--- title: "Article" description: "ZwavelStream Articles Your Mental Health First Do you need professional help? Basic Mental Health Quiz Alternatively, please contact us 010 475 0150 After Hours Number: 066 255 8501 Email:..." url: https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/news/article/ date: 2024-04-21 modified: 2024-04-26 author: "Zwavelstream Zwavelstream" type: page lang: en --- # Article ## ZwavelStream Articles #### Your Mental Health First Go! Category: Select a CategoryAbuseAnxietyBipolarDepressionMental healthStressTrauma [![child_abuse](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/child_abuse-1-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/child-abuse-and-its-consequences/) ### [ Child Abuse & Its Consequences ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/child-abuse-and-its-consequences/) With end May/beginning June marking National Child Protection Week in South Africa, our attention is once again drawn to the crisis our country is dealing with. Or rather, failing to deal with. A recent study by the Children’s Institute of UCT reports that an alarming 1 in 3 children experience physical [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/child-abuse-and-its-consequences/) [![Lifestyle choices that benefit your mental health](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Lifestyle-choices-that-benefit-your-mental-health-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/lifestyle-choices-that-benefit-your-mental-health/) ### [ Lifestyle choices that benefit your mental health ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/lifestyle-choices-that-benefit-your-mental-health/) In times of uncertainty and change it has become easy to forget what effect this has on our mental health. Adapting to circumstances is in our genes, then again being able to cope does not come that easy for everyone. During the lockdown, we have had to adapt to new [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/lifestyle-choices-that-benefit-your-mental-health/) [![Trauma & the Aftermath](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Trauma_zsc-768x485.png)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/trauma-and-the-aftermath/) ### [ Trauma & the Aftermath ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/trauma-and-the-aftermath/) Trauma Explained Trauma is defined as being a psychological state that occurs after experiencing or witnessing a particularly distressing event. It’s a psychological wound that lingers long after the distress that caused it has passed, and can affect anyone no matter their age, gender, race, or financial status. When this [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/trauma-and-the-aftermath/) [![Mental Health Rights - Are We Treated Equally in SA?](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ZSC_Mental_Health_Rights_Featured_Image_Revised-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/mental-health-rights/) ### [ Mental Health Rights – Are We Treated Equally in SA? ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/mental-health-rights/) Recent years have shown a significant increase in the number of mental illness cases around the world. A statistic that has left many developing countries, like South Africa, struggling to properly address the problem in terms of the allocation of resources and funds, availability of government support, legislation, and public [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/mental-health-rights/) [![ocd](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ocd-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/ocd/) ### [ OCD ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/ocd/) OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is often misunderstood as a condition describing an overly fussy neat freak who is in total control of their behavior. This stereotype is cemented in TV and movies, with very little facts about what this mental illness actually is. Obsessive neatness and frequent hand-washing doesn’t automatically mean you have OCD, and [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/ocd/) [![bipolar 3](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/bipolar-3-768x423.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/insights-from-a-qualitative-study-by-social-worker-dr-ilse-van-der-walt/) ### [ Insights from a Qualitative Study by Social Worker: Dr Ilse van der Walt ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/insights-from-a-qualitative-study-by-social-worker-dr-ilse-van-der-walt/) Caregivers of bipolar disorder (BD) patients are affected by the illness and the associated stigma. It is difficult for caregivers to take on the responsibilities and roles of the patient, which affects their social functioning.  Introduction Patients suffering from BD and their relatives are confronted with a lifelong disease which [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/insights-from-a-qualitative-study-by-social-worker-dr-ilse-van-der-walt/) [![depression_how parents can help their children](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/depression_how-parents-can-help-their-children-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/parents-can-help-their-children/) ### [ Depression | How Parents Can Help their Children ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/parents-can-help-their-children/) Teenagers are known for their moody natures. Adolescence brings with it so many changes for a child embarking on the journey to adulthood – hormones, academic pressures, physical developments, questions about their identity and place in the world, and social pressures, particularly among peers. But mental health specialists have found that [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/parents-can-help-their-children/) [![munchausen_syndrome](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/munchausen_syndrome-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/munchausen-syndrome-munchausen-by-proxy/) ### [ Munchausen Syndrome & Munchausen By Proxy ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/munchausen-syndrome-munchausen-by-proxy/) Munchausen Syndrome is a serious mental illness where an individual will pretend to suffer from an illness for the sake of attention from others. The condition is usually underpinned by either a behavioural or compulsive disorder, with individuals struggling with severe emotional deficits. They feed off attention from friends, family, and even co-workers – their only [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/munchausen-syndrome-munchausen-by-proxy/) [![Mental_Health_and_Your_Environment](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Mental_Health_and_Your_Environment-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/environment-and-your-mental-health/) ### [ Environment & Your Mental Health ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/environment-and-your-mental-health/) When talking about environment, reference is being made to where an individual finds themselves, like at work or at home. Environment is significant when considering mental health problems, because it can be a major source of stress and anxiety. Since most people have homes, jobs, and relationships, it’s not so much that these [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/environment-and-your-mental-health/) [![Featured image_A general look at mental health](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Featured-image_A-general-look-at-mental-health-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/a-look-at-mental-health/) ### [ A general look at mental health ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/a-look-at-mental-health/) Mental health and the quality thereof are unmeasurable for the most part When you break a limb, you can see the physical break by looking at an X-ray which determines how bad the breakage is. With mental