#MentalHealthAwareness

Vibrant jars of colourful sweets create a tempting display in a sweet shop, surrounded by warm lighting.

Hooked on Sweets: The Hidden Link Between Sugar and Depression

Recovery from sugar addiction requires the same honesty and steadiness we bring to other forms of dependency.

2 days ago2 min read

Coping with change requires more than simple adjustment to new circumstances. It calls for a reorganisation of internal experience, particularly when familiar structures of identity, routine, or relationship are altered. From a psychotherapeutic perspective, change can activate deeply held expectations about safety, belonging, and control. The nervous system often interprets uncertainty as potential threat, even when the change is desired. Anxiety, irritability, or emotional withdrawal may therefore emerge as adaptive responses rather than signs of fragility. When individuals understand these reactions as meaningful signals, they can begin to engage with change in a more reflective and less reactive manner. In the therapeutic space, the task is to develop an observing mind that can notice shifts in mood, thought, and bodily sensation without immediate judgement. This involves cultivating tolerance for emotional complexity and allowing contradictory feelings to coexist. One may feel

Adaptation and Identity: The Inner Work of Living Through Change

Coping with change requires more than simple adjustment to new circumstances. It calls for a reorganisation of internal experience, particularly when familiar structures of identity, routine, or relationship are altered.

Feb 192 min read

A solitary figure stands in shadow, gazing over a mist-covered lake, embracing the tranquillity of the early morning.

Is Calm a Threat? The Paradox of Hypervigilance in Trauma

Hypervigilance is often misunderstood. It is not a universal consequence of trauma, nor is it simply anxiety or over-cautiousness. Rather, it is a finely tuned, embodied response that can develop when a child grows up in an environment where safety was unpredictable. From a psychotherapeutic perspective, hypervigilance reflects the nervous system’s remarkable adaptability. It learns to scan for danger in order to protect the self, even when the threat is no longer present.

Dec 18, 20252 min read

I refer to it as ‘The Voldemort Effect’: Understanding Avoidance

Avoidance is one of the most instinctive human responses to fear. When something feels overwhelming, whether a memory, a situation or even a thought, turning away can bring a temporary sense of safety. In the moment it may feel protective but over time this very act of avoidance nourishes the fear it is meant to contain. I call this the Voldemort Effect. In the Harry Potter stories, the refusal to speak Lord Voldemort’s name transforms it into something unspeakable.

Sep 24, 20252 min read

A white tissue box with a tissue partially pulled out, set against a plain white background, creating a clean and simple appearance.

Why We Don’t Pass the Tissue in Psychotherapy (And No, It Is Not Because We Are Mean)

Psychotherapists are taught not to hand out tissues when someone is crying. I always find myself cringing when a therapist is shown...

Jul 18, 20252 min read

Person in a dark hoodie holding a white mask over their face, intense gaze. Shadowy background, creating a mysterious mood.

Do you know someone calling themselves a mental health therapist without the relevant training?

“No psychologist should pretend to understand what he does not understand... Only fools and charlatans know everything and understand...

Apr 17, 20252 min read

Billi Silverstein
Psychotherapy