Take Charge of Your Well-Being
Mental Fitness Blog
What palm trees can teach us about resilience:
Images of palm trees have always evoked positive memories of vacationing in warm, sunny destinations. There’s something about the mishappen trunks and shaggy crop of leaves on the top that just whispers “relax and take it easy” to me.
Have you ever wondered why palm trees are resistant to hurricanes compared to most other trees?
Reframing what it means to struggle:
When I was 20, I thought I knew what it meant to struggle.
I had survived a combat deployment to Afghanistan as a soldier in the Canadian Forces. I was newly married. I was a new police officer. I was also dealing with the effects of PTSD.
At the time, I knew hardship and adversity. I had witnessed the traumas of war, come close to dying numerous times, and still felt the pain and grief of loss. As I moved forward with my life, I worked hard to overcome my past traumas, integrating those experiences into my new identity as someone more than my past.
How to find meaning, even if you are struggling:
Research has shown that your ability to find a deeper meaning in your struggles can aid in recovery. However, if you are struggling with your mental health, it can be very challenging to find purpose and make sense of it. When you are in those dark places in your mind, it can feel impossible to find any positives. So, how can you identify meaning and find purpose to inspire you to keep moving forward when you might feel like all hope is lost?
When I was a caregiver for my late wife in the final stages of her battle with cancer, it was exceptionally difficult. We saw the end nearing and knew there was nothing else we could do to make a difference. I was in a state of despair – all hope was lost.
How to Choose the Right Therapist for You:
You recognize that you need some support for your mental health and made the courageous decision to reach out for help. That’s a huge step, and you are on the right path to regaining your quality of life. However, you now face a decision that can sometimes make or break your journey: who do you go to for therapy?