Even years after a traumatic experience, we can feel stuck in a place of emotional distress. In therapy, I noticed that many trauma survivors would struggle to find self-compassion. They would get caught in an endless loop of self-blame and resentment. Other clients were keen to begin therapy; however, they were easily overwhelmed once theyContinue reading “Why am I feeling stuck in my trauma?”
Category Archives: Mental Health
What causes mental health struggles?
When new clients come in for counselling, many present with resentment and anger for experiencing mental health struggles. Following any emotional upheaval, we search for clarity. We want to understand what causes mental health difficulties, and we want the fastest solution to make it all feel better. Since mental health impacts the whole family, caregiversContinue reading “What causes mental health struggles?”
5 Tips to help keep your New Year’s resolutions
As we welcome a new year, some of us may be considering the endless battle with New Year’s resolutions. About 80% of people abandon their resolutions within the first few months of starting. We know this is not due to will power, but because it is hard to create new habits and change old patterns.Continue reading “5 Tips to help keep your New Year’s resolutions”
8 Tips to improve sleep troubles
When it comes to falling asleep, there are many people who can easily pass out as soon as their heads hits the pillow. This post is not for them. For the rest of the population, please know that it is normal to have sleep troubles at some point in your life. Some of us findContinue reading “8 Tips to improve sleep troubles”
5 Tips to help your mental health during the second wave
As the number of COVID-19 cases rise in the Kitchener-Waterloo region, the possibility of heading into another lock down becomes increasingly likely. This isn’t an easy time. We all miss our families, friends, activities, and having the freedom to do things without restrictions of physical distancing. However, none of us have a magic wand toContinue reading “5 Tips to help your mental health during the second wave”
Postpartum OCD: The Curse of Never-Ending Scary Thoughts
While postpartum depression and anxiety have become more widely-understood, there is still limited research about postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder. This mental health struggles occurs in approximately 1-10% of parents. Since postpartum OCD presents as excessive worrying and helplessness, it is commonly misdiagnosed as anxiety, or worse, it is dismissed as “normal worrying”. When you think ofContinue reading “Postpartum OCD: The Curse of Never-Ending Scary Thoughts”
Disenfranchised Grief: When no one seems to understand your loss
I’ve been talking to many individuals lately who have experienced ectopic pregnancies, chemical pregnancies, and complicated deliveries. During all of these conversations, I noticed a theme of disenfranchised grief. Disenfranchised grief refers to “the types of loss that are not so readily recognised or supported by society.” Grief therapist Lisa Zoll explains that this typeContinue reading “Disenfranchised Grief: When no one seems to understand your loss”
Five Ways to Challenge Negative Thoughts
After writing my last post about common anxieties during the postpartum period, I wanted to provide some strategies to help challenge these negative thoughts. Irrespective of whether you have a mental health diagnosis or not, it’s easy to fall into unhealthy thinking styles when you feel vulnerable. I hope these five strategies can help youContinue reading “Five Ways to Challenge Negative Thoughts”
Changing our relationship with our Inner Critic
When our inner critic shows up, it can be hard to talk it down or reason with it. This part of our personality can be fierce, harsh, argumentative and stubborn. This critical voice tends to be judgemental and demeaning. Internal Family Systems therapy has helped me change the way I view my own perfectionism, shame,Continue reading “Changing our relationship with our Inner Critic”
Preventing compassion fatigue: Simple ways to help family members struggling with their mental health
Living with someone who is suffering from a mental health problem can be challenging to say the least. Whether the individual is formally diagnosed or you’re noticing a shift in their moods, the ripple effect it has on the home is significant. One in five people are living with a mental health struggle, and withContinue reading “Preventing compassion fatigue: Simple ways to help family members struggling with their mental health”