One of the songs from my adolescence that has stood out for me through the years was by a band called Semisonic. The song is called Closing Time and one of the lyrics goes “every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” This lyric truly resonates for me during this time.…
Have you ever been in a disagreement with your significant other when you or your partner just stops interacting? Perhaps you/they leave the room, pick up their phone, or just generally stop being responsive to you. This type of withdrawal from the conversation is called “stonewalling” and it can be incredibly frustrating…
The body’s immune system is set up to resist and reduce the impact of elements that negatively impact the body. It does its best to either fight off or do damage control against bacteria, viruses, and even foreign objects. But what if the offending agent is another person? How do we protect…
As a teenager, I was a big fan of badminton. Though I was not particularly talented, I enjoyed taking weekly lessons, participating in a badminton ladder during the school year, and I generally enjoyed hitting the birdie around with my sister and various interested friends. When I was thirteen, however, I injured…
When we are ill or injured (temporarily, semi-permanently, or permanently), not only are our bodies impacted but so are our lives. Changes in our abilities to function day to day (e.g. tying our shoes, walking long distances, working full-time, or a myriad of other possibilities) means that we often are required to…
My husband is from Newfoundland and, through the years, many people we know from that province have experienced a long-distance relationship. Often this meant one partner was working shifts off-shore, in the field, or in Fort McMurray while the other partner was located in a city or town far away. I have…
As a psychologist, I am excited for the opportunity to write about happiness. I mean, what better topic for a mental health professional to write about than being happy, right? It’s strange, though, because in writing about happiness, I have realized that this is probably one of the most difficult topics to…
