Mental pressures of the world starting to weigh you down?
Robert, as a hyperactive child, was constantly told to stop fidgeting. When he felt the urge to fidget, he remembered his mother’s disapproval and clenched his fists and held his arms rigidly at his sides. He spent so much of his life clenching his fists and holding himself rigidly that he appeared stiff and lifeless.…
Eden Redman co-founded student group-turned-non-profit to support students exploring new ways for computers to interact with the brain
Everything from brain-controlled prosthetics to games that are responsive to brain activity are within our grasp, according to University of Alberta student Eden Redman. Redman’s work promoting and expanding access to brainwave-sensing technology has earned him the Student Entrepreneur of the Year award at Startup Edmonton’s YEG Startup Community Awards. Announced at an online ceremony in May,…
Let us celebrate gratitude for the good, humility for the bad, and thankfulness that failures were not worse
Celebration of anything or anyone requires one of two mindsets. The first mindset is make-believe. We pretend something is what it is not. We sing, dance, and light fireworks in false celebration. Eulogies about abusive drunks being great family men call us to false celebration. We pretend the bad did not exist, and we focus…
As an occupational therapist and researcher, Chelsea Jones helps military members and veterans improve their physical and mental health
Chelsea Jones knew little about the military before becoming an occupational therapist, helping ease people out of their pain and back into their day-to-day lives. But when she realized there was a gap in the kind of treatment soldiers needed beyond physical therapy, she knew where she belonged. As she graduates this week with a…
For Alicia Cardinal, attending the U of A was the fulfilment of a childhood ambition and a way to honour her dad’s memory
Many educators say they knew from an early age what they’d be when they grew up, but Alicia Cardinal says she knew from age four where she would go to school to become a teacher. Her father, a University of Alberta graduate, teacher and principal at First Nation schools around Alberta, would bring her to…
Find someone you can trust to communicate what you’re going through
On a recent Sunday afternoon, I went over the handlebars of my bike, bent my front wheel and landed on my head. My son Caleb wasn’t surprised – in fact, I’ve noticed he worries about me when we go riding. And I admit I’ve had my share of accidents on my mountain bike. The thing…
Humanistic coaches focus on encouragement and positive motivation. They believe humans seek out fun and want to actualize themselves
“Fun is good.” – Mike Veeck, creator of a variety of innovative and fun baseball promotions Unfortunately, the vast majority of coaches, from the youth level to the professional level, adopt a militaristic coaching style. They believe a taskmaster mentality is how you get the best from athletes. It’s not. “Nothing, according to the research,…
U of A expert brings 25 years of research to project involving caregiver support organization and local tech company
Sitting up in the darkest hours of early morning, comforting his wife as she struggled with a panic attack, Darren Hinger was exhausted, knowing he had to work the next day. “I was saying to myself, I already know I’m exhausted, I don’t have anything left to give, I have to get some sleep to…
Don’t let yourself sit and wallow in your thoughts
Do you often feel helpless or believe the world is out to get you? Do people often mention they think you’re cynical or pessimistic? It’s certainly possible you have what’s referred to as a victim mentality. A victim mentality is a learned mental state in which you blame others for your problems and absolve yourself…
We’re in the middle of a mental health crisis, and it’s crying out for more attention. Lives are being lost to suicide. Depression, anxiety and other forms of mental illness negatively affect entire families, not just the individual suffering. Work productivity is impacted to a significant degree due to mental health issues. And yet, there’s…
We are in the vortex of a mental health and addictions epidemic
In 1998, our family was in trouble. We were on the brink of losing a child – our daughter was in deep trouble due to acute addictions and mental health problems. Living in Winnipeg at the time, we were on a desperate mission to find help. It wasn’t there. It wasn’t anywhere in Canada. We…
If you see yourself in any of the following common examples, it’s time to make a change
Faith Wood knows how to resolve conflict. Her years in front-line law enforcement taught her how to effectively de-escalate any situation to a successful conclusion. Faith will use her knowledge of conflict management to guide you through the often stressful experiences you may encounter in your personal or professional life. Her Conflict Coach column appears…
Better mental wellness among health-care workers benefits patient care
A University of Alberta nursing researcher is tackling a paradox that affects not only the mental health of health-care providers but also the quality of patient care they deliver during the COVID-19 pandemic. Susan Sommerfeldt, assistant professor in the Faculty of Nursing, has received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) for two…
Remember to keep your personal and work lives separate
Faith Wood knows how to resolve conflict. Her years in front-line law enforcement taught her how to effectively de-escalate any situation to a successful conclusion. Faith will use her knowledge of conflict management to guide you through the often stressful experiences you may encounter in your personal or professional life. Her Conflict Coach column appears…
No matter how you’re moving through grief, it’s right for you
Faith Wood knows how to resolve conflict. Her years in front-line law enforcement taught her how to effectively de-escalate any situation to a successful conclusion. Faith will use her knowledge of conflict management to guide you through the often stressful experiences you may encounter in your personal or professional life. Her Conflict Coach column appears…