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“YOU are never too old to change, or to learn new tricks!”

That is the message from Helen Dugdale from Australian Brain Coaching.

“A few years ago, people used to think that they were ‘set in their ways’, and that as you got older, you were even more set,” she said.

“Well, research has shown that we can change, we can learn new skills, you can teach an old dog new tricks.”

According to Helen, the science of neuroplasticity means that it is possible to re-wire your brain.

For example, Helen, through her brain coaching technique, says she was able to help a 92-year-old man reduce his anxiety so that he now sleeps through the night.

Promising results have been shown in using BBs for relieving anxiety in patients in hospital emergency departments, on patients waiting to undergo operations, psychiatric outpatients with anxiety disorders and for depressive symptoms in older people in nursing homes.

"Brain coach", Helen Dugdale of Australian Brain Coaching uses BBs combined with positive affirmations to assist clients with anxiety.

Helen Dugdale's work has a very different flavour to most jobs but she says as ever more people feel the positive results of the German brain-training psychological techniques she offers, the more their family and friends want to experience learning how to effect positive change in their lives.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.

It’s a famous Chinese proverb, of course, and may have been in the minds of two walkers when they set off at dawn from Pirate Park, Narrabri West on Thursday to walk to Yarrie Lake.

The distance is about 17 kilometres, or something more than 17,000 steps, but their journey was for a good cause and they weren’t counting.

It’s no secret that music can alter our mood, whether we listen or participate. Loud and active is more uplifting; smooth and soft, more calming. As long ago as 1697, William Congreve wrote that music has the power to “soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.” 
Now, research has shown us we can harness these powers to create calmness and help us heal in many ways. When we are calm we can function better, both emotionally and physiologically. This is when healing can take place.

Being anxious over a change in our lives is Normal. It is called being human. It is how we let that anxiety get to us that we need to address.  A certain amount of anxiety (or stress) can be useful – it can help spur us to react, to be responsive, to adapt.  We certainly have had a lot of changes in our lives recently.  

In these uncertain times, with lots of upheaval – some people maybe feeling overwhelmed and more anxious. I am offering free consultations via Skype or video conferencing, while we are all in social distancing mode. Even though face-to-face counselling is better, I would still like to offer my services to help alleviate people’s fears and anxieties, before it becomes a major health issue.

"extreme or irrational fear of entering open or crowded places, of leaving one's own home, or of being in places from which escape is difficult."

It occurred to me that people suffering from this condition might have trouble getting help. How do they get out of the house to find out or to seek help? The answer is, they probably don't, they are more likely to read articles online or in newspapers or magazines, or hear about what help is available through friends or family.

It's important to celebrate our elders and their achievements and their value to society.  There have been lots of studies and trials on being healthy in later years, particularly emotional well-being as that has a definite impact on your physical well-being.

Yes it is possible to change your ways and improve your life by overcoming those things that are annoying you, ( I am not talking medical or physical things - I'll leave those things for the doctors and medical professionals)

YES - you can learn to overcome stresses, difficult situations, bad habits.  Scientists have done thousands of trials and brain scans, and the brain is pliable i.e. plasticity of the brain cells is real.

The Narrabri SIAHTO Woman of the Year, Helen Dugdale, is a passionate advocate for young people and for education.  In those areas, and in others across the community, Mrs Dugdale has dedicated many years of voluntary commitment and enthusiasm.  Her achievements were recognised and applauded by the audience – which included her daughter Anna Dugdale – when a surprised Mrs Dugdale was announced as the 2019 Narrabri Woman of the Year at Narrabri SIAHTO’s awards night on Tuesday.   Mrs Dugdale was taken by surprise – she had been invited to the dinner as a guest speaker – with no inkling of her honour to come.  SIAHTO and family members had carefully planned to circumvent the award winner’s prior commitments to ensure she would be at the event.

People often laugh about their habit of putting things off. You know the old joke - "Why do today what you can put off till tomorrow". That is okay for awhile or on minor issues, and then wham! all of a sudden you are under pressure to perform or lifestyle issues are at stake. This pressure or stress is not good for your health, amongst other negative impacts.
Of course, a little bit of pressure can be good for performance, it can motivate you to get that job done, get that essay written etc. However, when a 'little' bit of pressure becomes a 'lot', and not getting things done on time becomes a habit, that's when things will start to go downhill. You may need some intervention strategies to change these habits.

Thank you to the Council for putting on such a wonderful event. It's important to celebrate our elders, and their achievements and their value to society. Thank you for inviting me to come along today to speak on this topic

I am excited about this topic, as I just recently studied this in my psychology course. There have been lots of studies and trials on being healthy in later years, particularly emotional well-being, as that has a definite impact on your physical well-being.

Stress can be responsible for all sorts of conditions.  Find out how you can stop this cycle and lead a more relaxed lifestyle, advises consultant with Australian Brain Coaching Helen Dugdale.

Careers and Life Skills Workshop for young people aged 17 - 25 

10 Examples of how brain coaching can help:

• Fear of Heights
• Fear of Flying
• Fear of Water
• Social anxiety
• Dealing with difficult situations
• Public Speaking Confidence
• Sport/performance confidence and consistency
• Sleeplessness
• Sense of self-worth
• Reduce chocolate cravings