Stress Archives - Page 2 of 7 - Healthy Minds Philly®

The Art and Benefits of Nature Journaling

Nature journaling is a timeless practice that offers a deep connection with the natural world. What is a nature journal? At its core, a nature journal is a personal notebook where you record your observations about nature through sketches and notes. Imagine it as a mix between a diary and a sketchbook, where you capture the beauty and details of the natural world around you. You can also write about your thoughts and feelings, making it a personal and reflective experience. Whether you’re exploring your backyard, a park, or a [...]

Janine Monico2024-07-18T12:31:11-04:00July 16th, 2024|Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health, Self-Help, Stress|

People Can Pull Us Through It: Secondary Traumatic Stress

Overheard at a party: What do you do for a living? Oh, social work? That’s so hard.” Conversation ends. The stories social workers (and other caregivers) have can be buzzkills at parties. Our work is tough, and most folks don’t want to hear about it. This isn’t to paint us all as saints. We knew it was tough when we chose our line of work. But it can be very lonely to sit with our experiences, especially when you get secondary traumatic stress (STS). STS is the Post Traumatic Stress [...]

Janine Monico2023-04-18T12:05:59-04:00May 1st, 2023|Mental Health, Stress, Trauma|

Beleaf it or not: Plants make you happy! The effects of nature on mental health

Have you noticed a difference in your energy and mood after interacting with nature? How about going for a walk through your favorite park or smelling your favorite flower? Do you leave feeling more relaxed? Calm? Have a smile on your face? If you tried any of those activities and noticed a positive and uplifting shift in your energy and mood, your mental health likely was positively impacted by nature. Nature and mental health are more closely connected than you may think. Did you know spending time in nature outdoors [...]

Janine Monico2023-04-30T09:41:17-04:00May 1st, 2023|Mental Health, Self-Help, Stress|

No Feeling Is Final

Imagine you are at your doctor’s office. The nurse takes you back to see the doctor – what do they do next? “Let me get your temperature, blood pressure, check your height and weight.” A process we are all used to: checking vital signs Imagine you’re a client of mine now (I’m a psychotherapist, or simply, a therapist). You come into my office. I’ll check your mental health vital signs: How are you sleeping? How's your appetite? Your mood? Are you having fun? Are you hanging out with people? So [...]

Janine Monico2022-08-22T20:45:40-04:00September 12th, 2022|Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health, Stress, Suicide Prevention|