Depending on the severity of it, anxiety can be an incredibly debilitating condition to live with. It has the ability to interfere with everyday life, decisions, responsibilities and relationships, and over time, it can feel rather consuming. Because the influence of anxiety can be so overwhelming, it’s discouraging to contemplate the fact that very little … More Anxiety recovery is in reach
I’m really not a big fan of Dr. Phil, but if there’s nothing else remotely appealing on television, I’ll tune in to the show from time to time. I was watching an episode the other day, and the young girl it focused on really got me thinking about relationships in today’s day and age. The … More This is why mobile phones are ruining relationships
Mental illness is something I’m quite passionate about. Not only because I deal with it myself, but also because of the devastating impact it can have on the people we know and love, which I’ve also been exposed to. I had anorexia and bulimia in the past, and from that I developed depression and anxiety, … More The dangers of self-diagnosing mental illness
The concept of assertiveness is something I believe a lot of us struggle with. Many of us associate assertiveness with bossiness, or a need to be controlling, and this association has unfortunately given assertiveness a bad reputation over time. A quick Google search of the term defines it as exhibiting a confident and/or forceful personality. … More No, assertiveness is not a bad thing
Forcing yourself to be happy when you’re not can be a pretty challenging feat to overcome. Whether you’ve been in a slump for a week or a month, it’s difficult to plaster on a smile and go about your day as if everything is fine and dandy, especially if you haven’t been feeling like yourself … More What to do when you’re feeling down
When I initially discovered that I would participating in group therapy for my anxiety, I wasn’t entirely sure what to think. I’ve undergone therapy in the past in several different manners. All of the therapy I’ve been subjected to up until group was one-on-one, and honestly, I figured this style was the only effective way … More Is group therapy for you?
Do you do one thing a day that scares you? Are you someone who likes to live life dangerously? Do you challenge yourself on a daily basis to try something new? If you answered no to any or all of the proposed questions above, don’t worry. I sure as shit don’t do all of those … More It’s time to step outside of your comfort zone
For those of us who deal with anxiety on a daily basis, it can be beneficial to designate a handful of coping mechanisms, or strategies, that help us work through our anxious thoughts and bodily sensations. While there are several different methods that can work to help to calm anxiety, one I would like to … More Have you tried guided imagery?
Allow me to put this simply: anxiety sucks. It sucks a lot, actually. And as much as it sucks, it’s equally debilitating, making it pretty challenging to deal with at times. I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and I’ve been dealing with anxiety since I was in high school. I’m certainly not an expert when it … More A guide to handling anxiety
We’re gonna get real with each other for a second, folks. It’s time to talk about menstruation and all of the delightful symptoms that can present themselves both before and after your cycle. I’ve noticed that for the past few months I’ve been feeling blue. Not all the time, but rather, specifically either the week … More Feeing down? It could be your period
I like to think I’m a relatively optimistic person. I’m usually in a good mood, unless something occurs to alter my mood, and I try my best to generate positivity. A few days ago, I came home from work in a pretty miserable mood. Nothing happened at work to prompt the emotion, but I just … More It’s okay to have bad days
Being someone who has Generalized Anxiety Disorder, people occasionally ask me what the difference is between anxiety itself and worrying. I’m not a doctor, nor am I a medical professional, so these sorts of inquiries make me a little uncomfortable. But, I do like to tell people, when they ask, that a major distinguishing factor … More Understanding the difference between anxiety and worrying
I’m a relatively open person, therefore I have no hesitancy to share my past experiences with an eating disorder with others. I think it’s important to discuss taboo and/or stigmatized topics in order to better understand them, and conversation can be one of the most effective ways to generate familiarity with things we may not … More Navigating eating disorder thoughts
I would argue that many of us believe we’re able to identify someone who struggles with anxiety based on the symptoms they may be demonstrating. Some of the most common symptoms of anxiety that are easily recognizable include worrying, self-doubt, insecurity, and panic attacks. What many of us are unaware of, though, are the more … More Here’s how to recognize anxiety
Perfection, as alluring as it seems, can be a dangerous thing to associate with. We’re taught and conditioned to perceive perfectionism as a positive, something we should strive for, yet we’re not made aware of the consequences that can arise as a result of our apparent obligation to be perfect. I’ve been diagnosed with Obsessive … More The importance of distancing ourselves from perfection
