What is mental health anyway? Well, mental health is something that we all have, just like physical health. Some days it may be better than others, some days it may be challenging… just like physical health.
Often couples evaluate their relationship based upon how much they fight. When they are not fighting, things must be going well and when they are fighting, things must NOT be going well within their relationship. It is a myth that healthy couples do not fight or do not fight often.
For some the opportunity to work from home has been a glorious and welcomed change, while for others this change has been difficult and the wait to return to “normal” cannot come fast enough. While there are many work environments and workplace needs, there are some things that can help make the “new normal” more manageable.
Where possible, things to consider when working from home: By: Kristen Sohlman, MACP,RP Try not to fall into the trap of right and wrong, when, in fact, multiple truths can exist in any given situation. When you disagree with someone, that does not make you right and the other person wrong.
By: Kristen Sohlman, MACP,RP Can you distinguish a comment from criticism? Being able to distinguish between the two is important.
By: Kelly Graham, MSW, RSW Often, you’ll hear how bad video games are for society. Many people are quick to blame them for increased violence and other social problems.
Not many people look at the positive side of video games except those that enjoy them the most, but I think it’s important that we take a moment to acknowledge their worth. By: Kristen Sohlman, MACP, RP Did you know that gardening helps to support positive mental health? Here is how!
Seija Grant, MEd CP, RP I regularly see clients who are struggling with day to day functioning because of their mental health, and are feeling emotionally overwhelmed. This happens to all of us at some point, and it often feels like making positive change can be impossible. I would like to remind you about the importance of ‘getting back to the basics’ as this can have a significant impact on your well-being and health. We frequently (as a society and as individuals) take these things for granted.
By: Laura Groulx, MSW, RSW I talk to a lot of people. Like really talk. Typically, in my first meeting with a new client, I’ll ask what their goals are for counselling. As in, what is it that they are looking to change about themselves, or what can I support them through.
An answer I often encounter is this: I want to be happy. This is a big goal. What does this even mean?? By: Kristen Sohlman, MACP, RP The experience of coping with difficult situations, significant changes in life, and other life challenges might leave you feeling low in mood and even hopeless. The challenge with feelings of hopelessness is that this feeling carries with it a certain reality: that things won’t get better, that it is not worth trying, and that you might as well just give up.
By: Kelly Graham, MSW, RSW Right now, a lot of people are feeling stressed, anxious, and afraid. We don’t know how badly COVID-19 will affect Canada or Thunder Bay. We are also unsure of when schools and workplaces will open, and when we can spend time with family and friends.
By: Kristen Sohlman, MACP, RP Looking for some fun things to do online this long weekend? Here are a few ideas to try out!
By: Kelly Graham, MSW, RSW Growing up you’ve probably been taught that you shouldn’t talk about masturbation, or maybe even that you shouldn’t masturbate. Because this is something that is not talked about and seen as a “taboo” subject, many people don’t know how good masturbating can be for you.
By: Kelly Graham MSW, RSW A dilemma that comes up as everyone continues to self-isolate is how to spend your time. One enjoyable activity that may help you feel better is sex, either with your partner, or (oh yes, we’re going there!) with yourself!
By: Kristen Sohlman, MACP, RP Are you feeling that the world has changed so much? Are you feeling helpless? Are you feeling sad? You may not be just depressed; you may be grieving. The grief response happens when there are significant changes in life, when things will not go back to the way they used to be, when there is a loss of normalcy, a loss of connection, when there is worry or fear, and all of this is hitting us in a short period of time.
By: Kelly Graham, MSW, RSW You’ve probably been bombarded with articles about how you should use your time in self-isolation to better yourself (learn a language, play an instrument, etc.). However, this can be hard for a lot of people. We are feeling stressed and anxious about what is happening in the world, and for some people that isn't easy to overcome.
By: Cassandra Nordal This is obviously a scary time for us all. Hour by hour, we are watching our world change so drastically that we are all in a state of constant worry and panic. We have been focusing on the detrimental health risk and factors that this virus is causing, and now, we need to talk about the impact this is having on our mental health.
The idea of surviving isolation with your partner may spur mixed emotions. We are with our partners because we fell in love, so much so, that we have committed ourselves to this other person completely. Well, maybe not completely. Let’s get real: We love our partners, but sometimes too much of a good thing is, as they say, too much. Relationships still require a sense of individuality and independence. We all need our space - space is healthy! However, we may be finding that we have less space from our partner when many of us are spending more time at home. Here are a few ideas on how to cope with increased togetherness:
By: Seija Grant, Med CP, RP Wow! Things are feeling a little chaotic and overwhelming, and certainly anxiety-provoking out there. I am not immune to that as a therapist, and was thinking about what can be done to ease some of the mental (and physical) tension in our community. One such skill that can be cultivated and applied during these tough times is ‘Mindful Self-Compassion’ (MSC). I realize this may be a new concept for many of you, so I will give a brief overview of what this is and how this may be helpful during this tense time.
In life, we have many different roles and responsibilities related to work, physical health, a career, family, friends, and time. It is no wonder that sometimes we find ourselves feeling stressed or overwhelmed. It is important to remember that small amounts of stress are healthy and necessary as they help us to be motivated, efficient, helps with good mental focus, and helps us to feel more content and happy within our lives. Whereas having too much stress for a long time results in feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, overloaded, burnt out, and exhausted.
Work life balance does not mean that we are making our priorities between work and other aspects of our lives equal, and instead, that we are meeting our own individual needs in order to perform optimally at work, as well as in the other aspects of our lives. Steps to Achieve Work Life Balance
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OverviewNWO’s source for all things relationships, mental health, wellness, lifestyle, and pandemic support. Kelly Magazine is a mental health outreach initiative created by Kelly Mental Health and supported by Kelly Mental Health Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the community in the area of mental health.
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