By Brian Robinson. "Look, I need to know what's going on. My husband's been missing for three weeks. He was last seen going into his laboratory in your university. I don't know if he's dead or alive. All I've been told is he's missing. This is your university. You're responsible. And you need to tell … Continue reading The Day Maths Went Mad
Anxiety: 10 Tips to Help Recover
By Brian Robinson. The anxiety genie, out of the bottle. How do you get the anxiety genie back in the bottle, ten tips: Try and see anxiety as a disorder caused by high tension levels. If you are relaxed you cannot be anxious. Ask yourself throughout the day: is what I'm doing producing tension or … Continue reading Anxiety: 10 Tips to Help Recover
Anxiety: Communication Therapy
Brian Robinson. The internal network. It can be quite useful to try and come up with a definition for anxiety. I say this because once you have a sound definition, you automatically open up a recovery pathway. So, we might ask, can anxiety be defined as an emotional disorder; is it a tension disorder; is … Continue reading Anxiety: Communication Therapy
The Devil’s Advocate
By Brian Robinson. William Shakespeare. "I see a big problem here Will. I mean, your language, it's all over the shop. But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks? What's that all about? It's too bloody cryptic Will. It's got a certain ring to it, I'll give you that, but so has a cracked pot." … Continue reading The Devil’s Advocate
Anxiety: The Problem With Reactions
By Brian Robinson. Anxiety: a spur to react We now know that reactions can be important when suffering from a variety of anxiety disorders. In many instances, how we react can often reinforce the idea that we are in danger. Our reactions may work to maintain the anxious condition, and that is clearly something worth … Continue reading Anxiety: The Problem With Reactions
Anxiety in a Word
By Brian Robinson. A blurred word with blurred meaning. When you attempt to describe a complicated thing, or a number of different things in a single word, it is bound to lead to misunderstandings. For example, when we use the word anxiety what exactly do we mean? What is it we are trying to describe? … Continue reading Anxiety in a Word
Health Phobia
By Brian Robinson. Many people who suffer from general anxiety also develop worries about their health. The tendency for this to emerge is a common characteristic of GAD (General Anxiety Disorder) and panic. When this happens, this could be no more than raised health concerns. Or, it could be that the person has developed a … Continue reading Health Phobia
Anxiety: The Problem With Resistance.
By Brian Robinson. Punching makes sense when there is something to punch. There is nothing more natural than to resist the things we dislike or fear. That's the way we're wired. And most of the time it works. Resistance is our friend: it's not our enemy. But what if the things we are trying to … Continue reading Anxiety: The Problem With Resistance.
Anxiety Symptoms: Depersonalisation: Derealisation
By Brian Robinson. Blurred vision Anxiety sufferers can experience a host of troublesome symptoms. This is a characteristic which often makes it a difficult condition to manage. Generally speaking, however, symptoms only arise due to high levels of stress or the fight or flight response having been activated. Although as anxiety sufferers, we may believe … Continue reading Anxiety Symptoms: Depersonalisation: Derealisation
OCD: The Power of Pictures
By Brian Robinson. The power of pictures Here is a thought: if there was no such thing as language, there would be no anxiety disorders, no OCD and no intrusive thoughts. Although it is true that in some cases the intrusive thoughts involved with OCD take the form of images, the vast majority of intrusions … Continue reading OCD: The Power of Pictures
OCD In a Nutshell
By Brian Robinson. Almost always, OCD has two main characteristics i.e. compulsions and intrusive thoughts. Compulsions are what they say on the tin: you have to do them. Intrusive thoughts are difficult too, not only because they are troublesome and uncompromising, but because at worst the sufferer may believe the thoughts represent the absolute truth. … Continue reading OCD In a Nutshell
Anxiety: Two Tensions
By Brian Robinson. Anxiety can be a confusing experience. But the better we understand it: the less confusing it becomes. The critical thing to remember, is that the underlying cause of anxiety is stress or tension within the body. If our body, our emotions and our minds are relaxed, then we cannot possibly be anxious. … Continue reading Anxiety: Two Tensions
Shamanic Cave: Relaxation and Visualisation Exercise.
By Brian Robinson. Colours: reflections: thoughts. Visualisation can take a thousand forms and can be used towards a variety of ends. When it is used to help with anxiety, it serves as a means of escape to a safe place; as a distraction from troublesome thoughts; and a means to relax the mind. Visualisations work … Continue reading Shamanic Cave: Relaxation and Visualisation Exercise.
Strange Things
By Brian Robinson. Some very strange things have been happening in our house lately. The other day I came home to find my wife baking a cake. She never does that. I knew straight away something was up. She's having an affair. It's as plain as day. That's what women do when they want to … Continue reading Strange Things
The Recurring Dream
By Brian Robinson. Each night I dream I am a homeless man. I dream of arguments with family when I should have held my tongue. Of failed business ventures like feathers lost in the wind. I dream of people with no pockets, walking by, pretending not to notice. I dream of being kicked and punched … Continue reading The Recurring Dream
