“REMEMBER TO PLACE THE OXYGEN MASK ON YOURSELF FIRST”

IN DIFFICULT times it vitally important to take the extra steps required to maintain mental and emotional health. Through becoming more present and available to ourselves, we become more available to others. We are freed to deal with, and to learn from, stressful times, dilemmas and conflict in calm and safe ways.

Warning signs that our mental and emotional health might be in need of attention include: anxiety, stress, sleeplessness, headaches, withdrawal, working too hard, flagging enthusiasm, depression, fatigue, boredom, stagnation, apathy, loss of a sense of humour, frustration, feeling angry, feeling resentful, feeling lonely, persistent self-doubt, violating other’s boundaries or habitually allowing one’s own boundaries to be transgressed.

We don’t need to live being regularly overwhelmed by emotions, self-recrimination, confusion, isolation, uncertainty and so forth. Self-care can help to create inner balance even when things are out of kilter. By improving the quality of your life, you can improve the lives of your loved ones.

Counselling and psychotherapy can provide the assistance and support needed to develop greater self-worth, resilience and self-reliance; to find new possibilities; to make clear decisions; and to bring about lasting change through increased insight and awareness.

Tim Walsh, Counsellor & Psychotherapist, B.A., B.Ed., Dip. Couns/Psych., Cert. Ag., MIACP