ADDICTION
Addictions are extremely common and often result due to ongoing stress, a significant loss, trauma and/or underlying mental health issues.
Addictions can include:
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Substance use (alcohol & illicit drugs)
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Gambling
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Internet
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Gaming
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Steroid use
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Pornography
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Smoking
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Food
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Work
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Social media
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Shopping
These can all provide a short term stress release, an escape or even something to look forward to aside from 'the daily grind'.
ADDICTION
Let’s face it, we all do things that we know are bad for us;
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using drugs or alcohol
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smoking
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overeating
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over working
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gaming
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social media usage
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pornography
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gambling and many more.
When we do any of these things to excess it is often a coping mechanism to an issue in life that we are struggling with. The technical term is “maladaptive coping strategies” and understanding the impacts and origins of these coping mechanisms can lay the groundwork for learning new and healthier coping strategies.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction please contact Lukas Winward Counselling.
SCHOOL REFUSAL
School refusal has always been a challenging issue however since the covid lockdowns school refusal has become an even more significant issue facing a lot of children, teenagers and of course parents and care givers. For two years students did not have to manage:
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navigating social groups
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teachers
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classroom politics
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noise (this is a big one)
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morning routines
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deadlines
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travel to and from school
These factors and more including bullying and social anxiety can contribute to student’s school refusing. In Lukas' experience school refusal is best addressed with outreach and in building trust and a strong therapeutic relationship, meeting the student on their turf.
Lukas understands that mornings can be the hardest part of the day for kids struggling with school refusal—especially around 8 AM, when anxiety is at its peak. That’s why he’ll come to you, meeting your child at home to break down the steps and create small wins that build confidence over time. Whether it’s sitting with them over breakfast, taking a short walk, or simply helping them get dressed and out the door, Lukas works at their pace, turning overwhelming challenges into manageable, achievable goals. By creating a structured, supportive routine, he helps reduce the pressure and make mornings feel less daunting.
If you or a loved one/s are experiencing school refusal, please contact Lukas to book a free consultation.
Suicide
Suicide can be a very confronting topic for a lot of people. Suicide can summon our darkest fears, what do we say? If I talk about suicide will I make it worse? Am I the right person to talk about suicide?
Lukas has years of experience working / volunteering on suicide / crisis lines as well as experience in a counselling setting.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicide ideation, Lukas can support you with how to have that conversation with your loved ones or if suicide is something you would like to talk about he is able to have that conversation with you.
self harm
There are many ways and reasons people self-harm. Self-harm is essentially a coping mechanism for issues that a person is facing in their life that they may not have the skills/tools/outlets to deal with.
Self-harm can be a form of punishment, to release tension or manage emotions, to have control over something or to stop feeling numb.
If you or someone you know is struggling with self-harm, please contact Lukas for a free consultation.
ANXIETY
Stress and anxiety are very normal things for all of us to feel, in fact without them we would find it challenging to get out of bed, to complete that assessment or get to work without it. However, when stress and anxiety become intrusive and make it hard to manage it can be debilitating.
Collaboratively we will discuss mindfulness and stress management techniques that can go into your mental health tool kit to support you through these challenging times. Just like learning any new skill, it can feel strange at first you but when practice and integrate these skills into your life they become part of your day-to-day routine.
Please feel free to contact Lukas to discuss further.
DEPRESSION
We all feel sad sometimes, however Depression is more than just feeling sad and can be difficult to spot. Here are some warning sigs to look out for;
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Thoughts of suicide
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Change in appetite
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Sudden weight gain/loss
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Increased use of drugs or alcohol
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Lacking motivation
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Hard to get out of bed
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Sleep issues
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Stepping away from friends and family
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Social isolation
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Decline in concentration levels
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Guilt and feeling worthless
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Increase in risk taking behaviour
Please contact Lukas if you would like to talk about depression.