Month: December 2020

You’re insecure… Don’t know what for! Ohhh we’ll tell you why, One Direction. For every compliment we get on a job well done, our favourite outfit, or how nice our smile is, there’s a million negative thoughts about ourselves lingering in the back of our minds. These thoughts could be caused by a (totally uncalled for) comment someone has made, like: “Huh, I never noticed how weird your run is! It’s like you have T-Rex arms.” Gee, thaaanks. Didn’t know I needed to be feeling insecure today but thanks, seriously.

Or when you told your parents how you wanted to launch your own business, they said something like: “Are you sure you can handle that?” Okay, ouch. Maybe it just comes down to the insecurities you’ve developed over time from yearsss of negative self talk that’s been holding you back for so long.

Look, everyone feels insecure. Our inner critic will give us a list of 1000+ reasons why we don’t measure up. We might tell ourselves we’re not smart enough to pursue a Master’s degree, even though it’s a field we’re really passionate about learning. Maybe we compare how we look to our idols and feel like shit for not looking exactly like them. Or we convince ourselves we’ll never be athletic enough to run a full marathon, so why bother trying?

It’s not just you. With all of the pressure from society, the media, and even the people in our lives, it’s hard NOT to feel insecure about ourselves. But we’re here to tell you that while this feeling is totally normal, you don’t have to feel like this forever. Let’s talk about insecurity and how you can kick its ass to the curb. Buh-byyyeee!

A Deeper Look at Feeling Insecure

Okay so, what does it really mean to feel insecure? APA Dictionary defines insecurity (n.) as “a feeling of inadequacy, lack of self-confidence, and inability to cope, accompanied by general uncertainty and anxiety about one’s goals, abilities, or relationships with others.”

So yeah, insecurity isn’t just thinking: Man, my hair looks like shit today. Better throw some dry shampoo in there and hope no one notices! It’s the anxiety and inability to cope with this feeling long-term, both of which can obviously have an impact on your self worth and overall wellbeing.

What causes us to feel insecure? Uhhh… a lot? According to PsychologyToday though, there’s 3 of the most commons reasons we feel insecure:

1. Failure and Rejection

When we’ve failed at something and when we’ve been rejected, it can make us feel so damn insecure. You might have thoughts like: What is wrong with me? Why aren’t I good enough? Why can’t I ever get things right? It’s easy to fall into the trap of negative self talk and beat yourself up over your past mistakes. But guess what? Everyone has set-backs. And you are so much more than your job, your education, your physical appearance, or your relationships.

2. Social Anxiety

For a lot of people, going into social situations can be kind of a nightmare. Whether it’s a job interview, family gathering, party or a date, these situations can be so nerve-wracking. If you deal with a lot of anxiety around social events, you probably feel super uncomfortable and self-conscious during these events. 

You might feel like you don’t belong or fit in with the group. Or maybe you grew up dealing with bullies at school or super critical parents who have impacted your confidence. This can make you feel super sensitive about how others perceive you and make you incredibly critical of yourself, when chances are people are more worried about themselves than you.

3. Perfectionism

Do you put a lot of pressure on yourself to be the best? Or have super high standards for yourself when it comes to your work, grades, relationships, home and your appearance? If so, you probablyyy deal with disappointment and insecurity on a regular basis. No matter how much you accomplish, you might feel like it’s never enough. This can lead to you feeling insecure and unworthy of the things you’ve earned in life.

How Feeling Insecure Shows Up Mentally

Anyone who feels insecure might have a really hard time opening up and sharing their feelings with other people. Insecurity also means you’re less likely to talk about all of your achievements or goals out of fear that you’ll be criticized or judged. Eventually, feeling insecure about ourselves can really affect our mood. We might have random outbursts or be hypersensitive to people’s comments, even if they weren’t actually being critical of us. 

These mood swings and aggression can make it hard for people with insecurity to have strong connections with others, making them feel more like an outsider. Sometimes, people struggling with insecurity are dealing with trauma from their past that has caused them to feel this way. And of course, low self-esteem, self hatred and negative self talk are common problems that show up mentally thanks to insecurity. Over time, this can lead to depression, anxiety and overall negatively impact your wellbeing.

How Feeling Insecure Show Up Physically

When we’re insecure, our body language can actually show it unconsciously. We might avoid eye contact, pick or bite our nails, chew our lips, jiggle our feet, wring our hands and have sweaty palms. Hunching our shoulders, turning our torso away from people and crossing our arms to “protect” ourselves are also physical signs of insecurity. Not only that, but since insecurity is so closely linked to anxiety, we could deal with high blood pressure, excessive sweating, increased heart rate, upset stomach and other symptoms that are common with nerves.

5 Ways to Cope with Feeling Insecure

Okay, so you’re feeling insecure… now what? Don’t worry, we weren’t gonna send you on your way without some tips! Here are some simple but effective ways to cope with feeling insecure:

1. Give yourself a pep talk and utilize a helpful statement 

Say positive things to yourself out loud: “I feel insecure at this moment, but I know that I am enough. I will get through this.” Maybe write these thoughts down in a journal. Even if it feels kinda silly, there’s no shame in comforting yourself.

2. Reach out to a support person 

Your loved ones are there for a reason! When you need to talk through how you’re feeling, lean on the people you trust. Sometimes just having someone to listen to us and validate how we’re feeling makes all the difference.

3. Journal 

Explore your feelings and better understand where they’re coming from. Sometimes, putting our thoughts down into words gives us the clarity we need!

4. Do something soothing and comforting 

Spend time with your pet by cuddling them or taking them on a walk. Touch something comforting like your fav cozy blanket. Brew some tea or your drink of choice. Just do something that makes you feel calm and safe.

5. Comfort yourself as you would expect a parent or friend to do 

If you don’t have someone around who can be there for you right now, be there for yourself as best as you can. Remind yourself that everything will be okay, and that this feeling is temporary.

We hope this article and our tips make you feel less alone when you’re insecure. You can get through this feeling, trust us. Soon you’ll be back to loving yourself the way you deserve!

Picture it: You’re sitting at your desk ready to get to work, or start on that assignment for school. Only there’s a problem. No matter how hard you try, you just. can’t. focus. So instead, you pull out your phone and start scrolling through your social media apps. Maybe you repeatedly hop between the never-ending saved tabs on your desktop. Then, you tell yourself you need a break and start watching YouTube videos about the most random shit, like the ‘Top 10 Funniest Moments on Schitts Creek’… (Anyone? No? Just us?) And before you know it, three hours have passed and you’ve accomplished nothing. Feeling unfocused (and like total garbage), you think to yourself: Ugh, WHYYY am I like this?! You’ve already fallen behind as it is, so you convince yourself that picking up a coffee will 100% help and you’ll actually buckle down this time. Then once you come back to your work, the cycle just repeats itself. Sound familiar?!

Look, we all have days where our minds just don’t wanna focus. We are BUSY, okay! There’s lots on our mind. We’re constantly bombarded with news 24/7 (the good and the really, really bad), we have social lives, work, hobbies, relationships, finances and so much more that constantly demand space in our delicate human brains. But life doesn’t stop, and it sure as hell doesn’t cut us some slack. So when we’re feeling pretty unfocused and maybe a ‘lil scatterbrained, we gotta take matters into our own hands.

But you’re not alone in this! We’re here to help you combat feeling unfocused so that you can crush your goals like the magic human we know you are.

