Coping with trauma is never easy, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only made it worse. If your teen has been struggling through the pandemic, you may feel helpless as a parent. How do you help your teenager cope when the pandemic is still going strong? What can you do to get through to your teen without being forceful? If you … Read More
Is It Social Anxiety or Am I Just an Introvert?
We often use the terms social anxiety and introversion as synonyms, as if they mean the same thing. Sure, some traits overlap between the two — shyness, nervousness in social situations, a desire to stay home — but they aren’t the same thing. And the pandemic has brought these issues to the forefront, with many people spending most of their … Read More
All About EMDR and How it Helps with Trauma
Trauma can severely impact the way we function in our daily lives. Even the simplest of tasks can be interrupted by intrusive, negative, and traumatic thoughts. Survivors of trauma know first-hand just how debilitating it can be. There are various ways to cope with trauma, but Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can be very effective. If traditional therapy … Read More
How The COVID-19 Pandemic Can Trigger Past Trauma and How EMDR Can Help
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began earlier this year, many are suffering from mental health challenges. Depression and anxiety are at an all-time high, but what about those who have been diagnosed with PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)? If you suffer from PTSD, then you know that everyday triggers can be debilitating. Triggers are hard enough to cope with, and the pandemic … Read More
5 Tips to Help You Calm Your Mind and Get Better Sleep
Do you have trouble turning your brain off at night and winding down? Do you review the day and think about all the things you wish you had said and done differently when it is bedtime? Or maybe you go back deep into your memory and think about a past event that causes you distress. A busy brain can make … Read More
How Trauma Impacts Your Memory and How to Heal
Have you ever noticed that when you go through a stressful experience, it can be hard to concentrate or remember things? Some people experience brain fog, while others struggle with making and forming new memories. If you’ve been through this, you’re not alone. When you go through trauma or a stressor, it can be hard to remember daily tasks … Read More
Social Anxiety and the Pandemic
It is normal to feel nervous in some social situations. Many people get butterflies before giving a presentation or before new people. But for people who have social anxiety, daily interactions can cause debilitating symptoms. Now that social distancing has limited all our social lives, how are those with social anxiety impacted? Symptoms of Social Anxiety People with social anxiety … Read More
How to Cope with Nightmares
If you’ve experienced a nightmare before, you know how terrifying they can be. Waking up with your heart pounding, unable to get the images out of your mind. As the pandemic drags on, sleep and dreams have become popular topics and many people are experiencing changes in their typical dreaming habits. Knowing what a nightmare is and how to cope … Read More
What You Should Know About Online Therapy
Are you dealing with extra stress or anxiety? Perhaps you are having more trouble sleeping these days. Maybe you’re intrigued by online therapy, but you are not sure if it’s right for you. One of the positives that emerged from COVID-19 is that online therapy has become more accepted and more accessible. And for many types of psychotherapy, therapy online … Read More
Insomnia and Depression: Common Misconceptions and Evidence-Based Treatment
Having trouble sleeping? And feeling depressed? You are not alone. Insomnia and depression are closely connected and also, often misunderstood. It is estimated that 10-15% of the population struggles with chronic insomnia (lasting more than 3 months) and 7-13% have had at least one major depressive episode. These estimates are based on pre-pandemic numbers and likely there are significant increases … Read More