As a woman, have you ever suffered pain from penetrative sex?
While studies mention that it is a common experience for women to report pain during intercourse, it may also be a sign that you might have vaginismus - which can be addressed.
Read moreEndometriosis: Symptoms, Impact, and How to Cope
The life of a woman with endometriosis is a monthly cycle of pain. But there’s a lot more to that story too.
Read moreFertility Stress in Men: Causes and Coping
Fertility challenges are stereotypically thought to be solely a women’s health issue; however, research shows that men and women play an equal role in fertility difficulties.
Who says men can’t be stressed about trying to conceive? More so than not, men may see it as a flaw in themselves if things don’t go as expected, even if they don’t talk about it. But beyond just talking, here are our tips on coping with fertility stress, especially if you’re a guy.
Read moreUnderstanding Trauma Responses and How to Heal
Trauma doesn’t always stem from one life-changing event. It can arise from a single experience, a series of repeated events, or a buildup of stress over time.
People use the “fight-flight” response to explain every response and reaction these days. But really, do you know it’s not just fight or flight, and that there are specific ways for us to break through our automatic trauma responses?
Read moreHow Sciatica Pain Affects Mood and Emotions
Sciatica is a physical symptom resulting in pain, numbness or tingling that can radiate from your lower back all the way down to your legs.
Living with sciatica can take a toll not only on your body but also on your emotions. Chronic pain alters the brain’s stress and emotion systems, making worry, frustration and overwhelm much harder to manage. If you have felt increasingly tense, distressed or stuck in a cycle of pain and exhaustion, you’re not alone. Understanding this mind-body connection is the first step toward regaining control and finding healthier ways to cope.
Read moreLiving with Chronic Pain: Understanding and Support
Pain is important in life. It is our body’s way of signaling to us that something is wrong. It allows us to take active steps to address the cause of the pain, ensuring that we are out of harm’s way. However, pain becomes an issue when it is persistent and disrupts our daily functioning.
Living with chronic pain can be an isolating experience. The discomfort is often constant, yet the emotional weight of managing daily tasks, relationships and expectations can be just as challenging. Many people feel unseen or misunderstood, especially when their pain is not outwardly visible.
This article explores what chronic pain truly means, how it affects both body and mind, and why compassionate support makes such a meaningful difference. Whether you are navigating chronic pain yourself or supporting someone who is, this guide offers clarity, validation and gentle strategies to cope with daily demands.
Read morePregnancy Hormones and Their Impact on Mental Health
Pregnancy is a transformative experience filled with joy and exhilaration. However, it can be physically and emotionally taxing on the mother’s body.
Pregnancy brings profound hormonal changes that can influence mood, energy levels and emotional well being. While many expect fluctuations, it can still feel confusing or overwhelming when feelings shift suddenly or intensely. Understanding how these hormonal changes interact with mental health can help expectant parents feel more grounded and supported during this period of transition.
This article explains the key hormones involved in pregnancy, how they affect emotional health and what signs to look out for. It also offers gentle, practical steps to seek support when needed. You are not alone, and with the right guidance, these changes can be navigated with confidence and care.
Read moreThe Hidden Stress of Trying to Conceive (TTC)
Starting a family is an exciting new chapter in your life, but it does not always come without challenges.
Fertility stress refers to the stress and anxiety an individual may face while attempting to conceive. Trying to get pregnant with no success can take a significant emotional toll on the individual and is more common than we may think.
Fertility stress can take a toll on emotional health and relationships. This article explores how stress affects the body and mind, and offers practical, compassionate ways to cope — from creating “fertility-free” moments and practising relaxation techniques to challenging self-criticism and finding support. You don’t have to navigate this journey alone; emotional healing and hope are possible.
Read moreCoping After Losing a Loved One to Suicide
It feels like the world has been split into “before” and “after”. Nothing is easy. Nothing makes sense.
When a loved one passes by suicide, the grief that follows is complex. It brings pain, confusion, and often a sense of unfinishedness, like pages were ripped out of a book you weren’t done reading.
Losing a loved one to suicide can bring overwhelming grief, guilt, and unanswered questions. This guide offers compassionate ways to cope, stay connected, and begin healing at your own pace.
Read moreTrauma Anniversaries: How to Understand and Cope
A trauma anniversary marks the date when a traumatic event occurred. Even when we are not thinking about it, our mind and body often still remember.
Trauma anniversaries can be a result of private (e.g. sexual assault, domestic violence or childhood abuse) or public trauma (e.g. natural disasters, terrorist attacks or political violence). Whether private or public, trauma anniversaries can stir up intense emotions and symptoms. These reactions are normal, and they are known as anniversary reactions.
