Articles by Tanya Russell

Bonding with baby IMAGE Aurora

Bonding with baby

March 16, 2020

Q   My sister recently had her first baby. She has a supportive partner and family around her, but she confided in me that she just can’t seem to bond with her baby. She doesn’t want to talk to anyone about this as she said she’s afraid of admitting such a terrible thing. How can I support her but also encourage her to seek help? I hate to see her suffer in silence.

Flames fan distress IMAGE Aurora

Flames fan distress

February 14, 2020

Q: The bushfires across Australia have significantly impacted on me and my children. Although we are lucky and not directly affected, my children and I feel distressed and helpless due to the loss and devastation. One of our neighbours lost their home in the fires and I want to help. What can I do to get through this and make sense of it all?

Strategies to cope with solitude IMAGE Aurora

Strategies to cope with solitude

December 19, 2019

Q   I moved to Newcastle for a new job about six months ago. Despite my job keeping me busy and the enjoyment I get from working with new people, I have become increasingly lonely. Unfortunately, my family, who live interstate, will be overseas for Christmas, which makes me feel even more lonely and isolated. I love Newcastle and want to stay here but I’m not sure how to overcome my loneliness.

Don’t put your wellbeing on hold IMAGE Aurora

Don’t put your wellbeing on hold

November 15, 2019

Q:  I feel I am terrible at managing my work-life balance. It might be that I’m just exhausted being so close to the end of the year, and also that work and my personal life have been extremely busy pretty much all year. I feel stuck and not sure how to make more time for me with all these competing demands.

Bouncing forward to counter tough times IMAGE Aurora

Bouncing forward to counter tough times

October 04, 2019

Q I used to consider myself as someone who could cope with anything, but lately I just feel exhausted by all of the negative events that have happened around me. How do I solve some of my current issues with strength and bounce back to the strong person I used to be?

Talk the talk to keep the peace IMAGE Aurora

Talk the talk to keep the peace

September 06, 2019

Q  I’ve recently been told that my communication style at work offends some of my colleagues. I didn’t think I was being offensive, however my preferred way of communicating is to be direct with people and get to the point, rather than get into social “chit-chat”. I don’t go to work to socialise, but I can see that sometimes I may appear unfriendly. To keep the peace at work, I’m interested in how I can adjust my communication style when necessary.