​Marijuana has had its controversy over the years. With it now being legal in Canada, more people are exploring its effecton their mental health. While not for everyone, some people find that marijuana can help their anxiety; and though I don’t believe that it should be used as a main coping skill, it has its benefits. Here’s some basic information about marijuana and what we know about its effects. Please note that this article may be a triggering for some and we recommend always discussing (prior to use) with your family physician and your mental health provider. 

​Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is related to changes in seasons. SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year and, if you're like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody.

​At first, it was the crying. The hyperventilating and crying. Crying so hard that you can’t breathe. Crying so much that you wonder when you’re going to run out of tears. You can’t stop it. You just have to let it out. People try to comfort you, but them being close makes it harder to breathe. Makes you cry harder.

​By: Kelly Halonen, MSW, RSW

​You often see it in movies, the main character is going through a breakup and listens to sad music as they cry into a pillow on their couch. You probably do this too. Whenever you’re feeling sad or down about something, you may listen to music that is also sad or slow. So why do we do this? Wouldn’t this just make us sadder? Yes and no. 

​This phrase, so commonly uttered during therapy sessions can represent weeks, months and even years of misery for some.

By: Kristen Sohlman, MACP, RP

Men’s mental health in the workplace is a difficult and sensitive topic to address. 

By: Cassandra Nordal, PR & Marketing Coordinator

This season of Grey's Anatomy focuses on various mental health-related issues and topics along with their biggest battle since the loss of Mc Dreamy, the Covid-19 Pandemic. Specifically, we watch Joe struggle during some flashback episodes where EMDR is used to process her complex trauma. So what exactly is EMDR?

By: Cassandra Nordal

For those of you that don’t know, a Situationship is a romantic relationship that’s undefined or maybe even uncommitted. It is NOT the same as “friends with benefits.” It may be someone that you’ve been comfortably hooking up with for some period of time, or someone that has close intimacy with you but doesn’t refer to you as a partner. Sometimes, having undefined relationships is super fun, sexually satisfying, and liberating, even. Plus, a Situationship gives you time to get to know somebody without feeling pressured to make a big decision about commitment.
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So how do you know if you’re in one? What’s the difference between an “open relationship” or “friends with benefits?” 

By: Kristen Sohlman, MACP, RP

​Did you know that gardening helps to support positive mental health?  Here is how!

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. 

Do you ever notice that you struggle with a low mood, that you are lacking energy, or are moodier in the fall and winter seasons?  Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that occurs seasonally and is related to the changes in level of sunlight that you are exposed to during seasons of low daylight.  It is important to realize that SAD can occur at other times of the year, for example, for those who work nightshifts who may not have access to as much natural light as those that are awake during the day.  Some of the reasons that SAD may occur involves a lack of natural light that may actually affect your biological clock or circadian rhythm and may influence the release of chemicals in your body such as serotonin, dopamine, and melatonin, affecting your mood. 
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𝒷𝓎 Piper Rasmussen

They say that perfectionism can lead to depression. Countless studies explain how perfectionists continually set unrealistic standards for themselves, and feel like failures when they fall short on their expectations. Anything less than perfect is unacceptable, yet perfection is unattainable. It’s one thing to feel as though you’re not good enough unless you’re flawless. Imagine being told that, over and over. This is a story about how my childhood sport distorted my adult reality. First, imagine you are a child competing in the biggest gymnastics competition of your life. 

You begin with a perfect 10.