Last week, Oscar Pistorius began his 30 day mental evaluation at Weskoppies psychiatric hospital in Pretoria. The unexpected break in his murder trial came after a psychiatrist suggested he was suffering from general anxiety disorder (GAD) at the time he shot his girlfriend dead at his home in February last year.
Continue reading “Why does Oscar’s psych assessment have GAD sufferers worried?”
It’s natural to feel a bit down from time to time, but if you find yourself feeling sad or lonely a lot of the time, then it could be a sign that you’re battling with depression. It’s a mental health condition that’s still taboo for many people, but it’s important to know that it CAN be treated and overcome.
There are an estimated 30 million people living with dementia – you may not be a sufferer, but you could be caring for someone who is. Here are some facts about what dementia is, and what it isn’t.
Amongst other things, the Oscar Pistorius trial has opened the door to the fact that emotional and psychological abuse is very real, and it’s as dangerous and damaging as physical abuse. So why doesn’t it get as much attention? Why isn’t it taken as seriously?
Most abusive relationships start out normally, with the usual romance and charm that comes with meeting and getting to know someone, and ultimately falling in love with them. If there is abuse, it might not seem obvious in the beginning, because it tends to start off slowly, subtly. It’s often hard to see abusive behaviour for what it is, and all too often excuses are made for an abusive partner, or more worryingly, for the person being abused.
Have you experienced an abusive relationship, or do you think your partner is starting to show signs of abuse? If any of these points ring true for you, then consider them warning bells – it’s time to move on before it gets worse.
We spoke to well-known psychologist Janie Loubser and asked for her opinion on the subject. Here’s what she had to say:
“All relationships have a dark, messy side, but we tend to avoid the jealousies and conflicts that go on below the surface. In couples where one partner is more aggressive and the other is meek, it can be especially threatening to talk about fears, insecurities, attraction to third parties, and jealousy. When these things aren’t reflected on and talked about, patterns of shame and secrecy are set up that can become dangerous. That’s why it’s so important to talk to someone outside of the relationship, if the relationship doesn’t feel safe. It’s also important that both partners get help. The aggressive partner needs to be confronted by someone he/she can trust, and it must be done in a way that communicates care as well as firm boundaries. From the Oscar Pistorious case, it’s clear that he had a history of aggression, and it can be said that the people close to him failed him if it’s true that they didn’t confront him and encourage him to get help.”
If you’re feeling this way in your relationship then it’s vital that you talk to someone you can trust – a family member, friend or support line for advice. If you’re able to see a counsellor, then do so.
For more information visit POWA – an organisation who supports women and children who have suffered domestic violence.
Visit Janie’s website at: http://www.janieloubser.co.za/
If you’d like to speak to a doctor, why not speak to one of ours – they’re ready to help you 24/7. If you aren’t registered yet, sign up to Hello Doctor. Once you’ve subscribed, you can ask a doctor to call YOU – and they’ll get back to you within an hour.
3 ½ years ago, Shrien Dewani and his young wife Anni made international headlines when the couple were allegedly hijacked on the outskirts of Cape Town, while on honeymoon. Anni was shot and killed, and what followed was a series of events which saw Dewani leaving the country within days of his wife’s murder. You can read the full details of the Dewani case here.
Continue reading “Murder accused Shrien Dewani is back in SA, but will he stand trial?”
This week, the long awaited trial of murder-accused Oscar Pistorius starts – and all eyes are on him. With the facts of the case laid bare though, it’s perhaps easy to forget Reeva Steenkamp’s family – and the pain they’re undoubtedly going through one year after her death. The stress of the trial seems to be taking its toll, and last week it was reported that Reeva’s father, Barry, had suffered a second minor stroke – just days before the trial was set to start.
The question is, could Barry’s stroke be linked to the grief brought on by his daughter’s death? We get our doctor to weigh in and explain the link between stress, grief and a broken heart.
Login to read the full story on the Hello Doctor website.
This week is dedicated to Teen Suicide Prevention, and the focus is on creating awareness around the seriousness of teen depression, and what can be done to break the stigma surrounding it.
Addictive personalities tend have certain behaviours or habits in common, for example they might be attention seeking, compulsive and impulsive. If you find yourself answering yes to more than half of the questions in our quiz, then it might indicate that you are at risk of, or already indulging in addictive behaviours.
According to Dr Thomson from Hello Doctor, everyone possess’ the ability to become addicted to something at some stage in our lives, and this is worse if you are genetically predisposed to an addiction, for example alcohol or drugs.
Hey! So we’re sure you’ve heard about the new online drinking game taking the world by storm! Daring games have always been fun to play, if a little questionable. Games like chicken, truth or dare and spin the bottle are just a few of the more innocent daring games, but somewhere along the line people have taken this concept to dangerous new heights. The latest drinking challenge, NekNominate, is getting plenty of attention, but not for the right reasons.
By now the story of teen singer Justin Bieber’s arrest in Miami for drag-racing and driving under the influence of booze and drugs has gone viral many times over.
Continue reading “Bieber’s arrest – it’s no joke”
Not all depression is the same, so if you’ve been diagnosed with depression your doctor will speak to you about the different treatment options available, and which would suit you best. For patients with clinical depression, treatment may include psychotherapy with or without prescribed anti-depressants. For others who don’t respond to standard depression treatments, doctors may offer brain stimulation techniques such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), also called electroshock therapy.
The first day your child goes to ‘big’ school is a memorable time for any family! Emotions are running high in parents, and children are filled with a mixture of excitement, nerves and anxiety – and who could blame them? Continue reading “Your child’s first day at school: dealing with anxiety”
