Growing up, I experienced mixed signals of encouragement and hypercriticism. For anybody in this environment, it can be really confusing. Eventually, I learned the importance of constructive feedback.

1. Encouraging environment

A place that is supportive, loving, embraces mistakes and helps one believe in themselves. We know from research, these environments do wonders for one’s mental, cognitive and emotional health.

2. Hypercritical environment

A place that focuses on minor mistakes, overbearing, does not embrace change and may make one feel they can’t do anything right. Again, these kind of environments wreak havoc on one’s overall health. Especially long-term exposure over a lifetime.

How these two places affected my way of thinking

On one hand, I felt supported. On the other hand, I felt like I couldn’t do anything right. Taking on a new perspective was weird, strange and looked down upon. Unfortunately, this weighed heavily on my confidence and most aspects in life. …

In 2018, I decided that it was time to combine my passion of mental health with my hobby of writing. I began The Tiny Healer as a way to raise awareness of mental health and to share my journey of self development.

In 2019, I stumbled across a Medium article. It was a topic on self development, and I became intrigued in the platform.

That night, I read multiple articles and instantly signed up to become a member. Reading other writers’ experiences of earning money online, doing something they loved, made me crave that for myself.

Eventually, I got there. But not in the way you might think. …

Although I enjoyed watching vlogs of people’s lives and how they navigate their daily routine, I did not anticipate what life would be like in my 20s.

I saw people years ahead of me and felt inspired by their accomplishments, independence and confidence. As years went by, the veil fell away. The people around me were just, that. People. Fellow humans trying to get by.

And then my twenties came around. By age 23, I did not feel accomplished or confident. I had my independence but it wasn’t enough.

A few years later, and here I am, writing to all of you. …

You’re not sleeping well.

You wake up and do the bare minimum to survive.

At work, you’re just going through the motions. Smiling with tired eyes.

You get home and you can’t wait to get to bed.

Not before you berate yourself for not cleaning the house. Again.

Rinse and repeat.

Sound familiar?

We’ve Got Clutter on The Brain

Our brains love order and organisation. So it can be overwhelming when we are faced with piles high of clutter every day.

A national survey was conducted regarding clutter in Australian homes.

21% of respondents agreed that clutter made them feel anxious.

A total of 42% of respondents said clutter made them feel either anxious, guilty or depressed. …

2020 has become an unprecedented year of fear, change and loss with the current COVID-19 pandemic. People have lost jobs or lost a loved one amongst other difficult adjustments.

It is important that we do our best to look after ourselves and our minds during this time. After all, if we aren’t healthy mentally or physically, it becomes impossible to care for ourselves and those we love.

Here are 10 grounding techniques for you to try whether you’re at home in lockdown, or still working in an essential services job.

1. No one is happy all the time

Remind yourself that we all have good and bad days. It would be abnormal to be happy-go-lucky 24/7. …

That familiar kind of pain

We’ve all been betrayed before. Sometimes it’s not the act itself that causes problems, but the ripple effect in the days, months and even years after.

The shift in reality is in full swing.

The self-doubt kicks in.

What did I believe before?

How do I remove myself and separate myself from this web of lies?

Here are 10 to let go of betrayal.*

1. If you can, decrease your responsibility

We can never control other people’s actions. Only our reactions to the things they do.

While my mind and body was in shock, I knew it was time to take action. Drastic action. I went into robotic mode. I held it together and found a source of stable income. …

Fighting for Control

Growing up, I often felt my world was constantly out of control. As far back as I could remember, I was in and out of hospital.

My mum had given birth to an extremely premature baby, at just 26 weeks, my chances of survival were low. Not to mention the health implications that would came later. Luckily, after 2 months I was able to go home.

My parents and I would attend regular check-ups for general health as well as asthma.

By age 9, I had been admitted to hospital for long stays multiple times. Mainly for asthma attacks and pneumonia. On a few occasions, I’d be taken to hospital in the ambulance because my airways would close up so quickly. …

The Year Was 2001

The TV was blaring sounds of terror and panic. The Twin Towers had collapsed. I saw people jumping from the top floors, falling to their death. I heard screams and watched people run.

For a young girl in Australia, I couldn’t fathom this happening somewhere in the world. It seemed unreal at the time.

Following on from September 11 however, I became fearful of our plane being hijacked. I was afraid to die in such a way. I didn’t want to jump from a building. I already knew I’d be too scared to jump.

A few years later, my parents announced that we were going overseas. Our first flight abroad as a family. The fear creeped back into my thoughts of the plane crashing. …