Tag: self-care
-
Happiness Sutras
On September 9, 2020, I woke to a blood orange sky that felt apocalyptic. In the midst of wildfire smoke, a pandemic, and unrest, my son handed me a journal with my “Happiness Sutras,” inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh. Reading those stories of joy shifted me from fear to gratitude. As Dr. Christine E. Dickson…
-
Craft Away Anxiety
In 2007, while working as a prison psychologist, Dr. Christine E. Dickson found that crafting was the most effective activity for reducing anxiety in solitary confinement. Years later, she noticed the same calming benefits while crafting with her son during the pandemic—showing that creative, hands-on projects can ease stress in any kind of lockdown.
-
Crazy Sexy Anxiety
Kris Carr, author of Crazy Sexy Cancer, has lived with Stage IV cancer since 2003 by redefining illness and rejecting the victim mindset. Inspired by her work, Dr. Christine E. Dickson applies the “crazy sexy” approach to both medical and psychiatric conditions, helping clients view challenges like anxiety, depression, and PTSD not as sources of…
-
Overcoming Anxiety: The Story of “Alan”
Dr. Dickson describes how she helps clients overcome anxiety with four simple tools.
-
Improve Anxiety and Depression with Cold Showers
In 2017, when I first learned that cold showers could significantly improve symptoms of anxiety and depression, I immediately began suggesting it to all of my clients. Exposure to cold is known to activate the sympathetic nervous system and send an overwhelming amount of electrical impulses from peripheral nerve endings to the brain, which can…
-
3 Ways to Tolerate Stress and Anxiety
At times stress and anxiety can feel overwhelming, leaving us exhausted and drained. In this post, licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Christine E. Dickson shares practical tools for tolerating strong emotions. These strategies can help you move through difficult moments with greater resilience.
-
Eating Mindfully: The Cookie Meditation
Eating mindfully is a most important practice of meditation. – Thich Nhat Hanh Today, I thought it would be nice to write a post about mindful eating. Those of us who are familiar with mindful eating have heard about the cookie meditation. However, most people are unfamiliar with the origins of this meditation. It was…
-
One Mindfully @ Work
In today’s fast-paced world, stress can feel overwhelming and constant. One simple but powerful practice—“One Mindfully in the Moment”—offers a way to regain calm and focus. Dr. Christine E. Dickson recommends this ancient Zen technique as one of the most effective tools for managing stress, helping to reduce overwhelm, improve concentration, and bring balance during…
-
7 Ways to Improve the Moment
Strong emotional reactions are an unavoidable part of life. From time to time, we will experience strong emotions due to stressful situations in our life. It could be anything from getting bad news to having an argument with a loved one. Strong emotional reactions are normal but most of us don’t know how to cope…
-
Soothing Emotions with the Five Senses
Discover how soothing your five senses—sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste—can help you calm your mind and body. This guide explains simple self-soothing techniques that can reduce stress and restore emotional balance, even if you’ve never learned them before.