Laurian Ward Counselling Psychologist

04/11/2025

What’s the Difference Between Sadness and Depression?

We all experience sadness — it’s part of being human. It comes and goes, helping us process loss, disappointment, or change. You may cry, need quiet time, or feel low for a few days — but eventually, with time and support, you start to feel moments of light again. Sadness reminds us that we care.

Depression, however, is not just sadness that lasts longer. It’s a deep and persistent condition that affects your mind, body, and energy. You might feel numb, hopeless, or disconnected from everything — even the things that once made you happy. Depression isn’t a mood; it’s an illness. And no one can simply “snap out of it.”

The danger lies in mistaking one for the other. Sadness needs kindness and patience. Depression needs professional care and support.

If your sadness feels unending, or it’s affecting your sleep, appetite, focus, or relationships, please reach out — talk to a therapist, a trusted friend, or a healthcare professional.

Sadness reminds us that we care. Depression tells us we need care.
Both deserve understanding — but knowing the difference helps us respond with empathy, not judgment.

Understand the difference between sadness and depression. Discover how normal sadness differs from clinical depression, their symptoms, and when to seek help.

04/11/2025

Movember: Let’s See Our Men This Month

November is Men’s Health Awareness Month — a time to look beyond the surface. We often see men as strong and unbreakable, but the truth is, they face silent battles too. Their mental health struggles can look different, and too often, they go unnoticed or unspoken.

Many men quietly deal with stress, anxiety, depression, burnout, loneliness, financial pressure, and health concerns like prostate and testicular cancer — yet feel they have to “tough it out.”

This month, let’s take the time to really see the men in our lives. Check in, listen, and remind them that strength isn’t about silence — it’s about honesty, vulnerability, and support. 💙

28/10/2025

When the lines between these conditions feel blurred, it’s easy to mislabel what’s happening. That’s why a comprehensive psychological assessment is the best way to bring clarity. A proper evaluation explores your ADHD symptoms, history, and patterns — not just how you feel on a stressful day or what a checklist says online.

If you or someone you care about struggles with focus, organization, or emotional ups and downs, don’t guess. Book an assessment with me, Laurian Ward, Counselling Psychologist in Pretoria East, to get the clarity and direction you need to move forward with confidence.

What many people don’t realize is that several other mental health conditions can look like ADHD symptoms but are, in fact, something else.

14/10/2025

When ADHD is misunderstood as a “trend” or personality quirk, people who genuinely need help may feel dismissed or doubted. Conversely, some may self-diagnose based on relatable online posts rather than through proper assessment, leading to unnecessary worry or confusion. The truth is, ADHD is not one-size-fits-all. It presents differently across ages and genders, and often overlaps with other emotional challenges like anxiety or mood difficulties.

https://psychologistpretoriaeast.co.za/understanding-adhd-beyond-the-label-world-mental-health-month/

06/10/2025

🌿 October: World Mental Health Month 🌿

This month, we shine a light on the often-overlooked conversations around ADHD, Bipolar Disorder, and Maternal Mental Health — reminding ourselves that understanding begins with awareness, and healing begins with courage. 💚

Here are 4 powerful facts to start your week with purpose:

1️⃣ ADHD isn’t just a childhood condition — it affects adults too, especially women who were never diagnosed early.
2️⃣ Bipolar Disorder is not moodiness — it’s a medical condition that, with the right treatment and support, allows for deeply fulfilling, creative, and stable lives.
3️⃣ 1 in 5 mothers experience some form of mental health challenge during or after pregnancy — yet most never reach out for help.
4️⃣ Mental health is not a weakness — it’s part of our shared human story, deserving the same compassion as physical health.

✨ This October, choose awareness over avoidance.
Choose compassion over judgement.
Choose healing — for yourself, your family, and your community.

📞 Book a session or reach out to talk.
Because your story matters, and your healing can begin today.

— Laurian Ward | Counselling Psychologist
🕊️ Supporting your journey toward balance, growth, and emotional wellness.

20/09/2025

Su***de Awareness Saves Lives 💛🧠

Creating awareness around su***de is a step in the right direction—and it makes prevention possible. By challenging the stigma around mental health, checking in with loved ones, and making support accessible, we can truly change the statistics.

Small conversations can save lives. Simple actions like:

*Restricting access to lethal means
*Encouraging men to seek professional help
*Fostering communities where vulnerability is seen as strength

…are all steps in the right direction. (Source: WHO)

If you are struggling—or notice someone pulling away, feeling hopeless, or expressing despair—please reach out. You are not a burden. You are not alone.

https://psychologistpretoriaeast.co.za/september-is-su***de-awareness-month/

15/09/2025

Can Helping Others Help You? Absolutely! 🌟

Helping others isn’t just good for them — it’s amazing for you too. Here’s how:

Fosters Personal & Professional Growth
✅ Develop New Skills: Every act of helping exposes you to new experiences and opportunities to learn.
✅ Boost Leadership: Helping others sharpens your communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
✅ Enhance Your Reputation: Being known as someone who helps builds trust and respect — opening doors to unexpected opportunities.

Increases Life Satisfaction
💙 Find Purpose: Helping others gives life deeper meaning and fulfillment.
💙 Long-Term Happiness: The positive impact lasts far beyond the moment, improving your outlook on life.

Helping others isn’t just an act of kindness — it’s a win-win. You grow, you connect, you thrive.

https://psychologistpretoriaeast.co.za/can-helping-others-help-you/

11/09/2025

Strangely, despite how many people suffer from it, neuropathy is not often spoken about in everyday conversation. Unlike a broken arm in a cast, nerve pain is invisible. It hides under the skin, but it can affect every part of life. Many people mistake it for “just getting older” or “bad circulation.” Because of this, people delay seeking help, and the condition worsens.

https://psychologistpretoriaeast.co.za/neuropathy-pain-and-the-choices-we-make/

26/08/2025

Why Are Kids Struggling Despite More Support?

Teens today have more therapists and school psychologists than previous generations, yet their coping capacity is lower. Access to help doesn’t replace emotional connection, parental presence, or meaningful offline identity. Many teens hide distress, smile through pain, and process grief in silence. Emotional literacy lags behind digital fluency.

https://psychologistpretoriaeast.co.za/parents-su***de-and-the-internet/

20/08/2025

Sometimes, when life feels too heavy, your brain is not trying to betray you — it’s trying to protect you.

I’m a Counselling Psychologist in Pretoria East, and I often explain to clients that during extreme emotional pain, we slip into what’s called the primal brain. This is the survival part of our mind — the same system our ancestors used when running from predators. In this state, your logical, rational thinking goes offline. Your brain is focused only on escaping pain, and in that moment it can make the world feel empty, hopeless, and without meaning.

This isn’t weakness. It’s biology. But here’s the important truth: feelings in the primal brain can change when the storm passes, and there are ways back to safety. When you reach out — to a friend, a counsellor, a helpline — you activate the part of your brain that can see options again. You reconnect with the part of you that can still imagine tomorrow.

If you are in that dark space right now, please know: you are not broken, you are not alone, and you matter more than you can see in this moment. The pain is temporary — your life is not.

16/08/2025

Living with a personality disorder can feel like you're caught in a constant storm. Your thoughts, emotions, and relationships can seem unpredictable and overwhelming, leaving you feeling isolated and misunderstood. This isn't a flaw in your character; it's a condition that impacts how you see yourself and the world around you.

https://psychologistpretoriaeast.co.za/borderline-personality-disorder/