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Healing the Mind, Body & Spirit Through the Creative Arts, Education & Advocacy Hope, Healing & Help for Trauma, Abuse & Mental Health “ Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars”. Kahlil Gibran The Surviving Spirit Newsletter September 2023 Hi Folks, Welcome to the September issue of the Surviving Spirit. Fall is definitely in the air here in New Hampshire, pleasant days and chilly nights ...a sign of what's to come.

To read more of Jill Suttie's article, please click here. Those of us with dogs know that they can be wonderful companions. Though they take some effort to care for, the love and joy they bring to your life is often well worth the cost. Now, a new study suggests something else your dog may provide: relief from anxiety. In this study, 73 pet owners reported on their stress levels, their history with animals, their attitude toward dogs, how long they’d owned their pet dog, and how closely...

“Never judge another man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins.” – Native American Proverb Walk With Me by Michael Skinner - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I5WMypXDn8 [Lyrics posted below] Michael Skinner Music - https://www.mskinnermusic.com/ https://www.mskinnermusic.com/music/album-train-tears/ - scroll down to Track # 7 All of my songs are on Amazon, Spotify, etc...& two minute clips are posted at my website. “Everyone has untold stories of pain and sadness that make them...

Anxiety rooted in the hidden wounds from childhood need not be a lifelong sentence. A combination of effective strategies offer hope and help to alleviate anxious conditions, including excessive worry and panic attacks, that originate in childhood.

Photo: Shutterstock To read more of John Russell's article, please click here. The vitriol directed at the LGBTQ+ community lately can feel defeating, and studies have shown that anxiety levels for queer folks have skyrocketed. But psychologists have also developed a simple technique you can do anywhere to calm yourself and grow your feelings of self-worth. You only need your mobile device or a laptop to feel better using “positive affirmation.” “People wish to view themselves as competent,...

Shelley Paul and Jill Gough had heard that doodling while taking notes could help improve memory and concept retention, but as instructional coaches they were reluctant to bring the idea to teachers without trying it out themselves first. To give it a fair shot, Paul tried sketching all her notes from a two-day conference. By the end, her drawings had improved and she was convinced the approach could work for kids, too. “It causes you to listen at a different level,” said Jill Gough,...

“OUR STORIES OUR VISIONS SERIES #6” BY AMIR KHADAR/WWW.AMIRKHADAR.COM To read more of Shelly Tygielski's article, please click here. In recent years, a growing uneasiness and an undercurrent of anxiety have emerged in the United States. Psychologists, therapists, social workers, and doctors across the medical spectrum agree that we are in the middle of a genuine national mental health crisis. A time like this can serve as an impetus for reclaiming self-care as a movement, which could have a...

via RDNE Stock project/Pexels A volunteer gives out food to the needy. To read more of Tod Perry's article, please click here. Depression and anxiety rates are on the rise , especially among the youth. One way people can overcome this debilitating disorder is through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps to recognize and reshape negative thoughts to bring joy back into depressed people’s lives. However, CBT might not always address patients’ need for social connections, which are...

Having friends, family, and other strong social ties is essential for happiness. GETTY IMAGES By Kristine Gill, Fortune Well., August 13, 2023 The happiest country in the world is Finland, according to the 2023 World Happiness Report . But short of moving across the ocean, experts agree there are ways to improve your own happiness regardless of where you live. “Happiness is a habit,” says Talia Soen, CEO and founder of Happy Things, a platform that helps you build those habits with daily...

A song about loss, sadness and grief...and yet life moves on - "Finding peace cause I have to"- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bj3ouoqppw Written by Michael Skinner & Michelle Skinner - a father & daughter duo collaboration...& more to come!!

For moving past hidden wounds from childhood, mindset matters. These important attitudes undergird the process of healing from adverse childhood experiences.

To read more of Chrissy Sexton's article, please click here. In an era where technology often confines us to sedentary habits, walking remains a readily available and simple form of exercise. A new study suggests that the more we walk, the more we stand to gain in terms of health benefits. The relationship between the number of steps taken and the reduction in mortality risk has been a topic of many discussions. The current study, which is the world’s most extensive research on the subject,...