A Deeper Look at Feeling Unfocused

Alexa, play “Focus” by Ariana Grande.

It’s time to talk focus. The APA Dictionary defines focus as: “n. the concentration or centering of attention on a stimulus.” So then basically, feeling unfocused = not being able to concentrate or center your attention a stimulus. See what we did there? Truly genius.

You don’t need us to tell you that feeling unfocused can have a negative impact on your life. When we lack concentration, it can really affect our performance at work, school, relationships and other areas of our lives where we just wanna do the best we can!

Why do we feel unfocused, though?! Welllll, there’s lots of possible reasons. Are you getting enough sleep? Are you giving your body enough food and water? Maybe you’re dealing with anxiety or stress? Be honest with yourself. If you’re not taking proper care of your body and mind, it eventually will come back to bite you. Hey, no judgement here! We’re all guilty of neglecting our mental and physical wellbeing now and then. Like we said, life keeps us busy. It’s easy to forget the importance of looking after ourselves as our top priority.

How Feeling Unfocused Shows Up Mentally

When we’re feeling unfocused, there are a lot of signs that can show up mentally. Most often, you tend to have a hard time completing tasks and making decisions, both of which are things we’re expected to do every damn day. Sooo when we can’t focus, it can be super frustrating and leave you feeling so unproductive!

Maybe you also have a hard time remembering things that happened a short time ago. Or you keep forgetting where you left things like your wallet, so you have to tear apart your apartment to find it. You might have a hard time sitting still and keep fidgeting. Thinking clearly can be a problem so you might make mistakes that you don’t usually make, like grabbing a hot pan without an oven mitt. Or you could make a careless mistake like not spell checking your essay before submitting it (orgasm instead of organism? #fail). It could also come down to just not having the energy to focus on what you’re doing. If you’ve started showing up late to important meetings or appointments, or other people point out how distracted you seem.

If you constantly feel unfocused and nothing seems to help, it could be a sign of a larger issue. Depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, emotional trauma, chronic stress, and attention disorders like ADHD are a few different conditions that can affect your ability to focus and will need professional help to manage.

How Feeling Unfocused Shows Up Physically

If you’re feeling unfocused, chances are there’s a few physical signs you might be noticing. You could have a hard time getting enough sleep and constantly feel tired, which could be linked to thyroid issues. Your hormonal levels could be off if your adrenal gland isn’t giving you enough energy to concentrate. It could also be that you have a low red blood cell count which means your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen, also affecting your energy and focus. 

Burnout from some of the stressors in your life, like your workload or rocky relationship, can also make you feel unfocused. If you’re dealing with any of these symptoms, it doesn’t automatically mean something is seriously wrong. Buuut if you’re constantly feeling unfocused and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better, it’s time to reach out for professional help to get this feeling under control.

5 Ways to Cope with Feeling Unfocused

Like we said though, feeling unfocused is a common problem. We’re not gonna be our most productive selves 100% of the time (but it would be pretty sweet if that were the case!). So here are some simple ways you can use to regain your focus and kick ass again:

1. Practice deep breathing 

Breathe in. Breathe out. Taking a moment to focus on your breathing has actually been proven to lower anxiety and reduce stress. Plus, deep breathing slows your heart rate and provides your brain with enough oxygen to chill out a bit. 10/10 recommend!

2. Try the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise

Engage all five senses and mindfully notice five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. Go in any order that makes sense for you and your current situation – no pressure!

3. Run your hands under water/splash face with water/hold an ice cube

This method might sound weird, but we swear it works. Mindfully note the temperature of the water and the feeling on your skin. The sensation of the water helps by slowing your heart rate, lowering your cortisol levels (stress hormone), and releasing endorphins (happy hormone). Simple, yet effective!

4. Move your body

Let’s get physical! Go for a walk, stretch, ride a bike, dance, you name it. Exercise releases endorphins and improves your mood. Plus, it actually boosts your energy and improves focus. It does alllll the things!

5. Practice meditation

Meditation is a method that’s been used to relieve stress and improve mental clarity since, like… forever. This practice allows us to slowww down and shift our mindset. If you’re not sure how to meditate, start out with a guided practice. Hey, everyone’s gotta start somewhere!

There you have it! Some insight and tips for when you’re feeling unfocused and need a push in the right direction. We hope this helps you out, friend. Now go get shit done!

Ohhh, man… You’re feeling stressed, they’re stressed, we’re all stressed! It’s a real problem for so many of us and a super common emotion to go through. And the number of things in our lives that cause us stress… is endless. For a lot of us, our lives are constantly go, go, go! There’s always something keeping us on our toes, no matter how hard we try to stay on top of the to-do lists. We can feel stressed about our course load at school, how we’re performing at our jobs, managing our finances, and not to mention our personal relationships. Seriously though, the amount of stressors we’re facing on a daily basis? THE LIMIT DOES NOT EXIST.

Look, you’re not alone. Sometimes when we’re stressed out, we look around at other people and feel like they have it all together. Meanwhile, you’re starting to fall apart because you have no idea how to manage everything you’ve got on your plate. But the truth is, everyone deals with feeling stressed at some point. Okay, more like a lot of the time! It’s a universal experience. Sing it with us, wildcat: We’re allll in this together! We’re here to help you get through this chaotic, overwhelming and totally not-fun emotion.

A Deeper Look at Feeling Stressed

We all know what it’s like to feel totally stressed out. But if we wanna dig a ‘lil deeper, what does stress really mean? The APA Dictionary defines stress (n.) as “the physiological or psychological response to internal or external stressors.” It goes on to say, “Stress involves changes affecting nearly every system of the body, influencing how people feel and behave.” Huh, seems legit.

Types of Stress

There’s actually different kinds of stress that you could be experiencing. And believe it or not, not all types of stress are bad for you. Say whaaat?! You heard that right, Hannah Montana: stress has the best of both worlds. Here’s what different types of stress look like:

Acute stress is the short-term stress we deal with on a daily basis, like running late for work or rushing to finish an essay on time. This can be positive because it doesn’t last forever and motivates us to accomplish what we need to get done!

Chronic stress is not our friend. We feel like it will neverrr end and because it’s so long-lasting, it’s harder to manage this feeling over time. This form of stress can happen when you’re in a bad relationship, or dealing with burnout from your job. It can also be caused by trauma you may have experienced.

Episodic acute stress typically occurs for all of you busy bees out there who take on wayyy too many responsibilities, projects or commitments than you can’t always handle. This type of stress usually looks like you’re always in a rush, running late, or disorganized.

And lastly: Who stress? You stress? No, Eustress. This is another positive form of stress that’s actually fun and keeps you going with adrenaline like the Energizer bunny. It’s super helpful when you’re working away to meet a deadline, or when you’re playing sports.

We know, that was a lot to absorb. And if you’re here looking for ways to deal with feeling stressed, it’s safe to say you’re probably dealing with one of the negative types. So let’s get more into the mental and physical signs of when your body is dealing with negative stress and how you can overcome it!

How Feeling Stressed Shows Up Mentally

Feeling stressed can take a huge emotional toll on our wellbeing. Duuuh. But really, our mental health can suffer if we don’t find ways to manage our stress whenever it comes up. Stress can lead to burnout, depression and anxiety. In short bursts, stress it totally fine and a normal thing to experience on a regular basis. But when it becomes a long-term issue, that’s when it can really impact your mental state.