health, there isn’t a machine that can scan the state of your mental [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/a-look-at-mental-health/) [![Women of South Africa](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Women-of-South-Africa-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/women-of-south-africa/) ### [ Women of South Africa ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/women-of-south-africa/) On 9 August 1956 more than 20 000 women of different backgrounds, creeds and cultures came together to march to the union buildings in Pretoria. The women of South Africa took a stand and fought for their rights. So on this day, we celebrate all the womankind in South Africa. [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/women-of-south-africa/) [![Mental-health-warriors-1](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Mental-health-warriors-1-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/supporting-mental-health-warriors/) ### [ Supporting Mental Health Warriors ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/supporting-mental-health-warriors/) When a friend or loved one experiences symptoms of a mental health condition, many questions and challenges start presenting. What kind of support will they need from you? How do you find the right words to say to them? One of the most important things to remember with mental health [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/supporting-mental-health-warriors/) [![image24](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/image-768x485.png)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/adolescent-mental-health/) ### [ Adolescent Mental Health ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/adolescent-mental-health/) Studies done on mental health issues in adolescents indicate a serious problem growing in our society. Consider that […] [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/adolescent-mental-health/) [![broken heart syndrome](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/broken-heart-syndrome-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/broken-heart-syndrome/) ### [ Broken Heart Syndrome ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/broken-heart-syndrome/) Is it possible to die from a broken heart? This question has been around since the first people loved, and lost. And no, they’re not being over-sensitive or dramatic. It’s widely known that our bodies have a physical response to emotion – a raging pulse with anger, shortness of breath with fear… [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/broken-heart-syndrome/) [![Seasonal-Affective-Disorder-SAD](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Seasonal-Affective-Disorder-SAD-768x485.jpeg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/seasonal-affective-disorder/) ### [ Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/seasonal-affective-disorder/) Winter Blues People often mistakenly categorize depression into two main types – clinical depression, which is serious and requires treatment, and ‘regular’ depression, which is mild and should be soldiered through. The truth of the matter is that there are at least seven different types of depression – none of which should [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/seasonal-affective-disorder/) [![Jan-Holidayblues-Featured_image-950x600](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Jan-Holidayblues-Featured_image-950x600-1-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/recovering-from-holiday-blues/) ### [ Here’s how you can recover from Holiday blues ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/recovering-from-holiday-blues/) As we enter the first week of January, it is back to reality and business as usual While it may be a major relief for some people, it can be stressful for the majority. This time of the year is financially, physically, and emotionally challenging, even though it brings much [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/recovering-from-holiday-blues/) [![PTSD](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/PTSD-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/the-effects-of-ptsd/) ### [ The effects of PTSD ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/the-effects-of-ptsd/) In this blog post, we will be looking at PTSD and the effects thereof. In short, PTSD stands for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. But what does all of that mean and how does PTSD affect an individual? Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental condition that is triggered by experiencing a traumatic event. [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/the-effects-of-ptsd/) [![stress-tips-header-image2](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/stress-tips-header-image2-1-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/stress-tips/) ### [ Stress Tips: Preparing your Children for Upcoming Exams ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/stress-tips/) As we approach exam season, a lot of scholars are under immense pressure to perform well, especially after the year and the current pandemic at hand. From a very young age, school-going children learn to see their worth in a percentage marked on a piece of paper at the end [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/stress-tips/) [![Peer Pressure](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Peerp-pressure-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/peer-pressure/) ### [ Peer Pressure ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/peer-pressure/) Peer pressure refers to a person or group feeling influenced to change certain attitudes or behaviors that they wouldn’t usually change, by another person or group. The general pressure felt is based on a very strong desire to fit in or be accepted by a particular group, and its effects can [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/peer-pressure/) [![mental health in different careers](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/mental-health-in-different-careers-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/mental-health-in-different-careers/) ### [ Mental Health in Different Careers ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/mental-health-in-different-careers/) We’ve been saying it for decades – awareness, diversity, representation – and over the past two years it seems TV and film finally started paying attention. And we’re here for it. The growing exposure of mental illness on screen has led to the slow but sure chipping away at all [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/mental-health-in-different-careers/) [![burnout is real](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/burnout-is-real-768x485.jpg)](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/burnout-is-real/) ### [ Burnout is Real ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/burnout-is-real/) These days there seems to be a mounting pressure in all areas of society to stand out, do well, be best, and high achievers especially are all hurtling along at breakneck speeds to avoid being left behind. Nobody can really say when pushing yourself to the point of illness became a desirable [ Read More » ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/burnout-is-real/) ** Load More ## Do you need professional help? [ Basic Mental Health Quiz ](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/basic-mental-health-quiz/) ### Alternatively, please contact us ### 010 475 0150 After Hours Number: 066 255 8501 Email: support@zsclinic.co.za or admin@zsclinic.co.za ![Zwavelstream Facility Only 2](https://zwavelstreamclinic.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Zwavelstream-Facility-Only-2.jpg) ## In Affiliation with: Zwavelstream Clinic is supported and affiliated with most medical aid schemes based in South Africa. 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