For those of us who work closely in a therapeutic relationship with people who have experienced trauma or other painful life events, compassion fatigue sometimes feels like an inherent occupational risk. Compassion fatigue, sometimes called secondary traumatic stress, is the condition of becoming utterly emotionally (and physically) exhausted after being exposed to others' trauma for [...]
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the anxiety and fear of people around the globe. We fear for our health and the well-being of the most vulnerable members of our society. Canadians have lost their jobs, and businesses have closed. And as millions have applied for employment insurance and emergency benefits, the pressure to return to [...]
When we think of the holidays, many of us consider terms like "Christmas cheer" or "the holiday spirit." But the truth is that for many people, the holidays serve as a reminder of loneliness, sadness, and loss. Depression, anxiety, and grieving can all be exacerbated by the holiday season. In fact, New Year's Day, [...]
Having an anxiety disorder is no joke. Panic attacks can make the victim feel like there's something seriously wrong with their body. Racing heart, shortness of breath, and shaking can make it hard to distinguish between a panic attack and a heart attack. Fear of the panic attack symptoms often piles on to the initial [...]
Resilience means being able to adapt to life's misfortunes and setbacks. Test your resilience level and get tips to build your own resilience. When something goes wrong, do you tend to bounce back or fall apart? When you have resilience, you harness inner strength that helps you rebound from a setback or challenge, such as [...]