Instead of turning to poor coping mechanisms to deal with stress, like smoking, alcohol, or taking it out on your loved ones, it’s a good idea to find healthy ways of working through this feeling. That way, you don’t risk forming bad habits or cycles that are hard to break later on. We’ll get to the positive coping strategies soon! So stick with us.

How Feeling Stressed Shows Up Physically

Okay… brace yourself. This probably doesn’t come as a surprise, but stress shows up in a LOT of different ways physically. And none of them are great for your health or wellbeing. Here’s the looong list of physical symptoms our body can show under stress:

• Mood swings
• Sweaty palms
• Low sex drive
• High blood pressure
• Difficulty sleeping
• Digestive problems
• Dizziness
• Feeling sick more often
• Grinding teeth
• Headaches
• Low energy
• Tense muscles
• Body aches and pains
• Racing heartbeat
• Trembling

See? We told you it was a lot. Over time, these physical symptoms can be super hard on your body and lead to potential health problems in the future like diabetes, heart disease, hyperthyroidism, ulcers and more. YIKES. This is why finding ways to tackle your stress before it advances is sooo important. It affects our physical health just as much as our mental health!

5 Ways to Cope with Feeling Stressed

Here it is, friends. The moment (or rather, the super helpful tips) you’ve been waiting for! Our in-house mental health professional has outlined some coping strategies for dealing with stress. And they are on point! Try ‘em out whenever you’re feeling stressed, and we guarantee you’ll feel sooo much better.

1. Practice deep breathing

Try it with us: breathe innnn, and breathe outttt. Taking a moment to focus on your breathing has actually been proven to lower anxiety and reduce stress (which you could use right now). Plus, deep breathing slows your heart rate and provides your brain with enough oxygen to chillax.

2. Move your body

Let’s get physical! Go for a walk, stretch, ride a bike, dance, you name it. Exercise releases endorphins and improves your mood. Plus, it actually boosts your energy and improves focus. It does alllll the things.

3. Reach out to a support person

Your loved ones are there for a reason! When you need to talk through how you’re feeling, lean on the people you trust. Sometimes just having someone to listen to us and validate how we’re feeling makes all the difference.

4. Progressive muscle relaxation

This is a helpful technique for reducing stress that involves tensing a group of muscles as you breathe in, and then relaxing them while you breathe out. Repeat as needed!

5. Engage in something soothing and comforting 

Spend time with your pet by cuddling them or taking them on a walk. Touch something comforting like your fave cozy blanket. Brew some tea or your drink of choice. Do whatever makes you feel calm and safe!

There you have it, friends. Whenever you’re feeling stressed AF and need a little guidance, don’t worry. We’ve got your back! Try out these tips and you’ll feel ready to take on the world again in no time. And if you’re looking for even more tips, here’s a whole guide to stress management and even 8 things to say to someone when they’re stressed! But if you’re dealing with chronic stress, please seek help from a professional so that you can look after your wellbeing.

When we put ourselves out there and get rejected… that shit is the worst. The WORST. It can cause you to question if you’re good enough. It makes you wonder if something is wrong with you. It’s majorly tough on the ol’ self-esteem. Not to mention, it can make you overthink everythinggg you’ve ever said or done. Feeling rejected can make us pick ourselves apart, even when our rejection has nothing to do with us personally.

It could be that you’re dealing with constant rejection while you’re looking for a job. Maybe you applied for a program at your dream college but you didn’t get in. Or maybe you asked someone out and they totally friend-zoned you. If you felt like an outcast or a loner in school, maybe you felt rejected by your peers. The list goes on and on and on. And each time we feel rejected, no matter what the reason is, it can be painful AF.

Don’t worry, it’s not just you. Everyone deals with feeling rejected at some point, even the people who you might think have it all together. It doesn’t matter how perfect or successful someone might seem: they still deal with rejection, too. Let’s look at how we can recognize when we’re feeling rejected and ways to cope!

A Deeper Look at Feeling Rejected

Here’s where we dig a ‘lil deeper into the meaning of rejection. The APA Dictionary of Psychology defines rejection (n.) as “denial of love, attention, interest, or approval.” Oof, it sounds rough but it’s pretty accurate and to the point.

Rejection comes in a lot of forms, and let’s be real: all of them really suck. GoodTherapy outlines different types of rejection depending on the situation or relationship.

Familial Rejection 

You can feel rejected when a parent or family member neglects or abandons you. Or they withhold love and affection. This one hits close to home (literally) so it can be really tough to deal with growing up. You can carry the hurt from this rejection into your adult life, potentially affecting your future relationships with yourself and others.

Social Rejection

This form of rejection is thanks to bullies or alienation that you might experience in life. It can start from the playground as a kid, and still happen at your workplace well into your adulthood. It can also happen in social group settings where you feel out of place or rejected by the people you’re with.

Relationship Rejection 

When you’re dating or in a relationship and the other person holds back on affection and intimacy, it can feel like rejection. Or maybe your partner doesn’t include you in certain events or experiences in their life. An obvious one if when they end the relationship: that can be a brutal rejection.

Romantic Rejection 

While this one is kinda similar to relationship rejection, romantic rejection has more to do with feeling rejected when you ask someone out on a date or try to pursue them, but they turn you down.

How Feeling Rejected Shows Up Mentally

Feeling rejected can really mess with your head, and bring up all of those nasty thoughts we already mentioned. Why aren’t I good enough? Why don’t they like me? What is wrong with me? It can be hard to pull yourself out of these thoughts when you’re feeling unwanted or unaccepted by the people surrounding you. Sometimes, this feeling can pass pretty quickly if you recognize that rejection is not your fault and that you were overthinking it (happens to the best of us).

But if you’re not able to pull yourself out of the suck fest you’re experiencing thanks to rejection, it can lead to bigger problems down the road. Long-term rejection can cause trauma, depression, anxiety and stress if the feeling isn’t managed properly.

How Feeling Rejected Shows Up Physically

Sometimes when a person is experiencing depression due to long-term rejection, they might deal with physical symptoms that are incredibly harmful. If rejection has impacted their self-esteem or body image, they could develop an eating disorder or engage in self-harm. In other cases, people who feel rejected might lash out and behave super aggressively against a person or group who rejected them. They could act violently, or become abusive.

These are extreme and dangerous ways they might use to cope with rejection, which is why it’s so important to seek help when feelings of rejection and hurt don’t go away on their own.

5 Ways to Cope with Feeling Rejected

Okay, that was a lot. Sooo, what now? Don’t worry, we weren’t gonna leave you feeling rejected without giving you some ways to cope! Here’s some methods we hope you’ll find helpful:

1. Give yourself a pep talk and utilize a helpful statement 

Say positive things to yourself out loud: “I feel rejected at this moment, but I know that I am a capable person. I will get through this.” Maybe write these thoughts down in a journal. Even if it feels kinda silly, there’s no shame in comforting yourself.

2. Journal 

Feeling rejected can be a tough emotion to navigate. Try writing out exactly how you’re feeling and what made you feel this way. Was it something someone said? Were you in a situation where you felt left out? Taking the time to journal our thoughts can give us the clarity we need to move forward!

3. Reach out to a support person 

Your loved ones are there for a reason! When you need to talk through how you’re feeling, lean on the people you trust. Sometimes just having someone to listen to us and validate how we’re feeling makes all the difference.

