Welcome
Often when one is diagnosed with Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar or any other sort of mental illness, one is
unsure as to the path you need to follow to find yourself again. This is where the role of the Clinical Psychologist
is most valuable. We work alongside with Psychiatrists in assisting in the treatment and management of people
diagnosed with a Psychiatric illness. Where the Psychiatrist helps in assisting the patient with ensuring
that the correct medication is administered and properly managed, the Clinical Psychologist, through a
process of psychotherapy assists in addressing and dealing with the psycho-social-emotional and functional
issues that need to be addressed to ensure better adjustment and reintegration back into one’s life.
As each person’s life challenges are unique, the approach needed to help patients back into health
needs to be accommodative in order to meet their specific needs. A one-type-fits all approach
will not bring about the kind of unlocked psychological insight needed to bring about the
necessary change and growth needed to restore one to proper health and functioning.
As a Clinical Psychologist with a primarily Psycho-Dynamic therapeutic focus, my aim is to try to enable you
to open the door to your guided journey of treatment, restoration, insight, growth and renewal. Breaking
destructive and non-serving emotional patterns in one’s life and gaining insight into what underlies the
development thereof, helps one realise how to go about re-architecturing your world. My hope is that
through this process, each patient will learn how to live and have a fuller and more meaningful life.
Mental Health Information
Bipolar Disorder
Overview Bipolar disorder, also known as bipolar affective disorder and manic-depressive illness, is a mental disorder characterized by periods of elevated mood and periods of depression. The elevated mood is significant and is known as mania or hypomania depending on the severity or whether there is psychosis. During mania an individual feels or acts abnormally happy, energetic, or irritable. They often make poorly thought out decisions with little regard to the consequences. The need for sleep is usually reduced. During periods of depression there may be crying, poor eye contact with others, and a negative outlook on life. The risk of suicide among those with the disorder is high at greater than 6% over 20 years, while self harm occurs in 30–40%. Other mental health issues such as anxiety disorder and substance use disorder are commonly associated. Signs And Symptoms Mania is the defining feature of bipolar disorder, and can occur with different levels of severity. With milder levels of mania, known as hypomania, individuals appear energetic, excitable, and may be highly productive. As mania worsens, individuals begin to exhibit erratic and impulsive behavior, often making poor decisions due to unrealistic ideas about the future, and sleep very little. At the most severe level, manic individuals can experience very distorted beliefs about the world known as psychosis. A depressive episode commonly follows an episode of mania. The biological mechanisms responsible for switching from a manic or hypomanic episode to a depressive episode or vice versa remain poorly understood. Manic Episodes Mania is a distinct period of at least one week of elevated or irritable mood, which can take the... read more
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
What is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)? When in danger, it’s natural to feel afraid. This fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to prepare to defend against the danger or to avoid it. This “fight-or-flight” response is a healthy reaction meant to protect a person from harm. But in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this reaction is changed or damaged. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they’re no longer in danger. PTSD develops after a terrifying ordeal that involved physical harm or the threat of physical harm. The person who develops PTSD may have been the one who was harmed, the harm may have happened to a loved one, or the person may have witnessed a harmful event that happened to loved ones or strangers. PTSD was first brought to public attention in relation to war veterans, but it can result from a variety of traumatic incidents, such as mugging, rape, torture, being kidnapped or held captive, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes. Signs & Symptoms PTSD can cause many symptoms. These symptoms can be grouped into three categories: 1. Re-experiencing symptoms Flashbacks—reliving the trauma over and over, including physical symptoms like a racing heart or sweating Bad dreams Frightening thoughts. Re-experiencing symptoms may cause problems in a person’s everyday routine. They can start from the person’s own thoughts and feelings. Words, objects, or situations that are reminders of the event can also trigger re-experiencing. 2. Avoidance symptoms Staying away from places, events, or objects that are reminders of the experience Feeling emotionally... read more
Alcohol Abuse
