Most people use the words ‘worry’ and ‘anxiety’ interchangeably. While they are closely related, they’re not the same thing. The more we understand the difference between the two, the easier it is to tell when our concerns are typical, normal parts of life and when it may be helpful to talk to someone about it.
Continue reading “Worry vrs Anxiety: What’s the Difference?”
Written by Victoria Pilon, MSW Intern
It’s common to experience small amounts of stress every day. Whether you have a deadline to meet, responsibilities to balance, a tricky relationship to navigate or just a regular challenge to deal with, this kind of stress isn’t necessarily bad. It can motivate us to act and solve problems. However, what happens if that stress stops feeling temporary and starts to take over your life? That’s when it becomes chronic stress. And it’s something you may need help to tackle.
Continue reading “Stressful Situations: Warning signs that stress is affecting your mental health (and what to do about it)”
I don’t believe in self-sabotage and here’s why:
I don’t believe we do anything that doesn’t work for us on some level.
Let me give you an example:
Continue reading “Why Self-Sabotage is an Unhelpful Myth”
As a therapist specializing in relational trauma, I often hear from clients who are surprised by how deeply they are still affected by events that happened long ago. They might say things like, “But it was so long ago,” “I was just a little kid,” or “I shouldn’t still feel so upset about this. What is wrong with me?”
Continue reading “Understanding and Healing Childhood Wounds”
When we hear the term “self-care,” we often think of activities like taking a warm shower or sneaking away for a quick coffee break. But self-care goes far beyond these fleeting moments. Truly embracing self-care (or whatever you’d prefer to call it) is a profound understanding that you and your needs matter — not merely because taking care of yourself allows you to continue caring for others, but because you inherently, unequivocally, and ultimately have value as a human being. Your needs and care are important because you are important.
Continue reading “Self-Care: Moving beyond the buzzword to really take care of yourself”
Let’s be honest: Parenting under optimal conditions is challenging. And the last year has been anything but, thanks to COVID-19. I’ve been pushed beyond what I thought were my limits countless times, only to be pushed further and further as COVID-19 drags on. I’m tired and I’m struggling.
Continue reading “Parenting during the pandemic”
Originally published in mom and caregiver magazine, March 2020
One of my favourite subjects in my undergrad was Social Psychology: the study of how our thoughts, feelings and behaviours are influenced by others and, ultimately, our desire to be like others. I was fascinated by the concepts of belonging and fitting in, and the incredible power these concepts seem to have over us. Think about something as simple as getting on an elevator and how much social norms dictate your behaviour. You leave as much personal space as possible and maybe say hello, but don’t talk too much and always (ALWAYS!) face the door. Fail to do any of these things, and it can feel quite uncomfortable for all involved.
Continue reading “Freedom from Social Norms”
Originally published in mom and caregiver magazine, December 2019
It’s been said that play is the work of childhood. (The quote is so prolific, it’s hard to even trace its origins online – Was it Jean Piaget? Maria Montessori? Fred Rogers?) Children throughout time and across cultures engage in play. Play is the primary way that children learn, engage with those around them and come to understand their world.
Continue reading “The Value of Play”
Originally published in mom and caregiver magazine, October 2019
In June 2019, the Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS) updated its guidelines for screen time use in school-aged children and youth, noting that three-quarters of Canadians are concerned about their children’s media use.i While the CPS continues to recommend limiting screen time for children under the age of fiveii , its updated guidelines for older children present a shift from looking strictly at the amount, to a more qualitative, individual approach to setting limits. This is an important shift, as technology, screens and media use become more and more ingrained into our daily way of life.
Continue reading “The Screen Time Dilemma”