4. Engage in something soothing and comforting 

Spend time with your pet by cuddling them or taking them on a walk. Touch something comforting like your fav cozy blanket. Brew some tea or your drink of choice. Do whatever makes you feel calm and safe.

5. Positive distraction

Pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read. Watch an episode of a show that never fails to make you laugh. Clean out your closet. Listen to a podcast. Do whatever takes your mind off things and sparks a ‘lil joy! You deserve it.

Don’t worry – no matter how you’re feeling right now, we promise the intensity of rejection does subside. Try out these tips and you’re sure to get through it! And remember: you ARE enough, no matter what.

You’re sad. Down in the dumps. Feelin’ blue. There’s endless, ENDLESS, reasons you could be feeling sad at any given moment. ‘Cause as many things there are in this wonderful world to be happy about, there’s just as many that make us sad as hell. Maybe you’re feeling down since moving to a new city because you miss all of your friends. Or maybe you’re upset because your partner totally forgot your birthday…  ouch. You could just be sad because you’ve been reading a shit load of bad news that never, ever seems to end (ughhh, tell us about it).

Look, we know how life can be a huge clusterfuck of emotions. Whatever the reason might be, just remember that it’s totally normal and okay to feel sad. It doesn’t matter if it’s over something small, like accidentally breaking your favourite coffee mug that your grandma gave you for Christmas or something bigger, like the end of a long-term relationship you thought would last forever. Being sad is something that comes and goes, whether we want it to or not. But guess what? Your feelings are valid, no matter what. We’re here for you!

So go ahead and curl up in your softest blanket, put on your go-to comfort show, or listen to a playlist of the saddest songs that makes you wanna cry your eyes out. Buuut first: keep on reading this article. ‘Cause we’re gonna dive thru feeling sad and how you can cope with this super fun emotion that we all love so much.

A Deeper Look at Feeling Sad

We get it. We know what being sad means. It’s one of the first emotions you learn about in preschool where they probably made you point to a teary-eyed cartoon character on some feelings chart and exclaim: “SAAAD!” But to get a ‘lil bit more technical, the APA Dictionary of Psychology defines sadness (n.) as “an emotional state of unhappiness, ranging in intensity from mild to extreme and usually aroused by the loss of something that is highly valued (e.g., by the rupture of a relationship).” Yeppp, that seems pretty on point.

Sometimes there’s confusion about sadness, or the assumption that feeling sad means you’re depressed. But that’s defs not the case! Feeling sad is a completely natural human feeling that we all experience now and then. Like we said, there’s different levels of sadness. But the key difference between feeling sad and being depressed is that feeling sad is temporary. It goes away with time. Depression is a mental illness that is long-term, and it impacts your mental wellbeing and how you function everyday. We can work through being sad. But with depression, it’s helpful to seek professional treatment.

Feeling Sad Is Not Bad

Another important thing to note: psychologists say that it can actually be a good thing to feel sometimes. Hold up. Why would we WANT to feel sad? That’s a fair question. Psychologists actually suggest that feeling sad is a good thing because it signals how we treat ourselves or how we want to be treated. Not just that, but feeling sad can also be a great indicator when something in our lives needs to change. Like maybe seeing your ex’s old hoodie hanging in your closet brings back memories and brings down your mood. Sign: it’s time to throw it in the donations bin! Or you could be spending wayyy too much time indoors ever since you started working from home, and it’s really bringing you down. Sign: start putting daily walks or plan trips to your favourite spots throughout the week! It’s so important to listen to what this feeling is really telling us about ourselves.

Alsooo, hear us out for a sec. There’s this misconception that we have to keep up appearances and be positive allll the time, or else people might think we’re a total bummer and not wanna be around us. Or that talking about how we’re sad might make someone else feel a ‘lil bit uncomfortable. First of all, fuck that! No, seriously. If being sad is such a universal emotion that we all go through from time to time, why is it so looked down upon to admit when we’re actually feeling this way?? We need to change the narrative around being sad and let us really feel what we’re feeling. Otherwise, how are we expected to move on with our lives and make improvements where they’re needed? Okay, end rant.

How Feeling Sad Shows Up Mentally

We usually feel sad when something upsetting or disappointing happens to us. And when we’re sad, it can be hard to focus on anything else. We might just want to be alone, cry and lay down for a while. We repeat: this. is. normal! It’s okay to have bad days where we just need to rest and look after ourselves. Sometimes, feeling sad can look like this:

• Thinking things won’t get better
• Having a hard time focusing on your work
• Being cranky or easily annoyed
• Losing interest in things that usually make you happy
• Negative thoughts about yourself

How Feeling Sad Shows Up Physically

When we’re sad, we feel physical symptoms too. Here are some common ones:

• The urge to cry
• A ‘heartache’ sensation in your chest
• A pit in your stomach 
• Shortness of breath
• Low energy
• Lack of restful sleep
• A loss of your appetite

We want to emphasize that even though these mental and physical symptoms are normal to feel when you’re sad, it’s important to reach out for professional help if they don’t eventually fade away on their own. Noting physical symptoms is extremely important, especially when they continue to negatively impact your life! If these signs persist, they can be serious indicators of mental illness including depression which will require professional help.

5 Ways to Cope with Feeling Sad

Sooo… how do we stop feeling sad? We’ve got a few tips to help you work through this emotion like a rockstar! ‘Cause you are one.

1. Reach out to a support team 

Your loved ones are there for a reason! When you need to talk through how you’re feeling, lean on the people you trust. Sometimes just having someone to listen to us and validate how we’re feeling makes all the difference.

2. Visualize your happy place

It could be a cozy bookstore on the snowy mountainside with a crackling fireplace. Or maybe it’s the beaches you sun-bathed on during your last family vacay. Whatever your happy place in your mind is, go there. Picturing something that makes you feel warm and at peace can help lift your mood.

3. Engage in something soothing and comforting

Spend time with your pet by cuddling them or taking them on a walk. Touch something comforting like your fav cozy blanket. Brew some tea or your drink of choice. Just do something that makes you feel calm and safe.

4. Positive distraction

Pick up that book you’ve been meaning to read. Watch an episode of a show that always makes you laugh. Clean out your closet. Listen to a podcast. Finding something that can take your mind off things can be so helpful.

5. Comfort yourself as you would expect a parent or friend to do

If you don’t have someone around who can be there for you right now, be there for yourself as best as you can. Remind yourself that everything will be okay, and that this feeling is temporary.

There you go. We hope these tips resonate with you and make you feel a little less alone when you’re sad. But remember: it’s okay to be sad. It’s normal. It’s human. So let yourself feel it, so that you can get through it. We are rooting for you!

Sometimes when we think of the word ‘fear’ and what it means to be feeling fearful, the classic horror movie tropes come to mind. Like when the main character is walking down the basement stairs in pitch darkness, the music gets super intense, and the whole time you’re yelling at the TV: “NOOO! DON’T GO DOWN THERE!!” Or maybe when you think of fear, you think of your biggest phobias like nasty spiders or falling from tall heights. Maybe the thought of visiting the dentist makes you totally freak out. For you, fear could even be thanks to something totally random, like those creepy clowns… *shudders*

The truth is, there’s a lot more than clowns to be scared of in our daily lives (but we totes don’t blame you for jumping out of your skin whenever you see one IRL). There are times when we can be fearful of an upcoming event, especially if you might have to speak in public or perform in front of a huge crowd of people. Some people might feel fear before going out on a first date. Fear can also show up when you’re driving and all of a sudden, you’re caught in a nasty snowstorm and can’t see the road in front of you. All of a sudden, you feel a sense of dread, panic, and not know how to deal with this feeling.

