Six Attributes of Self-Compassion
Self-compassion is a powerful antidote to the self-criticism that often comes with perfectionism.
Key to self compassion is being able to identify and meet your own needs at a given time. And staying flexible, since these needs can change over time, even from day to day.
In this article, I explore two domains and six attributes of self-compassion.
Which ways are going well for you? And what areas would you like to improve?
10 Strategies for Working Through Relationship Anxiety
Do you worry about your relationship with your partner, even when things seem perfectly fine?
Like questioning whether they're the right person for you? Fearing they’re going to betray you in some way? Or overanalyzing every single conversation and text?
It's normal to have fears or doubts about your relationships sometimes, even in the healthiest partnerships. But relationship anxiety takes these fears to another level.
Learn what relationship anxiety is and get tips for working through it.
Perfectionism and Mental Health
Research on perfectionism and mental health definitely raises some red flags.
Perfectionism has been linked with increased rates of mental health concerns, particularly anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and eating disorders.
These studies are correlational, which means that we can’t say for sure that perfectionism directly causes mental health issues. But perfectionism has been identified as a potential risk factor.
In this article, I explore how perfectionism overlaps with several mental health concerns.
Are You Sure? Seeking Reassurance to Cope with Anxiety
People who experience anxiety often seek reassurance from themselves and others.
Are we okay?
Can we really make it on time?
Are you sure the door was locked?
Let me just Google these symptoms to make sure it’s nothing serious
But seeking reassurance can trap us in a vicious cycle, giving us short-term relief but feeding into anxiety over time.
In this article, I dive into reassurance-seeking behaviours, so you can recognize when they’re happening, why they’re a problem, and what to do instead.
Self-Compassion: How to Give Yourself a Break
Whenever I mention self-compassion, people cringe. They visibly, physically cringe.
Clearly, there’s something about self-compassion that makes us uncomfortable!
Though self-criticism may be more familiar to us, it can have toxic effects on our well-being.
Learn more about the negative effects of self-criticism and how to get started with self-compassion.
5 Tips for Taming Driving Anxiety
Feeling overwhelmed when you get behind the wheel?
Driving is a huge source of anxiety for many people.
Driving anxiety can range from mild nervousness to intense panic, occurring before, during, or after driving.
In this article, I offer 5 concrete tips for getting more comfortable on the road.
Five Styles of Perfectionism and One Big Debate
Self-awareness is key when it comes to resisting perfectionism. We need to be able to notice and label perfectionism in action before we can step outside it.
In this article, I cover two approaches to defining perfectionism, adding up to five different styles.
What’s your style of perfectionism?
Anxious about Conflict? How to Have Difficult Conversations
Conflict can be uncomfortable. Perhaps you notice your heart racing or your palms sweating at just the THOUGHT of confronting an issue you’re dealing with at home or work.
In this article, I explore why conflict can be so challenging and offer tips on how to get more comfortable addressing problems as they happen.
Feeling Tired but Wired? 7 Tips for Improving Sleep with Anxiety
Getting good quality sleep is crucial for our mental and physical health.
Unfortunately, many people who experience anxiety and perfectionism have problems sleeping. These problems can include taking a long time to fall asleep, waking up during the night, having frequent vivid dreams, or feeling less-than-rested in the morning.
Keep reading for 7 tips on reclaiming sleep from anxiety.
Hustle & Grind: How Productivity Can Take Over Self-Care
We put a ton of emphasis on hard work and productivity in our society. Many of us are taught from a young age that our self-worth is tied to what we achieve. To how successful we are, in the eyes of those around us.
Call it the cult of productivity, call it hustle culture, or call it capitalism. Whatever label we use, this emphasis on achievement may be negatively impacting our well-being.
Sick with Worry: Health Anxiety
Health anxiety involves having overwhelming fears about your physical health despite experiencing few if any concrete symptoms.
While many people worry about their health sometimes, with health anxiety, these worries are frequent, persistent, and distressing.
Making a To-Do List & Checking it Twice: Perfectionism & the Holidays
There are lots of expectations associated with the holidays. After all, it’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year!
Yet many people find that perfectionism increases leading up to the holiday season.
Read on for five tips for overcoming holiday perfectionism.
Worried & Withdrawn: The Relationship between Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety and depression are an unfortunately common duo. Research suggests that around 50% of people who experience depression also experience anxiety.
In this article, I explore the links between anxiety and depression and discuss how counselling can help.
Perfectionism & Procrastination: More Similar Than We Think?
At first glance, perfectionism and procrastination seem like they have nothing in common. But for many people, these issues are closely connected.
In this article, I explain what makes perfectionism and procrastination more similar than we think.
What to Expect When You’re Starting Counselling
Going to your first counselling session can be intimidating. Especially when you don’t know what to expect.
In this article, I’ll talk about how to get started in counselling, to give you a sense of what’s ahead.
National Indigenous Peoples Day
To celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day, I’ve collected a few helpful resources for learning more about Indigenous cultures, practices, and perspectives.
What’s the Difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?
Here’s one question I’m asked all the time: What’s the difference between a psychologist and a psychiatrist?
Both professions are focused on helping people improve their well-being, but coming at it from different angles and with some unique skills.
Hopefully this article helps to explain our unique roles in mental health care.
Maternal Mental Health: Post-Partum Anxiety
Welcoming a new baby into the world is often a time of joy and excitement. It can also be a time of significant stress and anxiety.
It’s understandable to worry after having a baby. Parenting comes with a lot of responsibility! And there are more messages than ever about how moms “should” best care for their children. It can be overwhelming to know what to do and who to trust.
For some women, these normal fears and worries develop into something more serious.
How to Build Resilience and Grow through Hard Times
Resilience involves coping well with challenging situations. People show resilience when they find ways to recover from setbacks. When they adapt to whatever challenges come up and keep going even through hard times.
Beyond just getting by, being resilient means finding ways to grow through adversity.
Resilience is a skill that we can build and nurture over time. Here are 7 ways to promote resilience in your life.
Book Review: “The Compassionate-Mind Guide to Recovering from Trauma and PTSD”
Looking for resources on how to overcome difficult events from your past? In their guide to recovering from trauma and PTSD, Lee and James highlight the negative effects of self-blame after trauma and emphasize the role of self-compassion in promoting healing.