What's worrying you?

There are many reasons why someone may want to end their pregnancy, and in Great Britain, the law allows women to do so at up to 24 weeks of pregnancy. This experience can be a difficult one, and some people may benefit from speaking to a counsellor. On this...

Stay safe: Read our information on how to cover your tracks online and browse the Internet privately. There are many different types of abuse. While the more commonly known forms include domestic violence, child abuse and emotional abuse, any behaviour...

• Sexual abuse
• Physical abuse

• Emotional abuse
• Domestic violence

Addiction refers to a difficulty in controlling certain repetitive behaviours to the extent that they have harmful consequences. They are the result of powerful compulsions to use and do certain things excessively, often out of a need to escape from upsetting...

• Alcoholism
• Drug abuse
• Gambling

• Smoking
• Internet addiction
• Sex addiction

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (commonly known as ADHD) is a condition that makes people feel restless, impulsive and hyperactive. With symptoms typically showing up in childhood, those with ADHD often struggle to concentrate for long periods of...

Adoption has a huge impact on the lives of everyone involved. Whether you are an adoptee, part of an adoptive family, or the birth parent of a child who was adopted, the emotional impact of the adoption process is likely to be lifelong. Though the experience...

Feeling angry is a natural response to certain life experiences. It’s a basic emotion; occurring at times when we come under attack, feel deceived, insulted or frustrated. Use our search tool to find a counsellor to help you manage your feelings of...

Anxiety is used to describe feelings of worry, fear and unease. Typically, it incorporates both the emotional and physical sensations we experience when worried or nervous. Anxiety is related to the ‘fight or flight’ response and, while...

• Phobias
• Generalised anxiety disorder

• Panic disorder

Autism is a developmental disability that affects the way people interact with the world. As a spectrum condition, it affects people in different ways. Asperger’s syndrome is one form of autism. Affecting an estimated 700,000 people in the UK alone,...

From birth, we develop a close bond with our main caregivers (usually our parents). This attachment helps us to learn and develop in a trusting environment, even at such a young age, we know our parents will be there for us. For some children, however, this...

There are an estimated 700,000 people in the UK on the autistic spectrum, which equates to one in 100 people. So, what exactly is autism? Autism is a developmental disability that affects certain aspects of behaviour, including interacting with others. It...

If you have experienced the death of someone who was important to you, you might be finding it difficult to adjust to the changes happening in your life right now. Grief can shake everything up - your beliefs, your routines, and even your sense of...

Body dysmorphic disorder (or BDD) is a condition that causes a person to have a distorted view of their appearance. Considered an anxiety disorder, BDD makes individuals believe that something about the way they look is abnormal or ugly, even when it...

Many of us will associate bullying as something that happens in our youth, during our school years and in the playground. However, bullying is more common than you may think. While it is a common issue at school, bullying can occur at any age. Bullying...

Many of us are touched by cancer at some time in our lives, whether we have been diagnosed ourselves or know of someone who has been. Regardless of whether it’s yourself, a family member or a friend, a cancer diagnosis can bring difficult and painful...

For many, a main goal in life is to pursue a career that is meaningful and fulfilling. It can be highly rewarding to be in a role that you are passionate about and that reflects you as a person - where you can apply your skills and talents while growing at...

Currently, in the UK there are 6.5 million carers - which equates to one in eight people. These are people who care for someone who is disabled, ill, older or suffering from a mental health condition. It is estimated that this number will rise; Carers UK...

• Young carers

While many of us can seek support from friends and family, it’s not always possible. Even as adults, it can be scary to ask for help, especially for our own mental health. So, consider how daunting it can be for a child. A child experiencing a mental...

• Childhood bullying
• Childhood bereavement
• Children’s learning difficulties
• Separation anxiety

• Depression and anxiety in children
• Behaviour problems
• Attachment disorder in children

If you have chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), you will experience extreme tiredness that does not go away, no matter how much you rest. Along with fatigue, you may be affected by painful joints/muscle pain, poor memory and disordered sleep. ME/CFS is...

It can be very difficult, coming to terms with the diagnosis of dementia. Not only for the person who has been diagnosed, but also for family and friends. While dementia is not physically painful and does not affect the appearance or mobility of the person,...

Unlike the occasional bout of feeling sad, depression affects your daily life, making it hard for you to find enjoyment in day-to-day activities. Some days you may find it impossible to get out of bed, while other days you may feel more able to go about your...

• Bipolar disorder
• Postnatal depression

• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Feeling sad

The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes ‘disability’ as a term that refers to a huge spectrum of impairments, activity limitations and participation restrictions. An impairment is classed as a problem in body function or structure. An...

Discrimination is the act of treating someone unfairly or differently because of who they are, due to certain beliefs or because they possess certain characteristics. There are many forms of discrimination and sadly, despite the Equality Act 2010 and the...

All of us have times when we feel 'disconnected'. It could be that we are having a conversation with someone but our mind is elsewhere, or we arrive at a destination with no recollection of driving there. For most of us, these moments are occasional lapses...

Eating disorders are very complex conditions that can affect someone emotionally, physically and socially. Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses; anorexia, binge-eating disorder and bulimia. In the UK, more than 700,000 people are affected by an...

• Anorexia nervosa
• Bulimia nervosa

• Binge-eating disorder

Gender dysphoria, also known as gender identity disorder (GID) is when a person is born one gender, but is unhappy living that way. There are lots of children and young people who feel that their gender identity is not a complete match with the sex they were...