We gotchu. Life can be scary, and fear can feel hard to overcome when you’re in the moment. But it’s gonna be okay, we promise. Let’s look at what it means to be fearful and how we can overcome this super spooky, super scary feeling!

A Deeper Look at Feeling Fearful

Here’s the super technical, deeper meaning of fear according to APA Dictionary: “fear (n.): a basic, intense emotion aroused by the detection of imminent threat, involving an immediate alarm reaction that mobilizes the organism by triggering a set of physiological changes.” Ok, there were a lot of big words being used just now. Let’s break it down.

Basically, when we sense a threat to our security or start to feel unsafe, our ‘spidey senses’ start tingling. This is actually the biochemical reaction to fear, AKA the “fight or flight” that you’ve definitely heard of before. It signals our body to protect itself from any potential danger, like something hiding behind your shower curtain (buuut this is another horror movie trope so chances are, you could just be paranoid). The “fight” response is exactly how it sounds: you fight off the danger that is coming your way. And “flight” (also pretty obvious) means you’re gonna escape danger by running away from it in order to protect yourself.

How Feeling Fearful Shows Up Mentally

Some people really enjoy the rush of adrenaline that skydiving, roller coasters, and haunted houses might stir up. Maybe they find watching those scary movies a blast, even those terrifying pop-ups that make you feel like your heart just stopped beating! But even though some people who enjoy feeling fear in certain situations will see it as something fun or exciting, others perceive fear as something negative. It totally depends on the person, because we’re all different!

Feeling fear is a totally normal, human response. And it’s important to note that fear and phobias are actually not the same thing! If you had a bad experience with getting lost in the dark one time as a kid, it’s completely normal to still be afraid of the dark and sleep with a nightlight as an adult. Or maybe a parent always freaked out whenever they saw a spider, and so you were raised to believe they’re something to fear!

So when does a fear become a phobia? If you have a fear of flying on an airplane, you’ll probably feel signs of fear like an upset stomach or nervous sweating. But you find ways to manage the feeling, like bringing a comforting blanket or listening to music to help calm yourself down. If it’s a phobia, the feeling won’t be so easy to manage. You’ll have stronger physical responses and feel terrible the entire flight, possibly dealing with panic attacks. You might not even board the plane at all, and avoid taking trips because of this phobia.

On top of phobias, there are other mental health conditions including social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that are linked to major feelings of fear. When your fear becomes unmanageable and starts to affect your life negatively, it’s defs time to seek professional help!

How Feeling Fearful Shows Up Physically

On top of the fight or flight reaction you have when you’re fearful, sometimes your body can react to fear in different ways. These depend on the person and the situation, but here are a few physical symptoms that you might experience:

• Increased heart rate
• Shortness of breath
• Trembling
• Sweating
• Chills
• Nausea
• Chest pain
• Upset stomach
• Dry mouth

These physical signs can maybe cause you to feel embarrassed or ashamed, especially if you worry that others will think your fears are ridiculous. But don’t put yourself down! Everyone has fears, and you CAN get over feeling fearful. It might take time, but it’s totally possible. And we’re here to help!

5 Ways to Cope with Feeling Fearful

Sooo, what are some ways you can cope with feeling fearful? Well, have no fear (lol sorry) ‘cause we have some tips for you to work through this feeling. 

*Venturing down a creepy, dark basement not required.

1. Reach out to a support person 

Your loved ones are there for a reason! When you need to talk through how you’re feeling, lean on the people you trust. Sometimes just having someone to listen to us and validate how we’re feeling makes all the difference.

2. Comfort yourself 

Do it as you would expect a parent or friend to do. If you don’t have someone around who can be there for you right now, be there for yourself as best as you can. Remind yourself that everything will be okay, and that this feeling is temporary.

3. Practice deep breathing

Breathe innn… and breathe outtt. Taking a moment to focus on your breathing has actually been proven to lower anxiety and reduce stress. Plus, deep breathing slows your heart rate and provides your brain with enough oxygen to chill out a bit. 10/10 recommend for de-escalating your fear.

4. Journal 

Navigating our fears can be tricky. Try writing out exactly how you’re feeling and what made you feel this way. Taking the time to journal our thoughts can give us the clarity we need to move forward!

5. Engage in something soothing and comforting 

Spend time with your pet by cuddling them or taking them on a walk. Touch something comforting like your fave cozy blanket. Brew some tea or your drink of choice. Do whatever makes you feel calm and safe!

We all experience fear every now and then. It’s a totally common feeling, even though we might find different things scarier than others. So make sure to try out these tips the next time you’re feeling fearful! We know you can overcome your fears, ‘cause you’re strong like that.

Feeling ashamed? Yeah, it sucks. Even the word SHAAAME feels like a big, grey cloud over your head that follows you around wherever you go. It weighs you down, reminding you of all the ways you believe you’re undeserving of love or happiness. Sometimes, it can make you feel like you just wanna be invisible. You don’t wanna face your family, friends and loved ones ‘cause in your mind, the shame you feel is written allllll over your face. If you hide, you won’t have to put on a front that everything is fine. And being invisible would be better than letting other people see how humiliated, unworthy and alone you feel inside…

Pause. Believe us, we’ve all been there and have dealt with these super toxic thoughts. And we know how shitty it feels to carry shame. Instead of burying this feeling and letting it suck the joy out of our lives, though, we gotta address it. You’re probably thinking: mmkay, easier said than done… especially when your mind is telling you to run and hide instead of staring this feeling in it’s nasty face. But this is your reminder that you are NOT alone and we’re here to help. So let’s dive thru what it means to feel ashamed and how you can work through this painful, monster of an emotion. ‘Cause no matter how small you feel right now, we still think you’re awesome. And you don’t need to feel this way forever!

A Deeper Look at Feeling Ashamed

Here’s a quick definition of ‘ashamed’ for ya: “distressed or embarrassed by feelings of guilt, foolishness, or disgrace.”

“You should be ashamed of yourself!” Yeahhh, most of us have probably heard this a few times from our parents growing up. Typically, this expression is used to make us feel bad for something we did that was wrong, like lying about sleeping over at your friend’s house when you actually went to that big house party that your parents barred you from going to (sound familiar?). Psychologists have been separating feeling guilty and feeling ashamed for a while now, ‘cause even though the feelings are similar, their root causes are actually a ‘lil different. 

Guilt

Okay, let’s get this straight. When you feel guilty, it usually has something to do with feeling bad for something you did or said that caused harm to someone else. Like when you lied to your parents about going to that house party, you probably felt guilty AF about it. Not only did you go behind their backs, you ultimately broke their trust and made them feel disrespected. Also, there’s a good chance they were worried about your safety, too. And when they grounded you, part of you most likely felt a ton of guilt for what you did. ‘Cause you just wanted to have fun! Not hurt the people you care about.

Shame

Sooo then, what does it mean to feel ashamed, you ask? Feeling ashamed has more to do with worrying about how others will perceive you or evaluate your actions. You can feel guilty for hurting your parents by lying to them and causing them to hurt. But you feel ASHAMED by thinking they see you as a liar, ungrateful, or an all around piece of shit with no morals. Do you kinda see the difference now? Guilt = feeling bad about your behaviour. Shame = feeling bad about yourself.

