A therapy kit By Cassie (cynefin) While therapy can serve as a comforting place for many, it can also bring about uncomfortable or overwhelming feelings pertaining to working through their struggles. If you sometimes feel uncomfortable or anxious, you may benefit from making a therapy bag or kit. Some people do bring objects to therapy but others do not utilize this or do not know that it is an option. This is where a kit may come in handy. A therapy kit is a bag that is filled...
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Being mindful of the word "should" By Cassie (cynefin) The word "should" is something that many people hear throughout their recovery whether they're recovering from abuse, self-harm, or other events and addictions. Sometimes you may use this word through self-talk while other times you could hear it used by the people around you. Using the word "should" can sometimes be negative and cause a long lasting impact on the recovering individual. Many months ago, I was frustrated...
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Surviving trauma and anxiety: how to feel safe at night By Cassie (cynefin) The darkness of nighttime brings a sense of uncertainty and anxiety with it. The world seems like a completely different place under the little bit of moonlight. Experiencing a trauma or having anxiety can sometimes make nighttime a little more challenging. Struggles at night can be prominent or frightening for anyone, regardless of whether they've experienced a trauma. Here are a few things to incorporate into your...

Overcoming anxiety when swallowing pills By Cassie (cynefin) While some people don't think twice when it is time to take a medication, others find it to be a big source of anxiety. A lot of adults and children alike are able to swallow pills, but there are more people than commonly thought who cannot. Pill swallowing anxiety can be caused by previous bad experiences. Some have difficulty because as children, they are taught to not put non-food items in their mouths. Some pills (such as...

The difference between anxiety and panic attacks By Cassie (cynefin) While anxiety and panic are both unfortunate and uncomfortable, they are two different feelings. Many people use the terms "anxiety attack" and "panic attack" interchangeably but they both have a few differences. Continue reading to learn about what it is that makes them different. What are panic attacks? Feelings of panic or panic attacks are often brought on suddenly or out of the blue, with no warning....

Postpartum Depression (PPD) By Brittany (.Brittany.) What is it? Most of the time, people think that having a baby is the happiest time in a mother's life, when in reality it could be one of the hardest. Approximately 10-15% of women suffer from Postpartum Depression, or PPD within the first year of the child’s life. source] Some moms go through what is called “the baby blues” and it only lasts a little while, whereas PPD can last for months. Both moms and dads can suffer...

The silent treatment: a cycle of control By Cassie (cynefin) The silent treatment, or stonewalling, is when one person responds to another with silence for an extended period of time. These times of silence can last days, weeks, or even months before they are broken. The person who is receiving the silence typically does not know what they did wrong; the person giving the silence usually breaks it and acts as though nothing has occurred. One experience of the silent treatment is...

10 quiet activities to do when your surroundings seem too loud By Cassie (cynefin) On any given day, the world, the people around you, or your own thoughts can seem too loud and overwhelming. When everything overpowers your own thoughts, it might help to choose a quiet activity to slow down and block out the negativity. Get outside when you can. Take a walk around your neighborhood, or find a local trail to hike at. Pay attention to all the little things: the trees blowing in the wind,...

Interventions for Eating Disorders for Teens Teen years are not the easiest part of life by any stretch of the imagination. It can be exhausting. Not only is there the intense pressure to perform your best on academic work, there are also love interests, puberty, and the brain is still developing while all this is happening! One of the most difficult things for teens to deal with is possibly the intense social pressure that almost seems to come out of nowhere. All of a sudden,...