Dr. Michael Dadson (Mike Dadson), is offering two free counselling sessions (for the first 20 registrants) with Gentle Currents Therapy for families or individuals who have been affected by the recent disastrous flooding, or those who have experienced a traumatic loss due to Covid19. Follow this link for more details.
According to Dr. Michael Dadson:
"Right now, right here, in the Lower Mainland, we have twin acute stressors: we have the disastrous flooding, and we also have this long-term marathon of a pandemic, which has people tired of the constraints on their lives."
Mike Dadson recommends three mental health tips during times of crisis:
Be as kind and civil as possible to others in your community
Be willing to ask for help, especially if you have any suicidal thoughts
If you are experienceing depression from more than 30 days, Dr. Dadson cautions, "see your doctor or find a good therapist who is Registered Clinical Counsellor".
Dr. Mike Dadson can help you to adapt to life changes that are causing depression, including issues related to job loss, bereavement, marriage or relationship conflict. Dr. Dadson will discuss a treatment plan with you to help effectively address your depression. When sudden change comes into your life, it can create the need for change. Counselling can help and support you through these changes to a place of growth, empowerment and transistion.
In the video above, Dr. Dadson looks as how sudden change can impact our life.
According to Dr Michael (Mike Dadson), "an outdoor environment with fresh air, be it in cultivated gardens, or a more natural setting, can help bring calm to both our bodies and minds, and is especially great when we suffer from stress, anxiety, and depression. Walking, or finding a quiet place to sit and breath naturally, allows nature to reach out to us with calming benefits. This is also true when we are around water sources."
To read more about the benefits of the outdoors to your mental health follow the link here.
To Learn More About Doctor Dadson follow these 7 links:
Inspiration can come from many places. Be it your dream, what you get joy from, what you LOVE to do, one of your children, or something born out of an existing passion. Whatever the case, finding your inspiration is important for positive mental health.
If you having trouble finding your inspiration, are depressed, or experiencing anxiety, counselling can be highly beneficial. Contact Dr. Michael Dadson here about an appointment.
Doctor Dadson recommends these 2 videos for information and tips to help reduce stress/anxiety, and deal with depression issues.
Clinical Counselling for Depression, Substance Abuse, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Sexual Abuse Can Result in a Lifetime of Compromised Mental Health, Especially When Left Unaddressed, According to Langley, BC Clinical Counsellor, Dr. Michael Dadson
Instances of sexual abuse are becoming more transparent in the media. There is the horrify story of USA gymnastics and their disgraced physician who abused hundreds of victims before he was caught.
The impacts of sexual abuse can be profound, traumatic and life long (anxiety and depression are common), if not addressed. Not only are there mental health affects, but your physical health can be at risk as well. Dr Dadson notes research indicates eating disorders are also linked to abuse.
Extended COVID-19 lockdowns, and closures have lead to isolation for many youth, resulting in a pervasive sense of uncertainty continuing to affect the mental health of youth leading to depression and anxiety.
Dr. Dadson recommends that, in the midst of the emotional turmoil, we all make a practice of respect, empathy, kindness, and acceptance, and try to remember that maintaining healthy relationships is critical to our own mental and emotional health.
As a counsellor, until you are aware of the root of cause for the depression and address the underlying cause or belief related to the depression, it can be difficult to recommend a treatment plan or recover", comment Dr. Michael ( Mike Dadson )..
When Dr. Mike Dadson, talks about male depression, and ways men respond to therapy, there are several differences to that of a woman. Dr. Mike Dadson identifies that it is accepted and considered “socially normal for women to have vulnerability, and emotional social connections”. Dr. Dadson explains “for men, there is often shaming of emotional vulnerability from childhood messages like; boys don’t cry, real men don’t cry, you cry like a girl, real men aren’t afraid”.
