The Vagus Nerve
The Vagus Nerve (and its importance to you overall wellbeing!) Many people are not familiar with the vagus nerve, and yet it is paramount to our overall health. Deriving an understanding of the vagus nerve offers a concreteness to why many health practitioners promote the concept of “holistic” wellbeing (in other words: everything is interconnected […]
Broken OPEN
Broken OPEN There is something profoundly beautiful within us all that I refer to as the Essence of the Soul. We connect with our Soul when we can listen and respond to our intuition. We ALL have intuition, or “internal knowingness”, as I like to refer to it as. Oftentimes we are not connected […]
Gaslighting
Gaslighting The term gaslighting* refers to an emotional abuse tactic that causes a victim to question their own feelings, instincts, and sanity, putting the abuser in a position of power. A clear indicator of a gaslighter is one who overrides your truth and tries to convince you that your perception of reality is false. A […]
Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive Dissonance The term cognitive dissonance is used to describe the feeling of discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs. It is experiencing an inner conflict denoted by an inconsistency between beliefs and behaviours – it is what can make us feel like a fraud. Cognitive dissonance is a theory proposed by psychologist […]
When Healthy Eating Turns Unhealthy
When Healthy Eating Turns Unhealthy “Clean eating” is a term frequently used these days. However, it is one that I personally try to avoid as it can create a problematic view of food that can incite debilitating shame (i.e: clean versus dirty; good versus bad – polarized beliefs are something mental health professionals try to […]
Boundaries
Boundaries A boundary is any limit you set as a means of honouring your own well-being so you can live, love, and work with integrity and without resentment. Everyone’s boundaries differ, and boundaries are subject to change – you might have once felt comfortable giving to another without resentment, but your circumstances might have altered, […]
Labeling People: Helpful or Harmful?
Labeling People: Helpful or Harmful? Labels are commonplace in the field of mental health, but are considered a bit of a controversial topic. On one hand, it is helpful to have a common language and standardized classification system such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 (DSM-5). The DSM-5 identifies and categorizes […]
Sympathy, Empathy, Compassion: Understanding the Differences
Sympathy, Empathy, Compassion: Understanding the Differences It is a common misperception that sympathy, empathy, and compassion express the same thing. However, there are important distinctions – ones that can have negative implications for others and well as for yourself. Below is a breakdown of those differences and implications. SYMPATHY: Feeling “sorry” for another’s pain/hurt. Sympathy […]
Healthy Recovery Alternatives
Healthy Recovery Alternatives Because Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and other 12-step groups are so well known, they have come to be known as the golden standard in recovery treatment. But the truth is: AA is not a fit for everyone. For those that feel more like the black sheep rather than a member of the AA […]
“Measuring Up”
“Measuring Up” “Measuring Up” is a terrible title for a blog. My guess is that it may have provoked feelings of unworthiness, of NOT measuring up. I feel that when I read it aloud. Creating goals and striving for better ways is generally good for us. What can be a slippery slope, is when our […]
