Winter can be a challenging time. There is less sunlight, the holidays may evoke feelings of stress and loneliness, and it’s a time of year when family conflict and old wounds rise to the surface. The need to practice self-care is important year-round, but it is especially important during times that place extra demands [...]
Disclosure: I am afraid to publish anything written these days. It feels vulnerable to put myself out there and to have an opinion. So rather than sharing my opinions on the day’s topics, I wanted to share my humble opinion on people’s emotions. I have never been overly active on social media and I have spent most [...]
Remember that Seinfeld episode where Frank Costanza is advised by his doctor to say “serenity now” every time he gets angry, as a way to help him lower his blood pressure? Frank is shown raising his hands to the sky, exclaiming “SERENITY NOW!” at all kinds situations. It’s funny, and yet, anybody feeling like [...]
“Why am I feeling this way?” How dealing with on-going uncertainty impacts your mental health As British Columbia moves into Phase 3 of re-opening, many of us are starting to resume normal activities, and life is starting to look and feel a little more normal. Even though you are under fewer restrictions and have [...]
I begun my initial structured and pragmatic attempts at the “home bakery” a while back in university with the assistance of a bread machine. I later decided that short and wide loaves of bread made sandwiches that were large and awkward to eat, never mind much more than what I should consume in one [...]
A few days ago, I came across a post on social media that hit one of my deepest nerves. A well-known clothing company was promoting their workout gear using phrases like “excuses have run out”, “start establishing new habits” and “you now have all the time”. The photo that accompanied the post was of [...]
Synergy Counselling Community, At Synergy Counselling our mission is to provide access to exceptional mental health care for everyone, and we remain deeply committed to ensuring access to care. As the world responds to the COVID 19 pandemic, our concerns around personal health and safety of our clients, their families, our team and the [...]
“But, I said I was sorry.” complained Janine, regarding her daughter’s rejection of her apology. Janine (whose name has been changed to protect her identity) recently got sober following 4 years of fairly heavy drinking. Her daughter, now 18, spent those years caregiving for her mother, when it should have been the other way [...]
If you dream of one of those nights when your head hits the pillow and you are immediately asleep, think twice – collapsing that quickly is likely a sign of being sleep deprived. Sleep functions as a cycle. And yes, falling asleep is a natural process that works much better when tend to it. [...]
Start a good habit. Break a bad one. What’s involved? If, for example, I want to stop wasting time in front of a screen (not that I need to or anything:), what should I do? What advice would you give me? Most people lean toward motivation as a key strategy for making positive changes. [...]
