The mind-body connection is a concept which has developed in Western Modern Psychology since the 1800s. It refers to the relationship between how we think, how we feel and our physical health. It also states that this relationship does not just go one way. The mind influences the body and the body influences the mind. Eastern medicine has understood this...[ read more ]
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions. It is reported that 3 million Canadians suffer from a mood and/or Anxiety disorder. 1. Unfortunately, there is a gender gap in the number of men and women who seek help for anxiety disorder. Some research suggests this is because women are under more stress. However, the overarching research is...[ read more ]
One year into the pandemic, and nothing is back to normal. We are still in lockdown, waiting on a daily tally of positive cases, and deaths. While our health care system is stretched to breaking point, the pandemic has had a devastating impact on our mental health. The number of people seeking help for anxiety has skyrocketed, prescriptions for anti-depressants...[ read more ]
My Mom is 85 years old. She lives on the Southeast Coast of the UK, England. I think she believes she is immune from the coronavirus. She wants to do her own shopping. She wants to have lunch with her close friends. A couple of weeks ago she went to a funeral, indoors, a friend-of-a-friend. Yesterday she told me that...[ read more ]
The days are growing shorter, and the leaves are gradually turning from brilliant greens, to the brown, orange and red that we readily associate with fall. The seasonal changes are upon us, and as all parents of school aged kids, and all kids, know, the shorter days, and turning leaves, signals our return to school. For the retail world, back...[ read more ]
Emotions 101 We all have feelings, or emotions. We need emotions to survive. Emotions get us going, they make us act to protect ourselves, and they help us to get what we need or want. Anxiety makes us slow down and avoid danger, anger drives us to fight, sadness causes us to withdraw and grieve, shame demands that we hide....[ read more ]
The sun is shining; we want to run outside, put on the sprinklers, light up the BBQ, and invite our besties over for supper. But, instead, we are masked and gloved, walking at a carefully measured distance from our fellow shoppers, trying to find something to cook for our cranky kids, and, just as cranky spouse. Physical distancing was, perhaps...[ read more ]
For many, childhood is the most wondrous and exciting time in a person’s life. But even when a child is growing in a loving and stable family environment, they can feel fear and anxiety. Think back on your childhood. Everything new was something to be not-so-sure of. It was easy to feel a bit anxious on the first day of...[ read more ]
Twenty years ago my dad died. I was working with him in the North of Thailand. I got up in the morning as usual and got ready to leave the house to go to work. As I was pushing the door open to leave I had a moment of hesitation; an urge to go back and see him. But I...[ read more ]
If you’re like most people, you are doing your best to stay calm during COVID-19 pandemic. But that can feel incredibly difficult at times. When not worrying about friends and loved one’s health, there’s also the conflicting information provided by the media and the economic ramifications of the virus that have people on edge. Signs of Emotional Distress and 6...[ read more ]