Let’s think about other times in your life where you might feel ashamed. It could be that you’ve been dealing with acne. You don’t wanna be in any photos with your friends, and when you do take photos, you have to use a blurring effect or filter to hide the blemishes. Maybe you don’t wanna leave the house without makeup because… what if people notice and stare?! You worry that they will think you don’t care about how you look or take care of yourself, that you’re lazy or dirty. Instead of having a good time when you’re out with your friends, you wanna immediately go home and stay in bed where no one can judge you. Feeling awful and having super negative thoughts about yourself? Worrying what people will think? Yeppp, that’s feeling ashamed for ya.

There are so many instances where we can feel ashamed, big or small. Just because one example won’t seem like a big deal to one person, like having acne, doesn’t mean it’s not a huge source of shame and hurt for someone else.

How Feeling Ashamed Shows Up Mentally

Like we said, feeling ashamed leads to a lot of toxic thoughts about yourself.

I’m not good enough.

I’m not worthy of being here, everyone else must think I’m such a failure.

Why did they even hire me? I’m not cut out for this job.

I don’t deserve my partner, they’re wayyy out of my league.

I hate myself.

When feeling ashamed builds up and isn’t properly dealt with, it can lead to mental health issues including depression, anxiety and even PTSD. People who feel ashamed usually have a hard time reaching out to others for help. Instead, they’ll carry it inside and distance themselves from other people.

How Feeling Ashamed Shows Up Physically

Did ya know that feeling ashamed can also show up physically? Greaaat. According to PyschCentral: “Strong feelings of shame stimulate the sympathetic nervous system, causing a fight/flight/freeze reaction. We feel exposed and want to hide or react with rage, while feeling profoundly alienated from others and good parts of ourselves.”

If worse comes to worst, feeling ashamed can lead to other problems that affect your health including eating disorders, addiction and acting out aggressively. These symptoms are thanks to the low self-esteem, anxiety and depression that shame can bring on.

5 Ways to Cope with Feeling Ashamed

Sooo, we have a better idea of why we feel ashamed and what it really means… now what? It’s time for the best part (in our humble opinion): diving thru it. Here are ways to work past this feeling, brought to you by the amazing mental health professional on our team!

1. Journal 

Feeling ashamed can be hard to dive thru on your own. Try writing out exactly how you’re feeling and what made you feel this way. Taking the time to journal our thoughts can give us the clarity we need to move forward!

2. Reach out for support

Your friends and family are there for a reason! When you need to talk through how you’re feeling, lean on the people you trust. Sometimes just having someone to listen to us and validate how we’re feeling makes all the difference.

3.Engage in something soothing and comforting

Spend time with your pet by cuddling them or taking them on a walk. Touch something comforting like your fave cozy blanket. Brew some tea or your drink of choice. Do whatever makes you feel calm and safe!

4. Give yourself a pep talk or utilize a helpful statement 

Say positive things to yourself out loud: “I will get through this. I am strong.” Maybe write these thoughts down in a journal. Even if it feels kinda silly, there’s no shame in comforting yourself. We 10/10 recommend it.

5. Comfort yourself like a friend 

If you don’t have someone around who can be there for you right now, be there for yourself as best as you can. Remind yourself that everything will be okay. This feeling is temporary, and you can get through it.

We hope this not only helps you have a better understanding of feeling ashamed, but also how to deal with it when this feeling comes up in your life. It’s not an easy one to deal with, that’s for sure. But we know you can get through this!

One last thing! Here’s a great quote for the road from Brené Brown (author, researcher and expert on shame): “Shame cannot survive being spoken and being met with empathy.” 

You heard her!! Let’s own how we feel ashamed and show ourselves some empathy. 

Feeling jealous can be really tough to manage, even though it’s totally normal and everyone experiences this feeling at some point! But admitting you’re jealous? HA, yeahhh right… not in this lifetime! It can be super embarrassing and even shameful to admit to ourselves (let alone anyone else) when we’re feeling jealous. You might be worried that admitting you’re feeling jealous means you’ll come off as childish or petty (we’re all just trying to get through life like mature adults here, right?!). So instead, we tend to bottle up this feeling inside and ignore it for as looooong as possible and hope it goes away on its own. Stating the obvious here, but…it’s not that easy.

We probably don’t need to tell you that holding in this feeling is a really bad idea. Deep down, you know it’s true. Even though it’s totally normal to feel jealous from time to time, in some cases it can really interfere with your life! Ignoring your feelings of major jealousy will only bring up issues in the future. Ultimately, you could risk losing an important relationship in your life if you don’t address this feeling head-on. Plus, harboring negative feelings just isn’t good for your mental health. And guess what? We don’t have time for that! So let’s dive thru what it means to be jealous and how you can cope with this nasty AF feeling.

A Deeper Look at Feeling Jealous

You’ve probably heard the old saying “green with envy” before. Buuut, did you know that feeling jealous and feeling envious aren’t exactly the same thing? Whoa… #mindblown. 

It turns out, envy means you want what someone else has. Maybe you want their fancy new car or Pinteresty (yes, we just made up that word) apartment. You scroll through their Instagram posts, wishing you could seem as put together as they do. They might be flaunting their fun vacations, concerts and nights out with friends. Compared to your life of working a 9-5 job that’s stressing you tf out, taking classes part-time and barely paying attention to your social life, they have it alllll. And in your mind, you don’t. Basically, envy is rooted in the desire to change or be more like someone else.

Sooo then, what’s jealousy? Instead of feeling envious over what someone has that you don’t, jealousy happens when you feel like a personal relationship is being threatened by someone else. OoOoh, suddenly things are getting spicy. According to the APA Dictionary of Psychology, jealousy (n.) means “a negative emotion in which an individual resents a third party for appearing to take away (or being likely to take away) the affections of a loved one.” Huh. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

Think about the last time you were jealous of someone in your life. Be honest with yourself here! Maybe your best friend has gotten super close with her new roommate, and you feel like you’re a third wheel whenever you hang out as a group. Or maybe your partner’s coworker seemed a little too flirty at the office Christmas party, and you’re suspicious that something’s up. Maybe you’ve had a Ross-and-Monica-Gellar-style sibling rivalry going on for years and have always felt like your parents favour your sibling over you. All of these are examples of jealousy, or that someone is a threat to your relationship with a person that you care about. Trust us, you’re not the only one. We’ve all been there at some point! And obviously, feeling like you’re losing someone who means a lot you can make you feel really, really fucking sad and insecure.

Speaking of insecure, that is something that jealousy and envy do have in common! Only the difference is instead of being sad, jealousy is rooted from a different core feeling. Any guesses? Drumroll, please… it’s MAD. So that explains why jealousy can be such a burning, intense feeling! Now that we know what causes jealousy, let’s get more into how jealousy shows up in symptoms.

How Feeling Jealous Shows Up Mentally

What are some of the signs of jealousy? We’re so glad you asked. Feeling jealous can show up mentally in a few different ways, and let’s be honest. None of them feel super great. If you’re jealous, it could look like this:

1. Feeling a ton of anger towards the person who you see as interfering in your relationship or as a potential threat.

Ughhh, it pisses me off that Sarah is always hanging out with MY best friend all of a sudden. Doesn’t she have friends of her own?!

2. Resenting your friend, family member or partner who you feel is becoming distant, spending less time with you or giving more attention to someone else.