Why do trauma anniversaries occur?
Trauma affects both our minds and bodies. When a traumatic event occurs, our body activates its fight, flight, or freeze response to protect us from the overwhelming danger. When this trauma is not fully processed, this survival response becomes overactive. Resultingly, cues that remind us of the traumatic event can trigger this intense reaction, even when there is no real threat.
As the trauma anniversary nears, we may feel more on edge as our body reacts to perceived threats. These cues can be internal, such as emotional or physical states (i.e. feeling the same emotions or bodily sensations felt during the trauma). Cues can also be external, such as time-based (i.e. seasonal changes, time of year) or environmental triggers (i.e. sights, sounds, smells). Encountering a cue can activate the body’s survival response and can leave you feeling anxious, nervous or scared.
However, these trauma reminders are not always negative. In some cases, they can support the healing process. For example, the anniversary of a loss may bring memories of a loved one and offer space to process your grief more deeply. Media coverage of a public tragedy can also rally survivors together and facilitate community support.
For trauma anniversary signs in children and how to support them, check out our parenting guide.
Trauma Anniversary Symptoms
Trauma anniversaries can often make PTSD symptoms worse. You may experience feelings of self-judgement and question “Why am I still bothered by this?”. Or you may face anticipation anxiety, dreading the day for fear you will struggle.
Other common symptoms include:
Reliving the event
Most common symptom
Re-experiencing the feelings, bodily responses and thoughts that occurred during the trauma
Avoidance
Avoidance of anything related to the traumatic event (i.e. people, places, objects)
Negative changes in beliefs and feelings
Old thoughts or feelings of guilt or shame may return
Daily mood affected (e.g. sad, anxious, nervous)
Affects how they relate to others (i.e. friends and family)
Feeling “on edge” (hyperarousal)
Constantly feeling jittery, nervous or worried
Difficulties sleeping or having nightmares
More reactive to small triggers (i.e. irritable, easy to anger)
How can we feel better?
Over time, the distress will become less frequent and less intense. Most people start to feel better within a week or two after the anniversary of the traumatic event. While symptoms can feel overwhelming, there are effective strategies to help you cope.
1. Caring for Your Physical Health
Your physical health pays a big role in your mental well-being. A balanced diet, regular exercise and sufficient rest is especially important when dealing with trauma anniversaries, as they help regulate emotions and build emotional resilience.
Exercise releases endorphins, commonly known as “happy hormones” that reduce anxiety and boost our mood. What you eat can significantly impact your mood. So, eating nutrient-rich foods can ensure your energy levels are stable and improve your feelings of anxiety, fatigue or irritability. Lastly, rest is crucial in facilitating recovery from trauma. Sleep helps restore your brain function, regulates your moods and calms your nervous system. Rest is not a luxury; it’s a necessity when coping with anniversary trauma.
2. Lean on your loved ones
When facing something as heavy as trauma, it is important to surround yourself with people who make you feel safe, seen and supported. Surround yourself with people who respect your boundaries, listen without judgement and show genuine concern. Remember, you are not alone! When trauma anniversary symptoms surface, reach out to someone you trust to get support.
3. Journalling
Writing down your thoughts and feelings can be a powerful way to reduce your anniversary trauma symptoms. Writing it down can help you acknowledge and process all the complex emotions you may be feeling. It can express emotions or thoughts that are too hard to say out loud, providing an outlet to reduce emotional overwhelm and facilitate healing.
4. Try Calming Exercises
Heart pounding, hands shaking and thoughts racing – when our survival response takes over, it can be difficult to steady ourselves admists the overwhelming emotions. Mindfulness exercises can help bring awareness to our emotions, calm our nervous system, and reground us to the present.
5. Seek Professional Help
Trauma is not something to dismiss or minimise. When left unaddressed, it can become deeply rooted and lead to serious mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety and emotional dysregulation. Sometimes, self-care alone is not enough – and that is okay! There is no shame in asking for help. Just like how you would visit a doctor when your body’s not feeling well, it can be helpful to visit a mental health professional if you have been struggling with your mental health. Therapists, counsellors and psychologists are trained to create a safe space where you feel supported, understood and heard. Asking for help is the bravest thing you can do for yourself.
Anniversary trauma and the distressing feelings, thoughts and physical symptoms it brings can be incredibly difficult to face. Navigating trauma can sometimes feel like an endless dark tunnel. But take heart – healing is possible. Lean on those who love you and be patient with yourself.
Healing is never linear. Every small step forward makes all the difference to recovery.