Well, it is that time of year again, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season are now upon us! While the season can be a favorite for many, the reality is that many people do not see it as such. Whether it be the financial strain, pressure to be joyous, memories of loved ones who are no longer part of our lives, lack of sunlight, or the angst of reflecting upon another year of unfulfilled resolutions, joy often turns to sadness during these months. Whatever the reason, the holiday season can be a trigger to a mood disorder called Seasonal Affective Disorder. Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, fatigue, irritability, and loss of interest in activities are often common symptoms for people experiencing this disorder. So, how can we cope with this difficult time? Here are a few tips on handling the stressful feelings associated with seasonal depression.
Tips for Handling Busy School Schedules
Ok, so it’s that time of year again- school is back in full swing and the calendar is starting to fill up very quickly! Do you ever feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day or days in the week to accomplish everything? Homework, routines, work, dinners, playdates, sports, afterschool clubs, holidays, and the list goes on. It is certainly a challenge to get through our checklists and still feel like we can breathe. Well, guess what? With a little organizing and some determination, you can make it work and still enjoy those moments!
September is National Suicide Prevention Month
Before diving into this article, I would like to provide a sensitivity and trigger warning. This article talks about suicide. Please proceed with caution and STOP reading at any point that you may need to.
September is National Suicide Awareness Month. Within the month itself, there is National Suicide Prevention Week (September 4 - September 10) and World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10). The purpose of these events is to raise awareness for the treatment and prevention of suicide, educate those on the warning sides of suicide, and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health treatment. This month fosters collaboration for those impacted by suicide, as well as the mental health community in providing educational resources.
Building a Better Sense of Self
Let’s face it- we have all sought out the approval of others at one time or another. But what happens when we need constant validation and attention from other people? Well, then it is time to look a little deeper at how to strengthen our beliefs about ourselves. As we become less dependent on the approval of others, our lives tend to feel more emotionally regulated and we then begin to have the tendency to believe in ourselves.
How Can I Find Time to Practice Mindfulness? 5 Tips!
Summer is finally here, and we can all now slow down and enjoy the beautiful weather- right? Well, as relaxing and fun as summer can be, many of us overload our social calendars in order to cram everything into those few short months before the kids go back to school. This can cause a lot of anxiety for many people. So, how do we allow ourselves to stay truly present and actually enjoy these moments? Practice mindfulness! Well, this is sometimes easier said than done. Mindfulness is often associated with a visual image of a person in a yoga pose by themselves counting deep breaths. For some of us, this task seems difficult, time-consuming, and awkward. Well, there are other ways to accomplish the art of staying present in the moment and feeling calm and grounded.