In searching for a topic to write on, I reached out to my social media network for suggestions. The overwhelming response was from people wanting to read about depression. My initial thoughts were, ‘Depression?? Well that’s depressing’. Focusing on the negative often leads to a negative mindset and negative mood, which is the last thing I want readers to be left with! I pondered, how can I write about depression with a positive spin? I began to question, perhaps people…
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Category: Depression
Destructive Narcissistic Parents – Part II
In the Summer of 2010 a published PsycHealth article on “Destructive Narcissistic Parents” triggered a number of calls from the adult offspring of these parents. They felt relieved in recognizing that they were not alone, nor were their parents who struggled with these traits. In therapy they were able to address the emotions they encountered during parental interactions. They learned to develop assertiveness, independence and healthy boundaries. Yet, something was missing. They described sadness, bitterness, and resentment at the wasted…
Christmas Blues
Most people love Christmas: the music and coloured lights, traditions, great food, gifts and special gatherings with family and friends. There are some, however, who dread the season or find it stressful; they experience a significant contrast between their unhappiness and the celebrations taking place around them. Where do the Christmas Blues come from and what can be done to ease them? Let’s first look at the causes. Seasonal fatigue is a factor for many people. Christmas comes at the…
Teens Who Cut
Maria is 14 years old. Two years ago she began to injure herself, dropped out of school, began using drugs and alcohol and eventually isolated all of her friends. Self injury involves the deliberate damaging of ones body. Cutting the skin with razor blades or broken glass is the most commonly seen method, while burning, interference with wound healing, self punching and scratching are among other examples. Maria notes that when her peers discovered she was cutting she was ridiculed…
The Storm Within
Mary has suffered for years in her personal relationships and in her private world. Her behaviour, thoughts, and emotions were often described as though she was in the middle of a whirlwind. When meeting men she would put them on a pedestal, idealizing them to the point where they appeared to reach near sainthood in her eyes. Shortly after, she would seek out their flaws and vulnerabilities and go on the attack. She said it was like “I’m fire or…
A Day in the Life of Ann Xiety
As the alarm went off signalling the start of another day, Ann could already feel an all too familiar sensation in her stomach. A knot was forming in her lower abdomen as she anticipated her day – a day at school. As she lay in bed she became increasingly aware of her body’s response to the thought of going to school. She recalled that as a younger child, she would often cry and complain to her parents of numerous aches…
Bouncing Back From Trauma
Adversity impacts the world around us. Few of us will make it through life unscathed. Personal tragedies, traumatic injuries, loss of health, chaotic relationships and financial reversals are just a few of the near normal events that can shake us to our foundation. However, we also hear of individuals who seem to take life’s difficulties in stride, and “bounce back” unexpectedly well with attitudes of determination and perseverance. Often these people become heroes of sorts in our families or culture…
Posted in Depression, General, Grief, Personal Growth, Stress & Anxiety Tagged with: adversity, resilience, self-care, trauma
Preparing for Post Holiday Blues
As we all know, Christmas is an extremely hectic time of the year. It sometimes happens that when the last forkful of turkey casserole has been eaten and when the last of the holiday visitors has driven off, we are stuck by a wave of emotional exhaustion. What can we do to ease ourselves out of this period of letdown? Before Christmas Pace yourself Take time to ponder the significance of Christmas; resolve not to let consumerism take over. If…
Dealing Positively with Life’s Negatives
Jay and his sister Maggie grew up in a small northern town, neglected by both parents. Their father, usually absent, was physically abusive when he was home, and their mother, frequently absent also, was intoxicated when present with her children. Jay ended up raising his younger sister, providing the cooking, cleaning and other domestic skills necessary to keep their small trailer habitable. He was skinny and small for his age, and was often bullied and physically abused by schoolmates. Jay…
Shame on Me
Many of us have grown to adulthood with child-based shame thoughts. Our self confidence can be readily undermined when these “little boy” or “little girl” thoughts creep in. These thoughts seem to have a life of their own and frequently are negative or critical. Matthew McKay and Patrick Fanning in, Self Esteem, mention that these negative thoughts originate from an internal “pathological critic”. They go on to discuss a number of categories of “cognitive distortions” or exaggerated thoughts. These “tools…
Posted in Depression, General, Marriage & Relationships, Personal Growth Tagged with: anger, depression, fear, shame
