April is Stress Awareness Month, a time to reflect on the sources of stress in our lives and explore how we can manage them better. For many, the pressure to achieve perfection is a significant contributor to stress, leading to feelings of overwhelm and burnout. Perfectionism, often masked as a pursuit of excellence, can become a double-edged sword—fuelling productivity on one hand, while simultaneously creating a constant, underlying sense of dissatisfaction. 

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and with it comes the usual wave of pink cards, brunches, and endless messages about how mums should be celebrated. But let’s be real for a second: how many of us feel like the “perfect mum” we see on social media is someone we can actually be, or even want to be?

Have you ever wondered why some relationships feel effortless while others leave you in a whirlwind of confusion and heartache? The answer often lies in our attachment styles — deeply ingrained patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving in relationships that stem from our earliest experiences. Understanding your attachment style can be a game-changer. It can help you navigate the murky waters of relationships with clarity, compassion, and confidence.

New Year's resolutions are a widespread tradition, symbolising a fresh start and a commitment to personal growth. Yet, despite their positive intentions, these resolutions often lead to disappointment and frustration. Why is it that so many people fail to achieve their New Year's goals? Let's delve into the psychology behind this phenomenon.

The holiday season, with its festive gatherings and joyous celebrations, can also be a time of stress and overwhelm. At Dr Ranjot Bhogal’s practice, we often see clients struggling with the challenges of maintaining boundaries during this period. Increased social interactions and expectations often accompany festive occasions, which can sometimes lead to feelings of pressure to attend every event or visit every relative, potentially overwhelming individuals and impacting their overall well-being.

It’s a well known fact that men are more likely to die by suicide than women. However, this alarming statistic often overshadows the underlying issue: men’s mental health. For too long, societal expectations and stereotypes have discouraged men from seeking help for their emotional struggles, leading to a crisis of untreated mental health conditions.

Life’s a battlefield, and we all carry within us a collection of strengths – some readily apparent, others waiting to be discovered. These hidden strengths are the secret weapons that can turn the tide in the face of challenges. They are the resilience you didn't know you possessed, the creativity that surprises even yourself, the unwavering determination that surfaces when needed most. But why remain unaware of these powerful tools?

If you suffer from low self-esteem, you’re not on your own. Because according to research, the number of people in the UK reporting low self-esteem has tripled in the last twenty years to a staggering 20%. For those that find it manifesting involuntarily in their lives, you may already know how crippling it can be. The difficulty of prioritising yourself, to maintain healthy boundaries, and to feel confident, resilient, and strong, can feel like a never-ending cycle, tough to break free from. The good news? There is hope.

Mental health is no longer a whispered secret. More and more people are talking openly about their struggles, and the workplace is no exception. But bringing up mental health with your employer can still feel daunting. However, creating a dialogue about your mental wellbeing can be the first step to getting the support you need to thrive at work.

Depression is a complex illness impacting people globally. While its core experience is universal, cultural factors significantly influence how symptoms are presented. This is particularly true for Punjabi-speaking migrants residing in the UK. Adapting to a new environment, coupled with cultural beliefs around emotions and mental illness, can shape their experience of depression.

Have you ever looked in the mirror and seen something unexpected? Perhaps a patch of lighter skin interrupting the smooth canvas you once knew. This unexpected change can be particularly disorienting when it comes to vitiligo, a condition that causes loss of skin pigmentation.

Stress seems to be an inevitable part of daily life, so taking care of our mental health is more important than ever, especially as it’s Mental Health Awareness Week. This year's theme, Movement: Moving more for our mental health, highlights the profound connection between physical activity and psychological well-being.

Many of you know me as Dr Ranjot Bhogal, a Counselling Psychologist who spends my days helping others navigate the complexities of life. But today, I want to take off my professional hat and share a more personal story – a story about the unseen battle I fight every day: living with a chronic illness and the shadows it can cast.

Ranjot grew up with the all-too-common conditioning that, as a South Asian woman, she should serve others - no matter the cost to her mental and physical health. Ranjot often felt like she was not good enough because the culture made boys seem more important and capable. She was constantly sick as a child, needing regular time off school – it was assumed she would not amount to anything in life. At the age of 16, Ranjot was diagnosed with chronic Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) and labelled the “sick” one. Suddenly, she became fearful of the future – who will marry damaged goods? What will other people think? Thoughts no 16-year old should have.