Blog
Let’s Stop "Shoulding" Ourselves: An Alternative New Year's Resolution
We often think that if we are a certain way, accomplish specific goals, or conform to some standard of success, we will be accepted and good enough. However, these “shoulds” can harm our mental and emotional well-being and steer us away from acting in line with our values and from what is actually important to us.
Iron and Mental Health
Did you know that iron levels affect your mood? Not only can low iron cause fatigue because it’s responsible for transporting oxygen to your tissues, but it is also involved in the function and synthesis of neurotransmitters (brain chemicals) like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
An Introduction to Polyvagal Theory
Polyvagal Theory offers a different understanding of our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. It’s a theory that includes our entire being in our “mental health”, explaining why we hold trauma and memories in our bodies, and why paying attention to our bodies and what they have to tell us can be so important to emotional resilience and regulation.
PMDD: it’s not “just in your head”
There is a popular belief that severe pain and intense emotional distress with periods are “normal”—just a fact of life if you have a uterus and ovaries. We’re here to tell you that menstruation does not actually have to be a horrible physical and emotional experience.
Smoking Cessation
It’s hard to quit smoking, but it can be done.
Houseplants and Mental Health
We are now spending more time at home than ever. Adding a plant or several to your living space may be more worth it than ever. Here are some reasons why welcoming plants into your space may be great for your mental health.
Colour Through It
According to polyvagal theory, creativity comes when we’re in a safe-and-social state. Engaging in a fairly simple craft like colouring can help encourage that state, making it easier to access the ability to memory, focus, and concentration.
Mental Health First Aid Kit
Have you ever thought of putting a mental health safety kit together? Here are some suggestions of what a kit of this kind might look like and why it could be useful.
Fermenting Vegetables: simple sauerkraut
Not only is this fermented tasty treat oh-so good for you, it's so easy to make yourself at home! Read on to learn about what fermentation is, the health benefits, and how to start making your very own batch at home. YUM!
Candida Overgrowth
A healthy amount of candida is usually maintained in the gut, the vagina, and on the skin and kept in check by our immune system and other bacteria. Health issues can arise if candida growth is out of control.
EMDR Explained
EMDR may provide some relief by helping process stuck negative experiences affecting you today, even though the actual event is long in the past. But what is EMDR and what does it look like?
10 Mood Tips
Guest blog post: Feeling Down or Nervous? 10 Mood Tips from a Naturopathic Doctor
Easy Grounding Exercises
Two useful grounding techniques for times you feel overwhelmed, intensely anxious, or dissociated from your environment
The NADA Protocol
The NADA protocol or 5-NP is a series of 5 needles in the ear commonly used in the treatment of substance addiction, PTSD, and anxiety.