Many of us are feeling like we don’t have a lot of control right now over what’s going on in our nation and our world. When we start to feel this way, it can bring on feelings of depression and anxiety. To feel this way is normal and OK. We first want to validate your feelings and let you know that it’s OK to feel however you’re feeling.

We don’t want to leave you there though.

Back to school. Three words we hear every August, yet they feel so different this year.  It is safe to say most students, teachers, and parents are facing a school year that looks a little…okay a lot different than most!  Many are feeling frustrated, overwhelmed and experiencing a general lack of control over many decisions and outcomes for this school year.  With all the changes, challenges and unknowns this year holds we are left with a lot of decision making that we have likely not had to face in the past.

Let’s face it. This has been hard. All of our lives have been changed drastically. This has been for many a challenging time of adjustment. A time like this can create a great deal of stress, fear, and even depressive or anxiety symptoms. However, there ARE some things we can do to navigate the rest of this time effectively and maintain our overall well-being.

Learn to accept your new level of productivity, whatever that is. Being a good enough worker, a good enough mom, good enough faculty, good enough therapist, good enough teacher, good enough cleaner, good enough whatever you are is enough.

As all of us sit and think, “How will I pay my bills?” “Who will watch my children?” or “What if I lose my job?” gratitude seems to be the last thing that comes to mind. Truthfully, gratitude or “the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness”, is what we need to think about most during these times of uncertainty.

Thanks to modern technology, you don’t have to miss your therapy session.  You don’t have to venture out of your home to “see” our team members at your regularly scheduled time through the option of Telehealth.  Many are scared off thinking “I’m not technology savvy” or “It’s awkward and I won’t like it.”  So let’s be open minded and explore a little about Telehealth…

As individuals we may look at the uncertainty that we see happening around the world and feel anxious about being away from home so we dismiss the importance of our work but we need to remember what a vital role we play. Support personnel make up a huge portion of society and help the world stay organized and on track, even in the most trying of times.

Researchers across the globe are finding time spent in nature can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, and can uplift our mood. In fact, spending time outside has been shown to reduce the body’s production of cortisol, a well-known stress hormone, and even to lower blood pressure, slow cognitive decline, and boost immunity. A study conducted at Stanford found walking in nature had the power to reduce activity in the brain’s prefrontal cortex—a region associated with rumination, worry, and depression. 

Let’s face it. Most of us struggle in the area of self-confidence at one time or another. Possible contributors are negative relationships, overly competitive friends or coworkers, insensitive posts on social media, a difficult upbringing or even a great upbringing. Maybe you just don’t feel like enough sometimes, for whatever reason. Yes, most people have some faith in themselves, but we could all use some improvement from time to time. Here are some tips to get you started.

February 26 through March 4 marks this year’s Eating Disorder Awareness Week. We at Two Roads Wellness Clinic want to raise awareness and help eliminate the stigma and shame that often accompany this illness. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder and are often clouded in confusion for both the sufferers and their loved ones.

In a time when we can find out what's going on in the world, who ate what for dinner, who’s dating who and see the latest pictures of someone's exciting vacation all with the click of a button, it’s hard to imagine any down side to social media. Social media keeps us connected not only to people we see on a regular basis but those who we don’t. Social media also allows us to be engaged with online communities. However, despite the lightning-fast speed that we can receive information there can be some downsides to our mental health.