Many boys grew up with the mentality they were not allowed to be emotionally vulnerable so now as men they do not have a reference point to start. Dr. Michael Dadson relates “this presents a problem for men suffering with depression, stress or trauma”. Dr. Dadson explains, “the fact that the very nature of trauma means the person feels vulnerable, or helpless, or terrified and even powerless, there is a total disconnect for many men when they experience emotions they are not familiar with or allowed to have or feel”. My research has shown that this experience acts as a secondary trauma for men that is a barrier for treatment.
Dr. Mike Dadson references the many cultures around the world where the types of emotions connected to trauma are “almost alien, or not masculine.” This mindset causes a contradiction for men between what they have been brought up hearing, believing to what they are now feeling. Dr. Dadson believes counseling can address many of the beliefs men may have about their masculinity, vulnerability and ability to have and feel emotions.
Depression in general is more than feeling sad once in a while, it is a feeling that is present almost every day, for most of the day, for over a period of two or more weeks. Depression can have a negative effect on your energy, relationships, family dynamics, friendships, social life, work, and education.
Depending on what has caused a specific incidence of depression, Dr. Michael Dadson will discuss options to develop a counseling plan ca to help you deal with your issues and emotions. Dr. Mike Dadson can help a person to adapt to life changes that are causing depression, including issues related to job loss, bereavement, marriage or relationship conflict. Dr. Dadson will discuss a treatment plan with you to help effectively address your depression.
According to Dr. Michael Dadson, “Anxiety is a natural response to stress or repeated exposure stress or to a stressful incident.” Anxiety can also be accompanied by symptoms of depression or avoidance. Types of anxiety disorders include: generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobias, and agoraphobia.
Dr Dadson, also relays, “Anxiety disorders often involve excessive feelings or fear and anxiousness that are unnecessary or unwarranted."
Doctor Michael Dadson's counselling videos on anxiety and depression.
Psychology Today, notes, "Anxiety is miserable. And most people reach for a pill or push it away to reduce it. But if we think of anxiety as a signal or as the tip of an iceberg, we can take steps to more permanently ease it. Anxiety tells us deep biological programs called core emotions have been triggered out of conscious awareness. These core emotions are designed by evolution to be felt and expressed. When we push them away, we feel anxiety."
This is a great article and diagram offering insights to "the models of self" and , which ideas that impact decisions around therapeutic models and the theories surrounding clients who seek help.
If you have faced either financial or emotional setbacks due to the pandemic, follow this link for some recovery ideas from TEDx.
Photo: Ben White Unsplash
The author of this article reviews "famous failures" and the incredible comeback celebrities made, including examples such as "Elvis Presley getting a C in music during high school and being told he couldn't sing. Additional celebrity failure references identify Walt Disney being fired from a newspaper as "he lacked imagination", and Oprah Winfrey loosing her job as an anchorwoman "because she was told she wasn't fit for television".
Given the level of global success those cited in the article achieved, the rationale seems ridiculous. There are many others with public profiles who faced a loss or setback, but there is a common theme with the goal to achieve, not giving up, looking for new pathways or open doors.
Dr Michael Dadson relates, "I have had many conversations with people about how we can handle the uncertainty of the pandemic for ourselves and family. Here are some of my thoughts":
1) It's NORMAL to feel anxious, everyone feels the uncertainty of the situation, you are not alone in feeling this way.
2) We can REDUCE feelings of powerlessness by seeing it as our job to help lower the curve. By isolating at home we are taking a powerful step in combating this disease.
3) HELP, rather than judge or blame. We all have a different response to stress.
4) Take advantage of the situation by DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY. We can socialize through video calls, and offer business services on-line.
According to Psychology today, "Post-Traumatic Growth can produce a ray of hope in an otherwise dark reality. A pandemic is a traumatic experience on a global scale."
As noted in the article above, millions of people around the world are experiencing trauma associated with Covid19 lockdowns, social isolation, lack of physical contact with their loved ones, economic struggles or financial uncertainty. Added to this already heightened level of stress, was the unprecedented protests and riots after the brutal murder of George Floyd.
The question then arises, how will we move forward after the pandemic and what will be the long term consequences?
