It’s really difficult for most of us to get through the grey, dark winter days in November to March. Feeling changes such as a loss in energy, focus, concentration, passions, and hope; and increases in feelings of stress, worry, and guilt are typical symptoms of depression. If this is your experience, you have to live through a lot of invisible pain that many people cannot understand. Knowing about Seasonal Affective (or Adjustment) Disorder (SAD) may be a key to happier days. Contact a counsellor, your GP, or the Canadian Mental Health Association (www.cmha.bc.ca) to learn about SAD treatment. Barbara Gilmore, Registered Counsellor, www.bgilmorecounselling.com
The Movement and Learning Connection
Is your child feeling overwhelmed or frustrated about keeping up at school? Is he or she struggling with lack of focus or motivation? What if learning can be fun? Imagine your child learning multiplication tables while doing physical exercises. Boredom and fatigue slip away. It’s not long before your child lights up and realizes he is finally grasping and recalling math or new concepts in science. Confidence begins to grow. Movements that cross the midline of the body fire up the brain. Brain gym exercises release stress and flood the body with endorphins, which also help with depression or anxiety. Simply put, when the body moves, the mind moves.
Sophie von Herrmann, Expressive Arts Therapist B.Ed. M.A. VictoriaExpressiveTherapies.ca
How Do You Find Courage?
Brene Brown talks about the courage within vulnerability. But vulnerability can be scary and sometimes painful – you’re opening yourself up, and you don’t know what will happen! Will you get judged or knocked down? Will you fail? What if your worst critics were right? Luckily, it is possible to work through whatever feelings are in your way, whether it’s shame, self-criticism, or just a feeling of emptiness. You can start finding ways to support yourself in your quest! Counselling is a great place to be heard and supported, to find a path forward. MaryMunro.ca
Rhythm from the Inside Out
Digestion, blood pumping through our veins, and breathing are just a few of the functional rhythms inside us that we rely upon to live. When we are unwell, we sometimes say that we are feeling ‘out of sorts’ or ‘out of sync’; it is a bit like losing one’s rhythm. We know when we have found it again because we feel more ‘in the groove’. Music therapy can be helpful in re-discovering that intrinsic rhythm when retrieving it ourselves is a struggle (as with mood and social cognitive disorders; rehabilitation from brain injury, stroke, or heart attack; cerebral palsy; Huntington’s disease; etc.).
Nejama Ferstman, MTA Certified Music Therapist, ShiriMusicTherapy.ca
Profile – Nanaimo Memory & Complex Care
At Nanaimo Memory & Complex Care, they believe in and practice their proven-effective methods they call The Avenir Approach. They place residents according to their cognitive abilities and create an individual care plan for each individual. These essential principles define their daily dedication to the well-being of residents with memory loss. They provide support for the whole family, offering education and meaningful resources during initial consultation and on an ongoing basis. They focus on how they, as a team, can come together to provide the best quality of living for your loved one. This includes everything from how to start the conversation about memory care to making moving day as worry-free as possible. Nanaimo Memory & Complex Care offers a range of price points based on needed care to assist with your financial planning.
Get Moving
Did you know that exercise is one of the simplest, healthiest and most effective means of stress management? Movement of any kind is physically, mentally and emotionally beneficial. If we remain physically active we can counteract the body’s natural stress response. Among many other things, exercise rids the body of natural chemicals that are released during stress and releases endorphins that create a sense of well-being. Exercise is one of the best ways to get relief from irritability, depression, anxiety and anger so don’t let the rain get you down, just start moving. When exercise is not enough, speaking to a trained counsellor can be beneficial.
Someone to Turn To
There are hundreds of programs and services available across our region to help people with a wide variety of issues including housing, financial assistance and senior services. The big questions is “How do you find them?”. bc211 is the answer. You can simply call, send a text, email or go online to reach a navigator who can help find the best options for you. This free and confidential service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in over 160 languages. bc211 has been available on Vancouver Island since September 2017. It is funded by United Way and various partners.
From ONE Stop to NONE Stop Shopping
The other day, I stopped at the post office to pick up my Zeal package. To get there, I had to go through one of our local stores. As I was leaving, I realized that I never buy any of the myriad of products that the store offers. I don’t need the over the counter pain medication, indigestion remedies and laxatives nor the various lotions and potions. I haven’t purchased any of their vitamin supplements for years now. This “ah-ha” moment was very satisfying for me. I have finally found what works. A product that covers all of my body’s bases. Have you found yours yet?
3 Good Reasons to Play with Your Children
Being active with children has so many benefits. We can categorize these benefits into three main areas, physical, social and emotional. Physical activities help children develop gross motor skills, which help with balance, coordination, alertness and body awareness. Playing with other children teaches important social skills. Interacting with parents, grandparents and family caregivers helps forge strong bonds and improves children’s self-confidence. Come play with your child at Preschoolers on the Move. This free, drop-in program is for parents and family caregivers with infants to 5 year olds. It runs at the Qualicum Commons Gym, Wednesdays from 9-11 am.
A River Runs Through It.
Do you dream of traveling to see different countries but loath the idea of long bus rides and packing and unpacking every day? River cruising may be the answer. Imagine drifting off to sleep to the gentle sound of the river and waking up refreshed in the heart of another European town or near a fishing village on the Mekong River. River cruising is a perfect choice for you if you are looking for a lovely, relaxing way to spend a holiday and to really experience the scenery and culture of each country you visit.
Flying Under the Radar!
Bowenwork® uses gentle, slow moves, which the body perceives as a weak stimulus, thus activating healing. We ‘fly under the radar’ of the body so as to not provoke a defensive response. When a traumatic event such as a fall occurs, the energy of the force of the fall is absorbed by the body. This energy must be released from the body or transformed for healing to occur. After each set of Bowenwork moves, the client is left to process at least two minutes before any other work is done. During this time, energy can dissipate freely or be transformed.