When it comes to mental illness, one of the most effective ways to understand it is through conversation. I often say that unless you’re chatting with someone who has dealt with mental illness themselves, it’s difficult to convey what exactly it entails. Talking to someone about a mental illness you’ve both experienced can be one … More Let’s talk about mental illness
Maintaining a healthy balance between work and our personal lives can be incredibly difficult at times. Depending on the circumstance, perhaps we find it almost impossible to establish a separation between the two, contributing to feelings of stress and frustration in the process. Depending on your line of work, and even your upbringing, you may … More Designating a work/life balance
Life is a crazy thing, as we’re arguably all aware. Things may not necessarily pan out how we intended for them to, relationships come and go, and stress is ever prevalent. And, while these things may be inevitable, they’re certainly not things that should take precedence over others, such as family and friendships. Something I … More Appreciating the present
Social media, as wonderful as it can be, can simultaneously be destructive towards those who make use of it. And by destructive, I’m referring to the inevitable occurrence of comparison that comes with social media. It’s extremely difficult to avoid comparing ourselves to others when we’re scrolling through our social media timelines. We compare ourselves … More Stop comparing and start celebrating
Pressure is something we as humans tend to shy away from, which is quite understandable. Pressure can induce feelings of stress, anxiety, fear, and possibly frustration, and it isn’t something we exactly desire to experience (in most cases). When we’re conscious of the pressure we’re under, it’s easy to get rattled and become overwhelmed. This … More How to keep calm under pressure
In regard to my post a few days ago about self-care, I thought it might useful to brainstorm the ways in which we can practice self-care without blowing our budget. I think many of us automatically associate self-care practices with a high price tag, but it certainly doesn’t have to cost you an arm or … More Practicing affordable self-care
If you’re a resident of Ontario, chances are you’re probably wondering what in the heck it is that Mother Nature is all in a dither over. I shouldn’t say Ontario specifically. The weather is wonky all across the country, and worldwide. From what I’ve gathered, most of us are rather fed up with the so-called … More Fed up with the weather? Think about the farmers
Eating disorders are very much the type of mental illness that affect us physically, in the long-run, far more than we may realize while dealing with the disorder itself. I dealt with a combination of Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia when I was in high school, followed by a bout of binge eating disorder while I … More The long-term effects of eating disorders
I think for many of us, the concept of self-care is intimidating. The intimidation isn’t so much a reflection of self-care itself, but rather, a mimicry of our own insecurities involved with taking the time to address our own mental and physical needs. Self-care is not a practice that requires us to be selfish, however. … More Self-care isn’t selfish
When many of us contemplate the concept of cannabis use, health and wellness may not be the first thing that comes to mind. In fact, I would argue that many people associate cannabis with laziness and poor health, when in actuality, this simply is not the case. As stated in an article originally published at … More Can CBD contribute to a healthier lifestyle?
Cyber bullying is a topic we’re all familiar with. We’ve either been subjected to it ourselves, or we know someone else who has. I find it somewhat surprising that despite the frequency of cyber bullying cases in today’s day and age, no one really seems to be addressing it. I realize it’s an incredibly complex … More It’s time to address cyber bullying
I’m a pretty big fan of Sophie Turner, and I imagine many other folks are as well. Likely because she seems pretty cool as a person, and she’s a wicked actress. Born on Feb. 21, 1996 in Northampton, England, Turner is the daughter of a nursery school teacher (her mother, Sally), and a pallet distribution … More Profile: Sophie Turner
Setting aside time to do things for ourselves is something I firmly support. Life can get chaotic, and the importance of taking some ‘me time’ has never been so valuable. Unfortunately, ‘me time’ may be something that commonly gets axed in our lives. We get caught up in other duties and responsibilities, and before we … More How to make more time for yourself
Health and wellness seem to be on everyone’s mind at the beginning of each new year, likely because new year’s resolutions are often affiliated with healthy living. But, as the month’s progress and the year moves forward, many of us, both intentionally and unintentionally, allow our resolutions to slip from our focus and permanently move … More This year’s wellness trends
Being happy is important. A rather simple statement, yes, though one that runs deep with legitimacy and significance. If you aren’t happy, it’s difficult to designate reasoning to continue to move forward and progress in this crazy thing we call life. As I mentioned in a previous post, I haven’t really been feeling like myself … More 13 things you need to start doing to be a happier person
