Welcome to Spring!

Today we celebrate the spring equinox. What a long and cold winter we’ve had! Luckily spring has arrived. We can take our cues from nature which reminds us to be patient, not rush and take things one day at a time as our energy returns.

Enjoy the warmth, be in the moment, and remember that spring brings many cool and rainy days as well. Every year, I have to remind myself that the warmer temps really don’t become consistent until the end of May in our area. It’s safe to say that my plants will have to wait a little bit longer to go back on the deck.

If things have felt extra heavy lately, you are not alone. The national and world news continue to dominate headlines, prices are skyrocketing, and with a sense of so much being out of our control with no end in sight, it can feel overwhelming.

In this newsletter, I will share some tips for managing the overwhelm.

I am also trying a new format for the quarterly newsletter. I use Canva for my social media accounts and business cards and recently discovered that it’s much more enjoyable to create the newsletter using Canva than my old format. (Click here to see the newsletter there!)

This allows me to easily add more items to the newsletter. I hope you enjoy it! If you want to share a favorite healthy recipe, book, podcast or other recommendation please feel free to share it with me.

Oasis Counseling and Wellness News

I am also excited to announce that I recently took two new trainings. The first is called BTC (Break The Cycle) of Intergenerational Trauma, based on Dr. Mariel Buque’s bestseller.

I have assessments and tools to help clients break the cycle of intergenerational trauma which I will incorporate with clients as needed.

Second, I have been trained to provide psychological evaluations for immigration cases such as those who are seeking asylum to the U.S.

Tips on managing overwhelm in uncertain times.

• Stop scrolling the news at least 1 hour before going to bed. It’s good to be informed and aware of what’s happening locally, nationally and globally, but with our access to 24/7 news and people’s opinions about everything, our nervous systems need to take a break and have a reset.
• Take a digital detox during a certain time of evening, day or whatever works for you. I’d be lying if I told you I have never lost time on social media reels watching squirrels waterskiing or cats learning to open doors with their paws and wondered where the time went. Know thyself!
• Listen to uplifting podcasts or music that puts you in a good mood.
• This one is my cat’s favorite: spend time in the morning light.
• In uncertain times, we naturally crave predictability. Rewatch a movie or reread a book where you already know the outcome. Pick something that takes you away from here. I personally love comedies, traveling and cooking shows.
• Make time to spend with friends or family members that you enjoy. Getting through hard times is more difficult in isolation.
• Pick up a new hobby, learn a new language or volunteer in your community for a cause that is important to you.
• Get up and move! Dance to music, talk a walk in a park, ride your bike or join a yoga or other exercise class.
• Start decluttering for spring. Perfectionists listen closely: do not feel the need to do it all at once! Pick one area (start small, such a linen closet) and save the other areas for another time or take a break in between.
• Read up on history. When we understand how people have navigated and survived challenging times and often emerged stronger from periods of crisis, this can offer a sense of hope and perspective. Humans are resilient.

Free Support Group for Navigating Stressful Times

This support group provides connection, grounding, and coping strategies during stressful times. While therapeutically informed, it is not a replacement for individual therapy. Our shared goal is to create a safe, respectful, and supportive environment for all participants. Click here to register!

Book and podcast recommendations for mental health information and empowerment