Sunflower CBT Services

05/11/2024

Survivors choose “the hero’s journey” every day.

05/11/2024

We can't please everyone all of the time, nor should we try.

05/11/2024

Wellness Wednesday
Prioritise self-care with CBT techniques! Practice mindfulness, self-compassion, and emotional regulation. Take the first step towards mental well-being.

28/10/2024

28/10/2024

OCD Obsessions

Did you know?

- 90% of people experience intrusive thoughts
- Intrusive thoughts & images are common symptoms of Anxiety.
- when they are so severe that they interfere with your daily functioning, this can be a sign of OCD.

What are Intrusive Thoughts & Images?

Unwanted, distressing thoughts/pictures that invade your mind

- Recurring, intrusive, and disturbing
- Contradict personal values and beliefs
- Trigger anxiety, guilt, or shame

Examples:

- Unwanted thoughts of harm or danger
- Recurring images of traumatic events
- Fear of losing control or acting impulsively

OCD Facts:

- OCD affects 1 in 40 adults
- OCD is not about being "neat" or "organised"
- OCD is a treatable mental health condition

CBT Techniques:

- Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
- Cognitive Restructuring
- Mindfulness and Acceptance

You're Not Alone!

Seek help from:

- Mental health professionals specialising in CBT/ ERP
- Support groups
- Online resources (e.g., International OCD Foundation)

Remember:

- Thoughts are not facts
- Thoughts are not under voluntary control
- You can learn to manage intrusive thoughts & images

28/10/2024

Ever wondered how we treat OCD? One of the most debilitating symptoms experienced by some people are Intrusive thoughts and images.

Intrusive images can be distressing, but avoidance only reinforces associated anxiety. Break the cycle with these techniques:

Gradual Exposure- Confront avoided situations gradually.

Response Prevention- Resist compulsive behaviors.

In Vivo Exposure- Face situations triggering intrusive images.

Benefits:

Reduced anxiety
Increased confidence
Improved daily functioning
Enhanced emotional regulation

Remember:

Consult a mental health professional.
Start small, be patient.
Practice self-compassion.

22/10/2024

“Victim mentality” is a response to a reality that most of us don’t like to acknowledge: we’ve been victims of betrayal, abuse, or shaming.

This can leave our body in a state of flight, flight, freeze, or fawn. Where we’re physically stuck. Barely able to get out of bed. Where our thoughts mirror our polyvagal state and we believe we’re hopeless. Where we believe this is the only way to experience life.

The truth is all of us have days where we feel sorry for ourselves. Where our thoughts consume us. Where we cry and might not even know why. Or when we wonder why we can’t cry at all.

The ‘secret’ to life is an understanding we’re not our conditioned autopilot responses. That every morning as the sun rises we’re given another set of choices. A fresh start and a new beginning. That through conscious awareness of these choices we begin to make difficult choices that align with who we want to be. And when we fall back to old patterns (which we always will) we can remember that tomorrow that chance is always there waiting for us.

Take a deep breath every day. Remember who you are. Then, begin again

22/10/2024

Sometimes, the best views come after the hardest climbs. Keep pushing forward—there's beauty waiting just beyond the horizon.

10/09/2024