Depression is no walk in the park. I’ve been there, done that. And decided it wasn’t for me! Yes, in my 20s I was experiencing severe clinical depression, and was on the verge of being put in a mental home, after continual attempts to take my own life. What changed? I changed. I decided to start loving myself, instead of … Read More
In order to heal ourself, we need to feel ourself. And when I say feel ourself, I mean actually be with ourself long enough to feel our feelings and emotions. Because we all have them. Feelings and emotions are part of the human experience. And when we make friends with how we truely feel, when we let ourself feel our … Read More
What’s coffee got to do with anxiety? Put simply… Coffee puts the body into a low level state of anxiety. You see, coffee is a stimulant. Maybe you’ve noticed after a coffee or three you feel a bit jittery? Or perhaps it only happens when you have a really strong coffee. Or maybe coffee has become such a regular in … Read More
If you’re here, it’s because you want to overcome depression OR you want to gain some insight to perhaps support someone you know in overcoming depression. So if you’re the person who’s in the midst of depression, I feel you! If you’re familiar with my story, I spent my teens and early 20s depressed. Like really depressed. The trying-to-commit-suicide-every-other-weekend kind … Read More
We all experience adversity – unpleasant or difficult situations – at various points in our life, especially right now, with what’s going on in the world. How you travel through these times, depend entirely on how solid you are within yourself. How connected you are to yourself. And perhaps as you’re reading this, you’re wondering what it means to be … Read More
Human emotions. Boy can they knock us about! Whether it’s something meaningless or something catastrophic that happens in our life, the resulting emotions that kick in, have the ability to completely unhinge us. Yet we are human. And part of being human is experiencing our very real human emotions. It’s these human emotions that essentially guide us through life. Yes, … Read More
This is a quick little blog to help you find some peace around any problem or difficult situation you may be experiencing right now. Because hey, I know life can seem like a struggle sometimes. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The first thing you need to understand is that: Our ‘perspective’ plays a huge role in how … Read More
I write this blog you after receiving some very sad news last night. I was lying in bed, about to turn the light off, when I received a call from my husband. He always calls (or texts) when he finishes a gig, to let me know he’s on his way home. Yet last night, his call came with some awful … Read More
Anxiety can be like having a lasso around your neck. Just one small tug and you’re left gasping for air. I remember my days when I would experience severe panic attacks – before I learnt what I’m about to share with you – and how horrible that was. Yet life doesn’t have to be this way. You can overcome anxiety. Firstly … Read More
Anxiety can be absolutely crippling. I should know, after experiencing my fair share of panic attacks, before I learnt what I’m about to share with YOU! Now before I teach you this 2-minute exercise that will eliminate anxiety, there’s a couple of things you need to understand. Firstly.. what is anxiety? Anxiety is a fear of what might happen in … Read More
Too much stress and your body will soon be broken down on the side of the road. It’s as simple as that. Believe it or not, stress is responsible for 70% of all illnesses and diseases. Yes, it’s that huge! And when you look at how stressed most people are today, is it any wonder so many people are in … Read More
Our emotional health is intimately connected to the food we put in our body. We may not think it is, but next time you eat a block of chocolate take the time to notice how you feel emotionally half an hour later. Down. Low on energy. Perhaps even a little cranky? Why is this? Refined sugar is one of the main foods … Read More
How much news do you consume on a daily basis? Are you a news junkie or do you take small bites? This week I wanted to look at how news can actually make us take on a more pessimistic view of life and even trigger depression and low moods. It’s not surprising, given that our environment has the ability to … Read More
We all have an inner meanie. You know the one I’m talking about. She/he’s negative, judgmental, constantly comparing you to other people and how well they’re doing or looking. She/he also likes to sabotage you in any way possible, such as keeping you busy doing all the things that will keep you from your dreams. You know your inner mean … Read More
When was the last time you lost your sh*t? Had a go at a lover or work colleague, spewed out some toxic emotions or simply thought: ‘Life’s too hard’? Well I’ve been there, plenty of times. As you’ll read in this week’s Take 5 magazine, I was one of those people ready to end it all, because I just couldn’t get out … Read More
Do you have a sob story you like to re-run in your head or to your friends, family or shrink? Are you someone who feels sorry for yourself and thrives on sympathy from others? If so, you are playing the role of a ‘victim’ and we all know what happens to victims, yeah? Bad stuff. They’re like negativity magnets. When … Read More
Having travelled the roller-coaster of suicide attempts and lived to tell the story, I am more than familiar with the darker shades of grey – you may know them as depression. Unfortunately, there are many more who did not make it, with suicide being the leading cause of death for Aussies under the age of 44. The reason I bring … Read More
Do you have hysteria? If so, maybe you’re not getting enough … ! If you’ve watched the new movie, Hysteria, you’ll have at least a vague understanding of the need for sexual satisfaction. Without it, women can cause all sorts of trouble, from road rage and acting out to experiencing depression and creating emotional scenes from seemingly nothing. The word … Read More
The cold dreary days of winter are upon us and that can be dangerous for those prone to depression. But we don’t have to get SAD. We’re all familiar with depression these days, but how much do you know about it’s seasonal cousin? Seasonal Affective Disorder or ‘sunlight starvation’ usually strikes at the start of winter and ends in spring … Read More
The original article written for the above article on how to ‘Laugh Your Way Healthy’ was… The secret ingredient in love is laughter, and as Oscar Wilde once said “relationships are too important to be taken seriously”. Tamra Mercieca looks at how laughter can enhance relationships. Laughter in a relationship is a treasure. It is one of our primary reasons … Read More
Fear can freeze us; stopping us from moving forward. In this blog I share some tips tips on how to overcome our fears. We are taught fear at a very young age. It is a learned behaviour, therefore it can, if we wish, be educated out of us. Fear is a way of thinking that has the ability to hinder … Read More
alternatives for beating stress Stress is the trash of modern life. We all generate it, but if you don’t dispose of it properly, it can pile up and overtake your life. Wellness coach and Lifeline advocate Tamra Mercieca takes a look at some alternatives for eliminating stress. meditation Meditation allows us to come home to ourselves, creating a boundary from … Read More
Leaving the pit of negativity Depression can be a life sentence, but only if you choose it to be. Tamra Mercieca talks about how she overcame this debilitating illness the natural way and how you can let go of the negativity too. I didn’t just wake up one day with the sads, nor was it some horrendous event that sent … Read More
Natural Depression Busters Anti-depressants are now taken by thousands of Australians, and many people credit them with changing, or even saving their lives. But they’re not for everyone. Tamra Mercieca explores some alternatives. People take prescription drugs every day to help them find relief from the different forms of depression. Anti-depressants give the perception that relieving depression is as easy … Read More
How often do you indulge in something sweet, only to be left feeling like rubbish? Let’s takes a look at the relationship between sugar and our mood. Sugar is a known cause of altering mood. It gives your blood an instant rush of energy, but that does not last long. You will experience a drop in mood and energy an hour … Read More
facing your fears The first American journalist to be expelled from Nazi Germany,Dorothy Thompson once said: “Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live”. Success Coach Tamra Mercieca explains the truth behind this. We are taught fear at a very young age. It is a learned behaviour, therefore it can, if we wish, be educated out … Read More
What’s your emotional IQ (or EQ)? We’ve been conditioned to believe that IQ is the best measure of human potential. In the past ten years, however, researchers have found this isn’t necessarily the case. In actuality, your emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) might be a greater predictor of success. Success Coach Tamra Mercieca explains. IQ may be a solid indicator of … Read More
