Today I’d like to talk about the irritating topic of eczema. Because if you’re one of the many people who suffer from this uncomfortable skin condition, you’ll know all too well just how distressing and disruptive it can be to both your physical and mental health.

A wise man once said, “I know I can, I think can.” Okay…so admittedly the ‘wise man’ in my example was actually the beloved children’s character Thomas the Tank Engine! But the point is, these simple words hold a lot of truth about how the way we perceive ourselves has a huge impact on our self-esteem.

Whether it’s the social media influencer convincing you to try a fancy new diet, the car salesman persuading you to choose the more expensive model, or the manipulative family member who wants everyone at the dinner table to think they’re right…language patterns can significantly influence the way we perceive what others are saying.

Whether your level of athleticism is taking part in marathons or watching the football from the couch, you’ve probably heard of sportsmen being ‘in the zone’ or ‘in flow’.

If you’ve ever had to speak in public - whether at a wedding, a funeral, an event or a gathering - there’s a good chance you felt some degree of nervousness. Maybe your palms were sweaty, your heart was racing, or critical thoughts about your performance were threatening to derail your speech.

Let’s talk about phobias. After all, they affect around 15% of Australians and nearly 13% of US adults, which means many of us will experience or know someone who’s experiencing some kind of phobia during our lives.

at cause you to feel threatened, you can finally free yourself from ‘phobia prison’ and be liberated to step into your most fabulous life.

Throbbing, pulsing, sharp or dull. Utterly excruciating or an annoying ache that won’t quit. Whether it’s a headache or a toothache, a menstrual cramp or a broken bone - one thing we can all agree on is that when it comes to pain, we’d do anything to get shot of it.

When you think about OCD, you might think about someone obsessively cleaning their countertops or needing to check at least ten times whether they've remembered to turn the gas off.

Amazing feats of memory have always fascinated people. From the prodigies who can memorise the entire phone book to those who can reel off insanely long strings of numbers after a quick glance, we sure do love those mesmerising memory superstars.

If you ever experience racing thoughts, rising panic, or simply a deep sense of dread in the pit of your stomach, I’m here to tell you that you’re 100% normal! While the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression are far from fun (quite the opposite in fact), they affect the vast majority of us at some point in our lives.

Let’s be honest...IBS is a load of crap! From painful spasms to embarrassing symptoms like diaroohea and wind, IBS - or irritable bowel syndrome, to give it its full name - can seriously get in the way of living the fabulous life you deserve.

We all know that the world of Hollywood can be a little farfetched at times. From fantastical romances to whacky comedies, we have to take the glitzy action of the silver screen with a pinch of salt.

Forensic hypnosis is defined as “the use of hypnosis in the investigative process and as evidence in court”. And you may (or may not) be surprised to learn that forensic hypnosis is actually illegal here in Australia.

One of the common misconceptions about hypnosis is that it’s similar to (or actually is) brainwashing. In fact, the question ‘is hypnosis brainwashing’ is a commonly-searched Google query, which just goes to show how many people are concerned that hypnotists or hypnotherapists are attempting to hack their brains and control their minds. F

While it’s an emotion that can be brought on by a myriad of reasons and cognitive patterns, anger is something that all of us have experienced. And the problem with this particular emotion is just how difficult it can be to control in the moment.

You’ve probably heard those crazy-sounding stories about alien abduction. Typically, they involve late-night encounters with strange-looking extraterrestrial beings who somehow put their captives in an unconscious state before returning them dazed, confused and ready to share their stories with the world and its media.

Addiction can come in many forms and can affect people in many different ways. While there’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to treating addiction, there are certain tried-and-tested techniques that can be incredibly helpful in managing addictive behaviours.

“Look into my eyes”...It’s the opening refrain of stage hypnotists across the world - and the start of some serious word wizardry that gets willing participants to fall under the spell of a skilled hypnotist (much to the amusement of the watching crowd!).

Quitting smoking sure isn’t easy - after all, if it was, every smoker who wants to kick the habit would already be a successful non-smoker! The important thing to remember with attempting to quit smoking is that it’s not about willpower alone. The key lies in changing your mindset and shifting your behaviours so you can transition into more positive habits.

Ah, anxiety. The vast majority of us will experience it to some degree at some point in our lives. Whether you suffer from panic attacks, find yourself caught in a cycle of ruminating thoughts, or simply can’t shake off a bad experience, anxiety can take hold quickly and leave us feeling overwhelmed and unsettled.