Anxiety is an adaptive reaction that everyone experiences from time to time, including animals. Anxiety alarms us of situations and circumstances that involve some threat of danger, and it enables our body to respond in ways that help keep us safe. This response is a useful survival mechanism, helping us to avoid or even prevent […]
Trauma
The General Adaptation Syndrome
General adaptation syndrome describes the body’s short-term and long-term reaction to stress. Originally described by Hans De Solye in the 1920s, the general adaptation syndrome describes a three stage reaction to stress covering our initial reaction to the stressor, our resistance and adaptation to coping with the stressor and our eventual exhaustion after dealing with […]
- December 10, 2009
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- 9091
- Counselling Theory & Process, Stress Management, Trauma & Disaster Mental Health
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Stress, PTSD and PDSD
Many of us already know that stress is a double edge sword. Stress can be good for us when preparing us for a special or threatening event. Many will be familiar with the concept of the Fight and Flight Syndrome. When a threat is perceived, our brain and body prepares to do battle or to […]
- October 29, 2009
- 3
- 76753
- Diagnosis & Treatment, Stress Management, Trauma & Disaster Mental Health
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The Cycle of Domestic Violence
There has been a great deal of research which indicates that there are patterns to violence in abusive relationships and is often referred to as “the cycle of violence”. It has been useful for many women in violent relationships to notice these patterns in order to predict attacks, however it is important to note that […]
- May 1, 2007
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- 3501
- Relationship & Families
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A Case of Stressful Life Change
Author: Jane Barry A précis of the sessions is as follows. For ease of writing the Professional Counsellor is abbreviated to “C”. In the first session, “C” asked some open questions to prompt Mary to start discussing her dilemmas. Mary was able to convey the events leading up to her problems clearly, although was reduced […]
- April 23, 2007
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- 16329
- Case Studies, Children & Adolescents, Disability Issues, Relationship & Families, Trauma & Disaster Mental Health
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