Definition Alcohol abuse is defined as a pattern of drinking that results in one or more of the following situations within a 12-month period: Failure to fulfill major work, school, or home responsibilities Drinking in situations that are physically dangerous, such as while driving a car or operating machinery Having recurring alcohol-related legal problems, such as being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or for physically hurting someone while drunk Continued drinking despite having ongoing relationship problems that are caused or worsened by the drinking. Alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, is the most severe form of alcohol abuse. It is a chronic disease characterized by the consumption of alcohol at a level that interferes with physical and mental health and with family and social responsibilities. An alcoholic will continue to drink despite serious health, family, or legal problems. Alcoholism is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Alcoholism is chronic: It lasts a person’s lifetime. It usually follows a predictable course and has recognizable symptoms. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism cut across gender, race, and ethnicity. More men than women are alcohol dependent or have alcohol problems. Alcohol problems are highest among young adults ages 18-29 and lowest among adults ages 65 and older. Also, people who start drinking at an early age have a greater chance of developing alcohol problems at some point in their lives. Alcohol’s effects vary with age. Slower reaction times, problems with hearing and seeing, and a lower tolerance to alcohol’s effects put older people at higher risk for falls, car crashes, and other types of injuries that may result from drinking. More than... read more
Caffeine
Caffeine-induced sleep disorder is a psychiatric disorder that results from overconsumption of the stimulant caffeine. When caffeine is consumed immediately before bedtime or continuously throughout the day, sleep onset may be delayed, total sleep time reduced, normal stages of sleep altered, and the quality of sleep decreased. Caffeine reduces slow-wave sleep in the early part of the sleep cycle and can reduce rapid eye movement sleep later in the cycle. Caffeine increases episodes of wakefulness, and high doses in the late evening can increase sleep onset latency. In elderly people, there is an association between use of medication containing caffeine and difficulty in falling asleep. The specific criteria for this disorder in the fourth version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) include that there must be a significant inability to sleep which is caused entirely by the physiological effects of caffeine as proven by an examination; if sleeping issues can be accounted for due to a breathing-related sleep disorder, narcolepsy, a circadian rhythm sleep disorder or a mental disorder, then caffeine-induced sleep disorder is not the cause. This condition causes a notable impairment in functioning in sufferers. Excessive ingestion of caffeine can lead to a state of intoxication. This period of intoxication is characterized by restlessness, agitation, excitement, rambling thought or speech, and even insomnia. Even doses of caffeine relating to just one cup of coffee can increase sleep latency and decrease the quality of sleep especially in non-REM deep sleep. A dose of caffeine taken in the morning can have these effects the following night, so one of the main practices of sleep hygiene... read more
Benzodiazepine Addiction
Understanding Benzodiazepine Dependency and Tolerance Abuse of benzodiazepines is usually defined as using the drug to obtain a non-therapeutic effect. When benzodiazepines are taken for long periods, a person may become physically and psychologically dependent on the drug. It is also common for people taking benzodiazepines long-term to develop tolerance. This means the drug no longer has the desired effect. This encourages a person to increase their dosage in order to achieve the therapeutic effect they are used to. Benzodiazepine dependence is usually characterized by a number of symptoms that occur should the person suddenly stop taking the drug. Symptoms of physical dependence include anxiety, diarrhea, muscle cramps, and tremors. Psychological dependence is usually illustrated by a person’s complete preoccupation with taking benzodiazepines. They may appear obsessed with ensuring they take the drug regularly, at the cost of other activities in their life losing importance. Some users may not realize they have a dependency on benzodiazepines, while others may be too afraid to admit they may need help. Effects/Side Effects The benzodiazepine high has been described as experiencing an intense feeling of euphoria. It is also common for people to experience short-term effects such as increased self-confidence, becoming more talkative, and general feelings of enhanced happiness. Benzodiazepines are also likely to reduce a person’s anxiety, making them feel worry-free and much calmer than usual. As with most highs, users of benzodiazepines will experience a comedown. Feelings of depression, anxiety, and general agitation are not uncommon when coming down from benzodiazepines. The person may also experience uncomfortable physical symptoms such as stomach cramps and headaches. It is this comedown that... read more