Depression intrudes on the lives of so many adults and young people. We still have so much to learn, but what we know for certain is that it is not about not being strong enough or brave enough. The research in the area of depression is happening, and we are discovering more and more about it. Whether depression is intruding on your life, or the life of someone you love, here you'll find information about what it is, possible causes, and strategies that may be able to help.
Thank you Brisbane! Thank you for bringing us into your world today. Thank you for your energy, the chats, the warmth, the laughs and for being here with us at The Resilience Kids Conference. Thank you for your personal stories and for sharing them with me. It means everything and makes me want to keep doing what I’m doing forever. Thank you Brisbane. I loved every moment of today with you. ♥️
Thank you @michellemitchell.author,
Steve Biddulph, @matt.runnalls for your incredible wisdom. What a privilege to stand on a stage with you. Thank you @nathandubsywant for your energy and collecting of us, and to @sharonwittauthor, @_mattmitchell, and Doc for everything you do to make today what it is. And thank you to my beautiful tribe, @mik.young, @_lizzie_young_ , @ben_marriott6 for the work you did to keep our book stall up and running. It couldn’t have happened without you.♥️
May 24
Over the past the past 24 hours, I’ve been in Devonport, Tasmania to deliver two sessions to parents and carers - ‘Big Feelings, Connection, and Confidence’, then later an open Q and A where parents brought their real life questions - and we talked.
Thank you for welcoming me so warmly, and for trusting me with your questions, your stories, and your vulnerability.
This was an openness where real change begins. Parenting is hard - beautiful and messy and hard. In the last 24 hours, I’ve been moved by the openness and honesty of parents I’ve shared space with. This is where generational patterns start to shift.
So many of the parents I met are already doing this deep, brave work. The questions asked were honest, raw, and profoundly human — the kind of questions that can feel heavy and isolating until you hear someone else ask them too.
Our children will grow in the most incredible ways if we allow them the space, and if we hold that space with love and leadership and a curious mind. And, if we open ourselves to them, and are willing to shift and stretch and grow, they will grow us too.
Thank you to @devonportevents for everything you’ve done to make these events happen.♥️
May 20
Can’t wait for this! I’ll be in Devonport, Tasmania next week to present two talks for parents and carers.
The first is on Monday evening 19 May for a talk about how to support big feelings, behaviour and regulation in young people. This is not just another anxiety talk. You’ll walk away feeling hopeful, empowered, and with strategies you can start using straight away.
Then, on Tuesday morning 20 May, I’ll be giving another talk for parents and carers but this will be a Q&A. Bring your questions to me! Even if you don’t have questions, the ones I answer will be loaded with practical information that will support you in your parenting journey.
So grateful to @devonportevents for organising the events. They are public talks, open to everyone.
Tickets available at Humanitix - search Devonport events and scroll down until you find me!
Would love to see you there.♥️
May 11
Hello Adelaide! I’ll be in Adelaide on Friday 27 June to present a full-day workshop on anxiety.
This is not just another anxiety workshop, and is for anyone who lives or works with young people - therapists, educators, parents, OTs - anyone.
Tickets are still available. Search Hey Sigmund workshops for a full list of events, dates, and to buy tickets or see here https://www.heysigmund.com/public-events/
May 6
First we decide, ‘Is this discomfort from something unsafe or is it from something growthful?’
Then ask, ‘Is this a time to lift them out of the brave space, or support them through it?’
To help, look at how they’ll feel when they (eventually) get through it. If they could do this bravely thing easily tomorrow, would they feel proud? Happy? Excited? Grateful they did it?
‘Brave’ isn’t about outcome. It’s about handling the discomfort of the brave space and the anxiety that comes with that. They don’t have to handle it all at once. The move through the brave space can be a shuffle rather than a leap.
The more we normalise the anxiety they feel, and the more we help them feel safer with it (see ‘Hey Warrior’ or ‘Ups and Downs’ for a hand with this), the more we strengthen their capacity to move through the brave space with confidence. This will take time, experience, and probably lots of anxiety along the way. It’s just how growth is.
We don’t need to get rid of their anxiety. The key is to help them recognise that they can feel anxious and do brave. They won’t believe this until they experience it. Anxiety shrinks the feeling of brave, not the capacity for it.
What’s important is supporting them through the brave space lovingly, gently (though sometimes it won’t feel so gentle) and ‘with’, little step by little step. It doesn’t matter how small the steps are, as long as they’re forward.♥️
Apr 22
