to the development of other habits. These stubborn habits often interfere with your social interactions, work/study abilities and well-being, and if so, it becomes a real problem.

The good news is that you can do something about it. It requires strong motivation and desire to untrain the stubborn habits, and it may be quite an uncomfortable experience at times. It is important, therefore, to seek professional support and guidance to help resisting the habits more effectively. You may wish to check with your doctor regarding a possible diagnosis of OCD and a possible treatment plan. Fortunately, there are plenty of people who have successfully worked through their symptoms and learned adaptive ways of managing their anxiety. In doing so, they have improved their quality of life - you can too.

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Article written by Ping Yin Ngu MAPS, Registered Psychologist

Appointments can be made online at:

http://appointment.counselcc.net.au.