10 December 2014
The Not-So-Happy Holidays
It should come as no surprise that December strikes some people with some very legitimate anxieties. There are the financial pressures of buying presents (and remembering everyone on your list). There is the (often alcohol-spiked) ocean of work and social gatherings which mark the end of the year. And there is visiting family, which in itself can raise many a person’s blood pressure.
There is perhaps no more important time of year for self-care. We can get so wrapped up (no pun intended) with the exterior stuff (not to mention out-of-control consumerism) that inside we can feel hollowed-out by the time we are going back to work (or school) in January. And this is ironic because this is supposed to be a time for reflection and the sharing of insight.
Make time for yourself: make the time to read a book you’ve been putting off, get a therapeutic body massage from a RMT, catch up on the year’s best films (that you didn’t get a chance to see). If you were thinking, as many do, of seeing a psychotherapist in the New Year (the mental and emotional equivalent of “going to the gym”), getting a head-start in December might save you some stress around the quote-unquote “holidays”.
Regardless, I wish anyone reading this the best for 2015.
If you are interested in learning more about my services, about me, or perhaps booking an appointment, please call me at 416-873-7828 or email me at info@downtowntherapy.ca for more information.
filed under: anxiety• general info• society• stress
17 November 2014
Loneliness
Many of the people who pass through my office would readily admit that it’s possible to live in a city which contains 10% of the national population and still feel alone.
Whether it’s making friends or finding a partner, there is no easy fix for most. It’s hard to find like-minded people in-person and simultaneously create an opportunity for communication which feels natural. For those who are experiencing substance abuse issues, it’s doubly hard given the unrealistic emphasis on “meeting people in bars” or “going for drinks”.
If I may make some recommendations:
Sports Okay, this may make some of you cringe with thoughts of high school cliques and hyper-competitiveness, but there are some very positive aspects to recreational sports. Namely, it’s a shared activity which ensures exercise and mutual goals (pardon the pun). Depending upon how competitive you are, it’s usually fun, and it doesn’t involve alcohol.
Tabletop Gaming Over the last few years, the humble board game has become very popular as a way to get out and interact with others. There are several new (and popular) spots in Toronto which stock a wide selection of games (from chess to Settlers of Catan).
Volunteering Perhaps the most old-fashioned of the three, volunteering is a great way to contribute to your community and meet like-minded others. Not only will volunteering provide you with context and perspective (not to mention something which potentially looks good on a résumé), another advantage of volunteering over the other three is that it doesn’t cost anything!
If you are interested in learning more about my services, about me, or perhaps booking an appointment, please call me at 416-873-7828 or email me at info@downtowntherapy.ca for more information.
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