It is difficult to understand how what we eat affects our moods, our ability to function and our ability to cope with various symptoms of a number of mental health disorders. Not only does this apply to adults, but to children as well. There are many foods, supplements and other chemicals added…
Winter means we want to sleep more, eat more and stay inside. These are ‘normal’ responses to the colder weather. However, other responses can occur as well. The responses could be more sinister in nature. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has been questioned by many over the years. This disorder is currently listed…
It is normal for moods to fluctuate a bit throughout the year. Sometimes, our moods increase or decrease with factors such as how busy we are at work, how well we’re sleeping, holidays, or changes in our lives (e.g. moving, challenges in relationships, being sick). However, for some people, mood may consistently…
Fatigue affects us all, including children, unfortunately. We can be behind on our sleep due to big projects for work or school, due to anxiety, and because of time changes. Many children are affected by extracurricular activities and by the time changes, in particular. It is important to recognize the signs of…
Many psychologists talk to their clients about an emotional bank account: we only have so much in our bank account and the more emotions we extend to external sources (e.g. towards our spouse, children, friends), the less we have to care for ourselves. One of the lesser-discussed concepts is an energy bank…
Everywhere I go these days, I hear about mindfulness. Mind you, I do spend a lot of time around people who like to think about their thoughts and mental processes (“metacognition”) and expand awareness in their lives! But whether it’s magazine covers, social media posts, and even in my sessions with patients,…
Our bodies have built-in systems to fight against threats to our health. This is one of those things that most of us are taught in school and refer to in casual conversation (especially during cold and flu season!). But how often do we talk about our psychological immunity? We all have an…