Around 75% of us will have heard noises and voices that others don’t hear at some point in our lives. It’s estimated that between three and 10% of us will hear voices on a more regular basis. For some, this can be a scary experience, for others,...

HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It’s a virus that damages your immune system and makes it harder for you to fight off infection and disease. AIDS stands for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. This term is used to describe a variety of...

From the moment we hit adolescence we begin to learn about reproduction, and not just the how, but also the why. We are taught about the worth and sense of fulfillment that can come hand in hand with having a family, so naturally we grow up believing that...

A learning disability is described as: a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind significant impairment of intellectual functioning significant impairment of adaptive/social functioning

Loneliness is a sensation we will all feel at some point in our lives. For many, it’s a feeling that only lasts a moment, appearing in certain situations. Others, however, may feel lonely all or most of the time. There are different types of...

Self-confidence is about trusting your own judgement and feeling comfortable with your abilities and powers: it’s the means to realise your full potential and be the person you want to be. This trait allows you to feel secure in the world and encourages...

Self-esteem is how you think and feel about yourself; the worth you place on your strengths, weaknesses and capabilities. Your self-esteem plays a huge part in dictating how you live your life, the decisions you make, and how you view others. You can have...

Mental health is a key part of our overall well-being. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that there is no health without mental health. It is the source of our collective and individual ability as people to reach our full potential. Mental health...

Miscarriage or early pregnancy loss is more common than most people imagine, with as many as one in every four pregnancies ending this way. It is a significant and very painful loss for those who experience it. Often referred to as ‘invisible...

Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) involves intrusive and obsessional thoughts, often followed by compulsive urges. These obsessions can be overwhelming, and the only way a person can relieve these intrusive thoughts is to repeat an action until they are...

• Hoarding

Paranoia is when we have thoughts or feelings that we are in danger or under threat, even though there is little to no evidence that this is the case. We can all experience these types of thoughts sometimes, but for some they become extreme, affecting...

Commonly described as non-verbal aggression, passive aggressive behaviour is when you are angry or upset with someone, but do not or cannot tell them. It is the inability to express difficult feelings in a rational way and can often make the problem worse....

We recognise that the system of personality disorder diagnosis can be considered controversial. It is completely your choice which term, if any, you want to use, knowing that your doctor or care team may use another.  We appreciate that the feelings...

• Antisocial personality disorder
• Avoidant personality disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• Dependent personality disorder
• Histrionic personality disorder

• Narcissistic personality disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder
• Paranoid personality disorder
• Schizoid personality disorder
• Schizotypal personality disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is an anxiety disorder that some people develop after being involved in (or witnessing) something traumatic. The condition was first seen in war veterans and has been given various names, such as shell...

When you discover you are pregnant, a certain degree of stress and anxiety is to be expected - whether the pregnancy was planned or unplanned, the implications of a positive pregnancy test can be overwhelming. While this is a normal experience for many, there...

When a person loses touch with reality and the line becomes blurred between what is real and what is not, this is known as psychosis. Psychosis often prevents a person from thinking clearly and inhibits their ability to define reality from their imagination....

The dictionary defines redundancy as the state of being no longer needed or useful, and whether that description applies to machinery or human beings - the implications can be gloomy. Looking at this definition and the negative connotations with which it...

Relationships are a very meaningful part of our lives and can bring us a great deal of happiness and fulfilment. Strong connections with our loved ones, friends and work colleagues allow us to be at our healthiest and most productive, and for many, these...

• Affairs and betrayals
• Separation and divorce

• Family issues

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that affects the sufferer’s ability to think clearly and decipher fantasy from reality. As a result of this, the individual can start to become withdrawn, feel confused and lose interest in their normal, daily life. It...

Self-harm is when someone hurts themselves on purpose, usually as a way of coping with difficult emotions. It often begins when a person feels overwhelmed with upsetting thoughts and feelings. Harming themselves physically can feel like a release, almost...

If you are experiencing sex problems, you will probably be feeling very alone and helpless. Shame, fear and embarrassment are other common emotions felt by people living with sexual dysfunction, and many will suffer for months, even years in silence - too...

Sexual orientation indicates whom an individual is sexually and emotionally attracted to. This can mean males or females of the same or opposite sex. A person's sexual orientation is not the same as a person's sexual actions because not everyone expresses the...

Spirituality involves experiences of a deeper sense of meaning and purpose, and a sense of belonging and a connection with the universe. Spirituality can help to achieve inner peace and happiness. It relates to the human spirit, and discovering the...

Almost everyone experiences stress from time to time, and while a small amount of stress can motivate us, too much or prolonged stress can be damaging to both our physical and mental health. There are many things in life that can cause stress, including...

If you are in need of immediate help and are worried you can’t keep yourself safe, please: Go to your nearest A&E department Call 999 if you can’t get to a hospital Ask someone to take you to A&E or call 999 for you If A&E...

Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological condition that usually begins in childhood. It is illustrated by repetitive involuntary movements and vocalisations, which are also known as tics. Individuals diagnosed with Tourette’s experience vocal and/or...

Trauma refers to the body or mind being overwhelmed by traumatic events. Psychological trauma in particular occurs as a result of a distressing event that leads the sufferer to question their beliefs while destroying their assumptions of trust. If you have...