Empower: Real Talk About Mental Health

Triggers

Today, we’re going to chat about triggers.  Have you ever noticed that you can come into contact with a particular smell and it brings back certain memories from another time or place in your life?  How did this affect you?  Did it evoke positive emotions, negative emotions, feelings, or thoughts?  This is what we’re going to talk more about today.  What are these things?  How do they form, what they mean and how we can overcome the ones that promote negative impacts on our lives. https://www.nami.org/recovery/understanding-mental-illness-triggers/#:~:text=A%20trigger%2C%20sometimes%20referred%20to,brought%20on%20or%20worsened%20symptoms [https://www.nami.org/recovery/understanding-mental-illness-triggers/#:~:text=A%20trigger%2C%20sometimes%20referred%20to,brought%20on%20or%20worsened%20symptoms]. https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-a-trigger [https://psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-a-trigger] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2167702620921341 [https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2167702620921341] https://campushealth.unc.edu/health-topic/understanding-mental-health-triggers/#:~:text=Ways%20to%20Help%20Someone%20Who%20Gets%20Triggered&text=Learn%20to%20engage%20in%20difficult,share%20on%20their%20own%20timeline [https://campushealth.unc.edu/health-topic/understanding-mental-health-triggers/#:~:text=Ways%20to%20Help%20Someone%20Who%20Gets%20Triggered&text=Learn%20to%20engage%20in%20difficult,share%20on%20their%20own%20timeline].

Loneliness

Loneliness is a universal human experience like hunger or thirst. It is a natural signal that something is missing from our lives—in this case, human connection. While everyone experiences loneliness, some people are more susceptible to acute or chronic loneliness, meaning that it affects them more profoundly and even possibly more deeply.  Loneliness has many different causes. These vary from person to person. We don't always understand what it is about an experience that makes us feel lonely. Certain life events or experiences may make you feel lonely, such as: * Experiencing a bereavement [https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/bereavement/] * Going through a relationship break-up * Retirement * Changing jobs * Starting at university [https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/student-life/] * Experiencing mental health problems * Becoming a parent  * Moving to a new area or country without family, friends or community networks

Goal Setting

Improving mental health can feel quite daunting overall, but you’re more likely to achieve this outcome if you set and track goals. Whether you’re trying to set better boundaries [https://www.charliehealth.com/post/how-to-set-healthy-boundaries] with a friend or prioritize self-care [https://www.charliehealth.com/post/empowering-teens-with-self-care], mental health goals are a helpful tool for making strides with your general emotional well-being. SMART goal setting: Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Time-related

Forgiveness

“Forgiveness involves willfully putting aside feelings of resentment toward someone who has committed a wrong, been unfair or hurtful, or otherwise harmed you in some way. Forgiveness is not merely accepting what happened or simply stopping your anger. Rather, it involves a voluntary shift of your feelings, attitudes, and behavior, so that you are no longer overcome by resentment and can express compassion or generosity toward the person who wronged you.” “Forgiveness is the capacity to reclaim your peace of mind when something has happened to disturb you. As we go through life it is inevitable that we are going to hurt one another. In fact, as our world becomes more complicated and interconnected, the opportunities for conflict only seem to increase. We have the choice whether to respond to these hurts and conflicts with anger and hostility, or with forgiveness.” https://www.compassionandwisdom.org/blog/2023/9/19/respect-the-key-to-success-happiness-and-strong-relationships-?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw_LOwBhBFEiwAmSEQAYYiYEGzYMYl3q34FNAnEJAJzDM5CNZajFjKkN25Bkxe_xPM0m-RuhoC1VwQAvD_BwE [https://www.compassionandwisdom.org/blog/2023/9/19/respect-the-key-to-success-happiness-and-strong-relationships-?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw_LOwBhBFEiwAmSEQAYYiYEGzYMYl3q34FNAnEJAJzDM5CNZajFjKkN25Bkxe_xPM0m-RuhoC1VwQAvD_BwE] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/some-assembly-required/202307/the-mental-health-benefits-of-forgiveness [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/some-assembly-required/202307/the-mental-health-benefits-of-forgiveness] https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/the-power-of-forgiveness#:~:text=Practicing%20forgiveness%20can%20have%20powerful,esteem%3B%20and%20greater%20life%20satisfaction [https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/the-power-of-forgiveness#:~:text=Practicing%20forgiveness%20can%20have%20powerful,esteem%3B%20and%20greater%20life%20satisfaction]. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/04/20/forgiveness-mental-health-benefits/ [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/04/20/forgiveness-mental-health-benefits/]

Season 2, Episode 8: Dr. Karen Cureton - Health and Happiness Coach

Dr. Karen Cureton is a licensed naturopathic physician, acupuncturist, passionate neuroplasticity practitioner, and co-creator of the Wired for Wellness program.  She has walked through her own journey with complex chronic illness, anxiety, depression and PTSD and was able to personally realize the life changing impacts that can be had from rewiring your brain and rebalancing your nervous system.  As a result of her own experiences, she has since been able to help many clients do the same. https://drkarencureton.com/ https://www.getwiredforwellness.com/ https://www.instagram.com/drkarencureton/