Mental Health: Coming Out Of The Shadows

 Just like a person with poor eyesight needs glasses and a diabetic needs insulin, some very ordinary people have a chemical imbalance and need medication. Mental health. We make an appointment every year with their G.P. to check out their physical health and reluctantly arrange for a dental check up but why don’t we also……

So, How IS Your Mental Health? Eh?

How is my mental health… ummmm. Most people go to their G.P. for a physical once a year, make an appointment with a dentist to check for tooth decay but who ever thinks to have someone check up on their mental health? Reading this some people might laugh off the implication that there is anything……

Knife in My Heart

 I stood at the sink, pain lancing my chest, sobbing silently, tears blinding me as I tackled a mound of dirty dishes. Exhaustion weighed heavy, my arms like stone. 11:00pm. I was alone, disconnected Isolated. I could almost see the knife piercing my heart. There was a name on the handle; I strained my inner……

There’s a Hole in My Bucket , Dear Liza

Understanding mental Illness with the stress bucket image.  The stress vulnerability bucket is a way to explain why some people experience anxiety, depression, paranoia or a psychotic episode. I heard this illustration explained at a conference more than 10 years ago and I find that it is still the easiest way to explain how mental……

Had a Bad Day, Eh?

Try a little cognitive therapy by looking at these pictures. Put in perspective, your day was probably not so bad, after all.

So how Is YOUR Mental Health? Eh?

art by Darin Hammond Let’s shake ourselves out of the dark ages and realize that one in four of our neigbours, friends and relatives are suffering as you read this. In fact if three of your closest friends and relatives seem fine,  you’re probably the one who needs help! Most people go to their G.P. for……

Letting Our Shadows Out of the Closet

Mental Health. Well I want to yell from the roof tops that just like a person with poor eyesight needs glasses and a diabetic needs insulin, some very ordinary people have a chemical imbalance and need prescription drugs. How IS Your Mental Health? Eh? Reading this some people might laugh off the implication that there is anything……

The Glass

Daily Prompt: The Glass Is the glass half-full, or half-empty? The perennial test, to decide whether a person is a pessimist or an optimist is to show them a glass of water similar to the photo on the right and ask them to describe it. They will answer either that the glass is half full or……

Laughter

Humor is infectious, especially  roaring laughter. Not only that,  when laughter is shared, it  brings people together by breaking down social barriers, self-consciousness and  facilitates intimacy. It  triggers healthy physical changes in the body by strengthening  our immune system, boosting energy, diminishing pain and stress. “Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have to……

So how Is YOUR Mental Health? Eh?

Mental Health. People make an appointment every year with their G.P. to check out their physical health and reluctantly arrange for a dental check up but why don’t people have a professional mental health check up? How IS Your Mental Health? Eh? Reading this some people might laugh off the implication that there is anything wrong with……

MENTAL KUNG-FU

MENTAL KUNG-FU is my family’s term for stressful thinking or over analyzing. Just saying the words, makes us laugh and stops crazy thinking.