Katie Joy Crawford has created a series of photos depicting her life with anxiety and depression. Please visit her site for a gorgeous and intimate portrayal of one women's experiences of life with mental health challenges. My main mode of expression is through writing and so I am moved by the raw honesty she shares through her images.
Head on over to Mental Floss to learn more about the benefits of having a pet. 10 Benefits of Being a Dog Owner While that article focuses specifically on dogs, there is ample evidence that pets of all kinds are good for our health (including mental health!). 12 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Mental Health (Huffington Post) Pets for Depression and Health (webMD) The Truth About Cats and Dogs: Pets are Good for Mental Health of 'Everyday People' (American Psychological Association)
If you are looking for a highly approachable avenue for creativity, I encourage you to hop on over and explore this site: Zentangle Creating a piece of art in this meditative form (the Zentangle Method) has a decidedly calming effect. The official theory is included on the site along with resources you can explore to learn more.
Yoga can be a gentle (or vigorous) way to nourish the connection between your body and your mind. This has all kinds of benefits for mental well being. It fosters the spirit of mindfulness as the linking of postures to breath helps to bring awareness directly into the present. Regular practice also highlights the ways in which strength and balance are fluid and change even from one day to the next. A few of my favourite Yoga YouTube Channels: Lesley Fightmaster Yoga Yoga with Adriene Yoga Upload…
For today's link, I direct you to Ideapod to read about three Buddhist beliefs. All three are ideas that may not feel intuitively positive at first and yet there is hopeful wisdom in the spirit of hope and acceptance within each. 3 Buddhist Beliefs That Will Soothe Your Soul
In the midst of any health crisis or emotionally distressing situation, it can be challenging to turn toward those we love and to maintain healthy relationships. Over at Tiny Buddha, Lisa Esile recently wrote about How to Maintain a Healthy Relationship When You're Depressed. While she was focusing specifically on depression, much of this advice applies to any relationship that is impacted by psychological or emotional distress. The five pointers near the end of the article capture the importance of perspective and realistic thinking about ourselves and…
Thanks for all who attended my recent webinar on Diabetes Burnout with the Canadian Diabetes Association! The link to the recording is here: Diabetes Burnout: What It Is and How to Beat It For those interested in this topic, here is a link to another resource for those dealing with diabetes and wanting to explore the emotional component of the disease. How Diabetes Impacts Your Mental Health In the post, Dr. Heyman outlines many of the common concerns and experiences when coping with diabetes, or any chronic health…
On May 24, 2016 I will presented a webinar for the Canadian Diabetes Association regarding Diabetes Burnout. The link to the recording is here: Diabetes Burnout: What It Is and How to Beat It Please take a look to learn about the common signs and symptoms that you might experience during burnout (from diabetes or any chronic condition). I also discuss some strategies you can use for coping and for prevention.
Our bodies hold tension that arises from the pressures of day to day life. Frequently, we are not even aware of these tight spots until we intentionally engage in a stress relieving activity such as yoga or getting a massage. However, the ability to let go of the habitual tension in the muscles allows us a greater sense of relaxation and ease. When we feel more in control of the relaxation response, we are better able to respond with skillful and purposeful action to the inevitable challenges that arise.…
I regularly work with clients to explore and allow all thoughts, feelings and sensations and to cultivate a sense of curiosity and openness regarding what we find. However, I also recognize that there are times when we need to break free from a difficult situation or an unhelpful thought pattern. It is perfectly okay to utilize a distraction knowing that you can return to present awareness once you have taken a needed respite from the pain or distress. The folks over at the TED blog recently published a…