Mental Health, Parenting and Family Law: A Four-Part Series Family breakdown can become particularly complex when mental health, neurodivergence or addiction are part of the picture. Parents may be trying to support their children while navigating their own challenges, changing family relationships and important legal decisions. In a four-part series, Dr Quratulain Zaidi, Clinical Psychologist … Read more
As an experienced Clinical Psychologist, I understand that seeking therapy can be a significant decision. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or any other mental health concern, finding the right approach tailored to your unique needs is crucial. That’s why I’m here to shed light on the transformative potential of individualised online therapy. … Read more
In the landscape of therapeutic interventions, the term “boundaries” has gained widespread popularity. In this article, Dr Quratulain Zaidi, of MindNLife explains why she’s reluctant to get on the bandwagon. If you’ve spent any time in therapy with me, you’ve probably heard me say, “I don’t like to use the word ‘boundaries’. It’s not that … Read more
In today’s fast-paced world, taking care of our mental health and our holistic wellbeing is more important than ever. As a private psychology practice for the whole family, we understand the significance of finding the right support system. With the advent of technology, and especially during covid it became obvious online therapy has emerged as … Read more
When we set big, overwhelming New Year’s resolutions, we also set up the expectation that we’re going to turn over an entirely new leaf and that sets us up for failure. In reality, real change requires incremental changes to ensure the change becomes habitual. It takes any time from 21 days to 8 weeks to … Read more
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a technique that uses eye movements. The eye movements are a form of bilateral stimulation that reduces the intensity and vividness of traumatic memories. Intrusive thoughts, memories, and reexperiencing are symptoms of trauma disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). EMDR is also an effective treatment for … Read more
Noise pollution is the spread of unwanted sounds into the environment. Even small increases in the level of ambient noise can have a significant effect. In 2011, it was reported that scientists studying people living near seven major European airports found that a 10-decibel increase in aircraft noise was associated with a 28% increase in … Read more
Most of us seek comfort and reward over pain and punishment. When our mood has been anxious or depressed for too long, our body begins to feel inflammation and exhaustion. For some of you, your mood might lead you to struggle to sleep or take care of yourself. Part of taking care of yourself is … Read more
If you’re dating a narcissist, you might be experiencing narcissistic abuse. Leaving an abusive relationship is far from easy, as abusers will do anything to maintain the power and control they need. Research shows it takes an average of seven attempts to leave an abusive relationship, and at times leaving a narcissist can seem impossible. … Read more
Hosted by Jim Gould and Mike Rowse, RTHK’s Working Remotely; Government’s Clean-up Campaign episode in August featured MindnLife’s owner Dr. Zaidi. The episode was produced following an online survey conducted by the APA, which surveyed 1,000 remote workers in Hong Kong between March 26 and April 5 last year. The majority of employees working from … Read more
The word ‘narcissist’ sometimes gets thrown around as an insult to someone who thinks a little too highly of themselves. But narcissism is a spectrum, and we all exhibit narcissistic tendencies at one point or another. Everyone experiences normal narcissism, but narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is something else entirely. Normal Narcissism In Greek mythology, Narcissus was … Read more
May, mental health awareness month, reminds us to check up on our mental health and reflect on how our relationships are faring. Every relationship has its ups and downs, but it’s important to check in on the well-being of your relationship with your partner so you can address any issues that may be lurking under … Read more
When the safety and well-being of ourselves or our loved ones are threatened, we go into survival mode. This may involve overwhelming feelings, dulled thoughts, adrenaline rushes, and rapid fight-flight reactions. Even when we have made it to safety, the sheer intensity of the traumatic situation may leave us struggling with the aftermath, triggering persistent … Read more
Checking into quarantine is not an experience many look forward to. Often, quarantine can be exhausting, and we may feel drained, overwhelmed or anxious being away from our loved ones. Dr Quratulain Zaidi shares how new activities and having fun may actually boost productivity, making quarantine just a bit more bearable. Having fun during … Read more
What is Shame? When Aaron was small, his mother would lock him in the closet to discipline him when he was loud. His father would come home and shout at his mother for doing this. Then, Aaron’s father would walk over to the closet and let him out. He would then say, “what did you … Read more
EMDR Francine Shapiro created eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). One day as she was walking and thinking, she noticed that her eyes were shifting back and forth, from left to right. As her eyes moved, she felt less negative emotion when remembering her distressing memories. She became curious and developed a therapy that … Read more
Anxiety and what we can do to cope Stress and anxiety can be motivating and healthy in just the right amount. Think of it as a well-being scale. Too little stress and we don’t get anything done. Yet too much pressure keeps our nervous system on a drive without any brakes. When our bodies undergo … Read more
Communication We all hear about how important it is to communicate our needs to our partners, but it’s not always easy to know exactly how to. Expressing your sexual needs can be even more of a challenging task. Sexual communication is a skill, and it’s a skill that’s learned; it’s not innate. And like with … Read more
Holiday Pressure Anna had decided this year she would not visit her family for the holidays. She knew for sure that she would be hearing about this for a while from her parents. She could hear it now, “How could you do this to me!” Her mom would shout. “You are so ungrateful. I have done … Read more
Grief during the Holidays Holiday festivities are the times we usually gather with our loved ones to celebrate and create memories. This can make grief and bereavement feel more tangible, intense, and harder to navigate. The ongoing Covid-19 health measures may augment our distress by interrupting our familiar ways of grieving. How can we cope with … Read more
Preventative Model Our current health model is reactive rather than preventative. The notion that many health issues can be prevented through daily habits and lifestyle changes isn’t exclusive to physical health. Mental health exists on a continuum and works similarly to physical fitness levels. The more preventative measures you take, the more equipped your coping … Read more
How our mental health is connected with physical symptoms Helena often felt like she had a chest infection. Her lungs felt tight, and she gasped for air. Was she suffering from pneumonia? When she visited the medical doctor, all her tests seemed to be normal. The doctor asked her, “What else is going on in your … Read more