Have you noticed that your mood changes according to your menstrual cycle? You’re not alone and there isn’t something ‘wrong’ with you either! As your hormones change during your cycle, so can your mood. This is natural and yet many of us have been conditioned to disregard, numb or try to “fix” these changes simply …
Have you ever felt nauseous or a lack of appetite when faced with something that causes anxiety? Or have you noticed physical sickness in your stomach when exposed to a traumatic stressor? Have you ever experienced sadness in your stomach? These are examples of how trauma and mental health manifests in physical symptoms. There is …
Mental health stigma is when someone holds negative views and beliefs about mental health conditions and the people who struggle with them. Stigma, prejudice, and discrimination of people with mental health conditions is a common practice. Unfortunately this leads to misconceptions about the purpose and benefit of mental health care, which translates to lower rates …
The Stigma of Mental Health Care and Reclaiming Your Own Story Read More »
The journey of deciding to start therapy (or starting again) is a deeply personal one. When you are already struggling, stressed and needing support, it can feel overwhelming to find someone who is a good fit for you, available and in your budget. Then add on the stress of years of highly triggering collective traumas …
Trauma is a complex and deeply rooted experience that can have a profound impact on an individual’s emotional, physical, and mental well-being. Trauma can impact the body’s energy systems, often causing blockages and disruptions in the flow of energy. Recovery from trauma can be a challenging and difficult journey, and many individuals turn to a …
Mindfulness is a practice that can help us connect with the present moment and cultivate a sense of calm and awareness. However, mindfulness has often been taught and practiced in ways that are disconnected from the natural world and can reinforce colonial and capitalist ways of thinking. Decolonizing your mindfulness practice can help you develop …
Create a Mindful Connection in the Garden This Spring Read More »
Recently, Shikha and I (along with our enthusiastic husbands) committed to ‘finishing what we started’ at the H.A.P.I. Hood 5k on 11/12. Now, I’m not a runner but I am married to one. So when I told my husband (who has completed a full marathon, many half marathons and a Spartan race) that I was …
Recently while exploring the autumn forest, I was observing the various acorns and seeds that were falling from the trees above me. Alone and in my thoughts, I started playing a game… how many seeds can I observe that have fallen at all different life stages? It started as a prompt to be mindful which …
As we enter the Summer season, we invite you to tend to your solar plexus. Our solar plexus is the energy center located above our navel at the center of our torso. In Sanskrit, the word for solar plexus is Manipura, which directly translates to “city of jewels”. Manipura is associated with the sun and the color yellow, so summer feels …
Let’s talk about firsts. For those of us who identify as first-generation from immigrant families, we are not completely unfamiliar to being the first of something. You may be the first in your family to graduate from college or to be financially stable. If you discovered that being on the path of being the first …
A Love Letter to First Generations Taking First Steps Read More »
