Hello, and thank you for being here and taking the time to support yourself. My name is Chinar Mehta and I am a Registered Psychotherapist. I value the human-to-human connection and I believe that when going through tough phases in life, it’s helpful to have someone by your side helping you cope with and even overcome certain obstacles.
If you are looking for support with anxiety, depression, anger management, grief/loss, trauma and/or self-esteem, I’m glad you’re here.
Support can look different for everyone, and I understand that it varies. Which is why in therapy, I take on a goal-oriented and client-centred focus to better help you attain your goals. I use a multitude of different evidence-based techniques to help you in your therapeutic journey.
You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.
– Maya Angelou
BLOG
Overcoming Isolation and Loneliness: Tips for Staying Connected and Finding Joy
In today’s fast-paced world, feeling isolated and lonely has become a common experience for many people. Whether it’s due to social distancing measures, a lack of in-person social interactions, or simply feeling disconnected from the world around us, loneliness can have a profound impact on our mental and emotional health.
The good news is that there are many ways to overcome loneliness and build meaningful connections with others. Here are some tips for staying connected and finding joy:
- Reach out to loved ones: Whether it’s a phone call, text, or video chat, connecting with people you care about can help reduce feelings of loneliness. Make a point to regularly check in with friends and family and share what’s going on in your life.
- Join a support group: Joining a support group can be a great way to connect with others who are going through similar experiences. Whether it’s a group for people with a shared hobby or interest, or a support group for those struggling with mental health issues, being part of a community can help reduce feelings of loneliness.
- Volunteer: Volunteering can be a great way to connect with others and give back to your community. Whether it’s helping out at a local food bank, working with animals, or volunteering at a community center, volunteering can help you build new relationships and feel more connected to others.
- Take up a new hobby or interest: Pursuing a new hobby or interest can help you meet new people and connect with others who share your passions. Whether it’s joining a local book club, taking a cooking class, or participating in a recreational sports league, finding a new hobby can help you build new connections and find joy in the process.
- Get involved in your community: Participating in community events, festivals, or volunteer opportunities can be a great way to meet new people and feel more connected to the world around you. Whether it’s attending a local concert, helping out at a neighborhood cleanup, or participating in a community sports league, getting involved in your community can help reduce feelings of loneliness and increase your sense of belonging.
Remember, overcoming loneliness takes time and effort, but by taking the right steps and being intentional about building connections, you can improve your well-being and find joy in your life. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling to cope with feelings of loneliness, don’t hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional for support.
In conclusion, it’s important to recognize that everyone experiences feelings of loneliness and isolation at some point in their lives. However, by taking steps to stay connected and find joy in our interactions with others, we can overcome these feelings and lead happier, more fulfilling lives.
Trauma
Trauma is a person’s emotional and psychological reaction to an intense or overwhelming event. When thinking about psychological trauma, it necessary to first understand the symptoms for trauma.
Some symptoms for psychological trauma include:
- Mood swings (anger, irritability, frustration)
- Anxiety and Fear
- Guilt and Shame
- Self-blame
- Feeling sad or hopeless
- Feeling disconnected or numb
This amongst many others are common symptoms that are experienced by individuals who have experienced psychological trauma in their life.
What Trauma Feels Like In The Body
It is important to understand that trauma can lead to physical manifestations in the body.
Some of this includes:
- Feeling like you’re on edge
- Sweating
- Heart Racing
- Clenching of Fists
The Process of Healing
Healing takes time and effort, but is necessary for recovery.
Feeling Lost or Seek Direction in Life?
There are many things going on and around the world right now. It can be difficult to keep up with day-to-day responsibilities, while trying to motivate oneself to keep doing what you are doing. When we are so caught up with what needs to be done, we sometimes tend to forget what is already there. We forget to remind ourselves that we are all humans. We tend to go hard on ourselves simply because we cannot get a task done, or fear we cannot perform well.
One simple universal rule of being human is :
Humans make mistakes. And that is okay.
We were not born to be perfect beings, in fact
“failure is one step closer to success” – Zig Ziglar
When out of a busy hectic day, have you just paused and took a moment to look around you and within you – to appreciate the miracles of that moment in of itself?
There are many demands placed for us – responsibilities, acting a certain way in certain surroundings, being a certain way for certain people, and many more expectations. When we get so caught up with all these expectations, we start to live someone else’s life and feel we have no sense of direction.
This has happened to everyone at least once in their life. And that is okay. We should not go hard on ourselves simply because of something. In fact, we should not go hard on ourselves, period.
If you are feeling lost or seek direction in life, let me help you find that direction.
The Beauty Of Self Care
During therapy, clients get to learn a lot about self-care. Therapists encourage client self-care and emphasize it in almost every session. So what about self-care?
The word ‘self-care’ may be heard a lot, and may become repetitive even. But the definition of it, is something that needs to be repetitive – that is, something which needs to be done on a regular basis. This is something as quick as spraying some perfume on to hiking for 30 minutes. What it is, is your way of gifting yourself that level of care that you deserve.
Some of this may look like;
- Opportunities to laugh offered by tv shows, movies, cheerful friends
- Going on walks and having that change in your day
- Stepping outside for a few minutes after a long day of working from home
- Treating yourself to a relaxing warm bath with your favourite scented bath bomb
It doesn’t require too much to take a step back from your work routine and indulge in something that is good for you.
As a start, here’s a question for you; what image comes to mind when someone says ‘self-care’?
