What is Resiliency? Resiliency (or resilience) is a term that most of us have heard, but what does it actually mean? I used to think that being resilient meant dealing with all my problems on my own without ever asking for help, and it took me a long time to realize that that isn't exactly the case. Resiliency refers to a person's ability to adapt in challenging situations, however, it also refers to a person's capacity to reach out for support as needed. In fact, my perspective on what resilience may have actually hindered my ability to work through challenges in a positive, healthy manner. I used to see asking for help as a sign of weakness, and as a result, I always set out to manage my struggles by myself, as I naively thought it was a sign of strength independence. If I could figure it out on my own, I saw it as being successful, no matter what emotional repercussions were. And let me tell you, those repercussions caught up with me eventually. I had developed a cri
Posts
The perfectionist mindset
What comes to mind when you hear the term 'perfectionist'? Personally, I used to equate being a perfectionist with determination, strong work ethic, and success. However, I failed to see the flipside of the coin. As a self-proclaimed perfectionist, it took me a very long time to recognize the negative impact that my highly perfectionist mindset had had on me. I first began to recognize that my perfectionism was negatively affecting my well-being when I started my practicum for my counselling degree. I had vaguely heard of the phenomenon of 'imposter syndrome', when it came and knocked me on my a**. I had managed to land my dream practicum placement in a residential addiction treatment centre, when I realized that I was riddled with self-doubt, and I had no confidence in my skills as a counsellor (even though I had gone through two years of intensive schooling). It was at that point when started self-reflecting and gaining insight into my behaviours and thought patterns.
How to manage anxiety in uncertain times
Looking back on the last two years, I think most people would agree that their lives have been riddled with uncertainty. The constant unpredictability that the pandemic has created has disrupted our daily routines and significantly affected mental health. This has led to increased levels of stress and anxiety for many. Anxiety, by definition, is an irrational fear about something that may or may not happen. Normally, we can manage our anxiety by replacing our irrational thought patterns with thoughts that are logical and based in reality. But happens if our anxiety is not completely irrational? How do we manage when the thoughts that are creating our anxiety are logical and realistic? The first step is acknowledging that anxiety manifests both physically and emotionally. Our physical and emotional well-being are interconnected, so it is important for us to recognize both the physical and emotional symptoms we are experiencing due to heightened anxiety. The second step is to focus on w