Disclaimer: The content provided on this website is provided solely for informational purposes.The information below should not be used as an alternative to obtaining individual professional advice. Always consult registered healthcare providers when beginning any new treatment.
Merry Mindfulness: Navigating the holiday season
‘Tis the season to be jolly, but let's not forget to be mindful too! During the festive frenzy, it's crucial to keep our mental health in check. The holidays can be a mixed bag of joy and stress, so let’s unwrap some mental wellness tips to make sure you sleigh through the season with a smile.
Breaking the Silence on Men’s Mental Health: how your psychologist can be your wingman
Picture this: You're cruising through life, tackling work, relationships, and the occasional existential crisis when suddenly, BAM! You find yourself tangled in the complex web of your own thoughts and emotions. It happens to the best of us. The problem is, many men are taught to power through it, mask their feelings, and never let anyone see them ‘sweat’. I am hopeful that with each generation this attitude is changing but if I am honest, there are times when I feel society takes two steps forward and one step back. It can be hard not to be defeatist. Let’s dive into the topic that often hides in the shadows.
Anxiety & Your Body
Understanding our physiological responses to anxiety can help us to recognise signs and symptoms earlier on and take steps to prevent our anxiety escalating to the point where it becomes distressing or impairing. Anxiety is a normal, healthy part of being human. In fact, it is essential. As I explain to clients, our goal is not to eliminate anxiety altogether. When the smoke alarm goes off, I need your system to still be able to kick in so that you can grab the kids and the dog and escape from the flames safely. The problem is when it starts activating in the absence of an immediate threat.
Breathing Techniques
Since breathing is something we can control and regulate, it is a useful tool for achieving a relaxed and clear state of mind. I recommend breathing exercises to help relax and reduce stress: The 4-7- 8 Breathing Exercise (also called the Relaxing Breath), and Breath Counting. Try each and see how they affect your stress and anxiety levels.
Safety First: It’s your (neuro)biological requirement!
Feeling safe is not a luxury—it’s a biological necessity. Long before we developed language, logic, or even conscious thought, our nervous systems evolved to do one very important job: keep us alive. Safety, therefore, is not just a pleasant state of being—it’s the foundational platform that allows everything else in our human experience to unfold. Without it, the parts of our brain responsible for reasoning, empathy, creativity, connection, and growth simply can’t do their jobs.