He’s always busy with work ever since he got that promotion. I hate that we don’t spend as much time together as we used to! Does he even care?

3. Not being happy for someone else when they get what you want.

I can’t believe grandma is taking Stephanie on that trip for her birthday. Favoritism much? She never took me anywhere for my birthday… I’m her grandchild, too!

4. Really disliking a new person in your loved one’s life for reasons you can’t explain.

I dunno what it is, but I really don’t like mom’s new boyfriend. Sure, he’s nice enough and seems to make her happy. But I just don’t like him!

5. Feeling super sad when thinking about your loved one, like you’re losing them.

It feels like it’s been forever since I’ve seen Josh now that he’s made new friends at college. He’s always busy and it feels like we’re drifting apart… 

How Feeling Jealous Shows Up Physically

Feeling jealous can show up in physical ways, believe it or not! You should believe us, though. We did our research for you! Basically, jealousy triggers a couple of different parts of your brain: the left frontal cortex (deals with lovely emotions like shame, fear and embarrassment) and the dopamine system (regulates feel-good transmitter).

Jealousy can also trigger your body’s stress response! Which means increased blood pressure, heart rate and levels of cortisol (stress hormone). So if you notice your heart pounding fast, take this as a cue to tune in to how you are feeling. That way, you’ll be better able to implement a coping skill.

You could also experience difficulty sleeping or poor appetite thanks to jealousy. Anddd sadly, jealousy can lead to depression in extreme cases.

That was… a lot to take in. Sounds like jealousy is a pretty complex feeling, huh? But don’t worry! There are ways to cope with this feeling so that you can manage it and prevent it from taking over your life.

5 Ways to Cope with Feeling Jealous

Now here’s the best part: working through this emotion. Don’t worry! We promise it’s not hard. We’ve even come up with some tips for you, so all you gotta do is follow along:

1. Journal

Jealousy can be a tough feeling to navigate on your own. Try writing out exactly how you’re feeling and what made you feel this way. Taking the time to journal our thoughts can give us the clarity we need to move forward!

2. Reach out for support

Your loved ones are there for a reason! When you need to talk through how you’re feeling, lean on the people you trust. Sometimes just having someone to listen to us and validate how we’re feeling makes all the difference.

3. Practice meditation

Meditation is a method that’s been used to relieve stress and improve mental clarity since, like… forever. This practice allows us to slowww down and shift our mindset. If you’re not sure how to meditate, start out with a guided practice. Hey, everyone’s gotta start somewhere.

4. Comfort yourself like a friend

If you don’t have someone around who can be there for you right now, be there for yourself as best as you can. Remind yourself that everything will be okay, and that this feeling is temporary.

5. 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise

Engage all five senses and mindfully notice five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. Go in any order that makes sense for you and your current situation – no pressure!

Okayyy, there you have it. Now that you have a better idea of how to recognize when you’re feeling jealous plus some simple ways to work through it, you can tackle jealousy head-on when it comes up! You got this.

If we could sum up feeling frustrated in one word, it would probably sound something like this: *screeching* UUURGGGHHHHasdbfygscveewk. And if we could also put an action to the word, it would probably look like banging your head on your desk (repeatedly). Yeppp, we all know the feeling very well. No matter what you do, it feels like nothing is going right. You’re exasperated. EXASPERATED. You fight back the urge to scream, throw something, or even shed tears (all of you fellow angry criers out there, we salute you!). Whatever the cause might be, the feeling of frustration is boiling inside of you and you just. can’t. take. it. anymore.

Maybe you’ve been dealing with a lot of frustration lately and wanna learn how you can work through this feeling. ‘Cause letting this feeling go unchecked, or control you? Not gonna work out for your wellbeing in the long run.

Anddd sometimes when we’re really frustrated, we do things in the heat of the moment that we really, reallyyy regret later. You might slam a door in someone’s face. Or maybe hang up on them in the middle of a conversation. Cue instantly feeling like a total piece of shit for letting your frustration take over.

But don’t worry! Just because you’re feeling frustrated, doesn’t mean it has to get the best of you. We can get this feeling under control, togethaaa. Let’s dive thru what feeling frustrated looks like and how you can cope with this feeling before totally losing your shit.

A Deeper Look at Feeling Frustrated

Even though we all know what frustration feels like, what really causes it? Well, according to Merriam-Webster, being frustrated means “feeling discouragement, anger, and annoyance because of unresolved problems or unfulfilled goals, desires, or needs.” Ooof, been there, done that!

Sooo ya, becoming frustrated is super common when things don’t go as planned. Think about it: when you achieve a goal, or your plans go smoothly without a hitch, how does that feel? Pretty great, right?! Maybe you beat your personal best running time after training for weeks on end. Or you got that promotion at work that you worked your ass off to get. Whatever the reason, you’re riding that high, feeling on top of the world and everything is totally, undeniably awesome. ‘Cause you got exactly the results you wanted!

Buuut on the flip side, when we don’t get the outcome we were hoping for, what do we get? You guessed it… we get frustrated! We’re disappointed that we spent so much time, energy and focus on something and things didn’t go our way. It just doesn’t. feel. fair. 

It could be over something minor, like your new puppy keeps peeing on the carpet after you’ve JUST let them outside (ffs, good thing they’re so darn cute). Or it could be caused by something more ongoing in your life, like your partner isn’t picking up the slack in your relationship even though you’ve only shared how you feel 32798 times. Again, UUURGGGHHH.

How Feeling Frustrated Shows Up Mentally

Sooo, besides slamming a door and screaming into the abyss, what else can frustration look like? Here are some ways frustration shows up mentally:

1. Anger

You’re probably thinking: Umm, duh? But let’s dig a ‘lil deeper. Frustration stems from anger (check out the trusty feelings wheel!) so when we’re feeling frustrated, we channel all of our anger towards the person or situation that’s getting on our last nerve. Sometimes when we get angry, we’re just not ourselves. We act out. We do things without thinking. Which is why it’s sooo important to learn how to cope with feeling frustrated: so we don’t act on those angry impulses and do something we’ll regret!

2. Low self-esteem or loss of confidence

When we’re feeling frustrated because things aren’t going how we want it to, we can start to question ourselves. Is it something we’re doing wrong? Do we not deserve the things we’re working hard to get? It can be a huuuge mindfuck. We might put ourselves in a self-destructive mindset, instead of pushing through the slump we’re in. FYI: your feelings are normal, and nothing is wrong with you. We promise.

3. Apathy or feeling like giving up

Constantly feeling frustrated? You might just be tempted to take the easy way out. Why bother trying if we’re just gonna face disappointment again and again, right? And if we don’t try, then we don’t have to fail! This can be a tough thing to pull yourself out of once you’ve lost all patience, obvs. But you CAN get out of it! That’s why we’re here for you.

4. Anxiety and depression

These bigger mental health problems can come up if your feelings of frustration aren’t recognized and properly dealt with. Constantly feeling sad and uncertain about yourself or the future, combined with all of the feelings above, are a LOT to handle and can defs weigh on your mental state. But there’s ways to cope! Stay tuned, we’re almost there.

How Feeling Frustrated Shows Up Physically

Stress and frustration? They go hand in hand. If you’re feeling frustrated, it’s probably thanks to a ton of stress built up over time that needs to be dealt with.

If your constant feelings of frustration go unchecked, you could start experiencing symptoms like headaches, migraines, fatigue, stomachaches, ulcers, you name it. Nooo thanks, you can keep that shit far away from us!

Some people might abuse substances like drugs or alcohol to deal with feeling frustrated to help cover up the clusterfuck of emotions they’re dealing with. This can lead to addiction problems and other harmful, self-destructive behaviors that are really hard to break out of. Not ideal. 

5 Ways to Cope with Feeling Frustrated

When you’re feeling frustrated, how do you get through it?! It’s all good, friend. We got you. Here are some tips that will defs help you overcome this emotion!

1. Move your body

Let’s get physical! Go for a walk, stretch, ride a bike, dance, you name it. Exercise releases endorphins and improves your mood. Plus, it actually boosts your energy and improves focus. It does alllll the things!

2. Practice deep breathing

Breathe in. Breathe out. Taking a moment to focus on your breathing has actually been proven to lower anxiety and reduce stress. Plus, deep breathing slows your heart rate and provides your brain with enough oxygen to chill out a bit (which you could use right about now).

3. Run your hands under water or splash face with water or hold an ice cube

Try to mindfully note the temperature of the water and the sensation of the water on your skin. The sensation helps by slowing your heart rate, lowering your cortisol levels (stress hormone), and releasing endorphins (happy hormone). Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? But we swear, it really helps!

4. Practice meditation

Meditation is a method that’s been used to relieve stress and improve mental clarity since, like… forever. This practice allows us to slowww down and shift our mindset. If you’re not sure how to meditate, start out with a guided practice. Hey, everyone’s gotta start somewhere!

5. 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise.

Engage all five senses and mindfully notice five things you can see, four things you can touch, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. Go in any order that makes sense for you and your current situation – no pressure!

So, there you have it. You have all of the tools you need to work through your frustrated feelings and get on with your life. Remember, the best way to tackle our feelings is to dive thru it. P.S. – We believe in you!

Okay, we gotta admit — being thankful is a pretty great feeling to have. Whether we’re having a bad day or the BEST DAY EVER, it’s nice to pause from time to time and think about what we’re thankful for. It reminds us of all the simple things that bring us joy and peace, even when it’s hard not to focus on all of the negatives. You know those days when you’re super grateful for all that you have and just wanna shout from the rooftops: “I LOVE MY LIIIFE!”? Yeah, we should talk about that feeling. ‘Cause it’s underrated.

Maybe today, you’re feeling thankful for your amazing group of friends who always give you A+ advice when you feel lost. Or maybe your partner made your favourite meal without being asked (mac ‘n cheese with breadcrumbs on top, because you’re fancy like that). It could be that you’re thankful for your pet who loves to curl up beside you on the couch, making your heart melt into a little puddle. To sum it up: recognizing all of the things we’re thankful for, no matter how big or small, is the BEST.

And just because feeling thankful is a positive emotion, doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take the time to acknowledge it. When we feel negative emotions, we’re always looking for ways to work through it and feel better. But in this case, let’s just enjoy feeling thankful and learn not only how it contributes to our wellbeing, but how we can show gratitude on a regular basis!

A Deeper Look at Feeling Thankful

When we think of being thankful, the word ‘gratitude’ also comes to mind. APA Dictionary of Psychology defines gratitude as: “n. a sense of thankfulness and happiness in response to receiving a gift, either a tangible benefit (e.g., a present, favor) given by someone or a fortunate happenstance (e.g., a beautiful day).” Fun fact: gratitude is derived from the Latin word ‘gratia’ which means thankfulness or gratefulness. So yeah, the two go hand in hand!

Feeling thankful is a pretty powerful feeling. Basically, that nice feeling you get when your neighbor shovels your driveway after it snows, a stranger lets you cut ahead of them in line at the grocery store, or you just happen to notice how beautiful the blue sky is? All of these little things add up and remind us of the good things in life, which makes us all warm and fuzzy inside. And taking the time to really appreciate and absorb this feeling in the moment, makes allll the difference! In fact, feeling thankful has so many benefits for your mental health, physical health, and your overall wellbeing that we just can’t let it go to waste!

How Feeling Thankful Shows Up Mentally

Sooo it turns out feeling thankful and showing gratitude has long lasting effects on the brain and nervous system. When we show gratitude for the things we’re thankful for, it actually releases two different neurotransmitters in our brain: dopamine and serotonin. FYI, these make us feel reallyyy good and boost our mood. Feeling thankful can also reduce signs of stress, anxiety, depression or any toxic emotions we might be experiencing. Not to mention, feeling thankful boosts your self-esteem and makes you less likely to compare yourself to other people. ‘Cause duh, you’re thankful for what you’ve got! 

Plus, when we show gratitude and kindness to other people, they will defs take notice. So by being thankful and showing gratitude in our lives, we can attract healthy relationships that last! It’s really a win-win.

Right now you’re probably thinking: WOW, so expressing gratitude and reminding myself of what I’m thankful for is actually great for my mental health and wellbeing? Yeppp, that’s exactly what we’re saying. Count your blessings and let those happy hormones flowww!

How Feeling Thankful Show Up Physically

How does feeling thankful show up physically? It turns out, in some super beneficial ways! Studies have shown that expressing gratitude can improve your sleep because it activates the hypothalamus, which regulates our sleep so we can catch those ZZZs and feel well rested.

And since it reduces stress like we mentioned, showing gratitude will mean you’re less likely to experience symptoms like headaches, stomach aches, respiratory infections and other health problems. Instead, you just get all of those feel-good hormones we talked about pumping through your body. Basically, your immune system will thank YOU for being so damn thankful!

Another thing! In a recent study, women who wrote in a gratitude journal showed lower blood pressure compared to those who just wrote about daily events. So yeah, feeling thankful can warm your heart AND keep it healthy. Who knew?!

5 Ways to Recognize That You’re Feeling Thankful

So when we’re feelin’ thankful, how should we acknowledge this emotion and how great it really is? Great question. Here’s a few ways to enjoy your feelings of gratitude:

1. Journal

Feeling thankful is great to explore through journaling. Try jotting down whatever you’re thankful for in life, no matter how big or small! Come back to this journal entry whenever you could use a reminder.

2. Visualize your happy place

It could be a cozy bookstore on the snowy mountainside with a crackling fireplace. Or maybe it’s the beaches you sun-bathed on during your last family vacay. Whatever your happy place in your mind is, go there. Picturing something that makes you feel warm and at peace can help lift your mood and put into perspective what really matters to you.

3. Practice gratitude

Maybe it looks like grabbing your co-worker their favourite drink from Starbucks on your way into work to show them how much they’re appreciated. Or you could write a nice thank-you note to your fitness instructor for pushing you to meet your goals every week. Whatever it is, spreading the positivity will always feel good for everyone! 

4. Connect with a friend

Call or text your friend to catch up. Go for a coffee date, or even have a Zoom hangout if they live far away. Tell them how thankful you are for their friendship – passing along your feelings of gratitude will make them feel appreciated!

5. Practice meditation

Meditation is a method that’s been used to relieve stress and improve mental clarity since, like… forever. This practice allows us to slowww down and appreciate the good in our lives. If you’re not sure how to meditate, start out with a guided practice – we all gotta start somewhere!

That’s it, that’s all for now. Remember: taking time to show gratitude is sooo important for our mental wellbeing. So embrace this feeling and appreciate all of the things that bring happiness to your life! P.S. We’re thankful for you, friend.