The Wellness Diary

Insights, advice, new research, tips and tricks, and new resources to help you with your mental health journey.

Corporate Sandra Kushnir Corporate Sandra Kushnir

Finding Your Inner Compass: A Deep Dive into Meridian Counseling

Meridian Counseling stands as a beacon of hope and guidance amid life's challenges for many of our clients. Our therapeutic philosophy offers a unique, holistic, and comprehensive approach to mental wellness, where the physical, emotional, and mental aspects of our being are given equal importance. Our ultimate goal is to help individuals navigate through the complexities of life and find their unique direction, leading to self-fulfillment and a balanced life. We believe that everyone has the potential to create their journey towards mental health, fulfilling relationships, and higher life satisfaction, we are here to provide the necessary guidance and support.

Read More
Health and Wellness Sandra Kushnir Health and Wellness Sandra Kushnir

Transform Your Life with the Feel Great System

The Feel Great System, your best buddy in this journey to wellness. It's an all-encompassing, innovative plan to help you reach that much-coveted state of feeling great. The system warmly reminds us that self-care, mental health, physical activity, healthy routines, and supportive relationships aren't just nice-to-haves, they're essential ingredients in the recipe for a joyful, fulfilled life.

Read More
Addiction Sandra Kushnir Addiction Sandra Kushnir

Understanding Addiction and Its Impact on the Brain

Addiction is a complex phenomenon that significantly disrupts the brain's carefully balanced system of reward, motivation, and regulation. It primarily interferes with the normal functioning of key neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine is often associated with feelings of pleasure and reward, while serotonin plays a critical role in mood regulation. The imbalance produced by addiction in these neurotransmitter systems has profound effects on an individual's behavior, decision-making processes, memory, and other cognitive functions.

Read More
Resources Sandra Kushnir Resources Sandra Kushnir

What is MyProAna?

MyProAna initially came into existence as an online platform that was envisioned to function as a supportive community for those individuals who were battling eating disorders. The primary goal was to provide a safe space where these individuals could share their experiences, seek advice, and find comfort in the understanding that they weren't alone in their struggles. However, with time, the narrative began to shift. The platform started facing substantial criticism as it was accused of endorsing unhealthy behaviors associated with anorexia (often referred to as pro-ana) and bulimia (pro-mia), treating them as lifestyle choices instead of serious health conditions that required immediate medical attention and intervention.

Read More
Resources Sandra Kushnir Resources Sandra Kushnir

Understanding Ketamine Therapy: Who Should Avoid It?

Over the last several decades, our understanding and application of the drug ketamine has evolved and expanded significantly. Originally known for its anesthetic properties, ketamine has demonstrated a unique ability to provide relief for individuals suffering from severe mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This is particularly notable in cases where traditional treatment methods, such as psychotherapy and antidepressants, have failed to produce effective results. The emergence of ketamine as a potent tool in the battle against these debilitating conditions marks a significant and promising advance in the field of mental health treatment.

Read More
Resources Sandra Kushnir Resources Sandra Kushnir

How to Help Someone Overcome Porn Addiction

This addiction is characterized by an individual's inability to control or decrease their usage, despite the negative consequences it brings upon their life. These consequences can be varied and far-reaching, with the individual experiencing significant distress and impairment in multiple areas of their life. This includes their well-being, their relationships with family members, their social interactions, and even their performance in academics or the workplace. It's important to recognize that like any addiction, porn addiction can be a serious and debilitating condition that requires understanding, support, and appropriate treatment.

Read More
Resources Sandra Kushnir Resources Sandra Kushnir

The Advantages of Enhancing Trauma Therapy with the Engagement of Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs)

Overcoming trauma is an intensely personal journey, often marked by variations in experiences from one individual to another. For many individuals, this journey involves delving into a variety of therapeutic approaches designed to address the multifaceted emotional, psychological, and at times, physical impacts of their traumatic experiences. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in and recognition of the benefits of integrating medication management into trauma therapy. This integrated approach offers a comprehensive and holistic method of healing, addressing not only the mind but also the body. At the forefront of this integrated treatment model are the Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs).

Read More
Spirituality Sandra Kushnir Spirituality Sandra Kushnir

Navigating the Path to Healing: Christian Sexual Trauma Therapy

Sexual trauma can be a deeply personal and isolating experience, particularly for individuals who identify as Christian. Young adults and adults grappling with the aftermath face unique challenges, such as reconciling their experiences with their faith. This process can be confusing and painful as survivors strive to understand their trauma within their religious framework. This post aims to provide supportive and informative guidance for those on this challenging healing journey.

Read More
#blog Sandra Kushnir #blog Sandra Kushnir

How To Identify a Karmic Relationship

If you have ever experienced a bond that feels like a magnetic connection, but with a turbulent twist, you are not alone. Karmic relationships are filled with passion and pain, often at the same time.

Read More
#blog, Resources Sandra Kushnir #blog, Resources Sandra Kushnir

5-Mental Health Myths

We live in a culture that perpetuates pleasant feelings. Everywhere we look, from social media to advertisements, to our friends and family, we only see people who appear to be happy, easy-going and feeling good. We are raised to believe that we should aim to experience as many uplifting, happy emotions as possible and to minimize unpleasant emotions.

Read More
#blog Sandra Kushnir #blog Sandra Kushnir

High Functioning Anxiety: How To Live With It

People with high functioning anxiety experience many typical symptoms of anxiety, such as excessive worry and fear, overthinking, and poor sleep. Effective treatment is available for all types of anxiety. This article provides an overview of high functioning anxiety, its symptoms, and the potential treatment options.

Read More
#blog Sandra Kushnir #blog Sandra Kushnir

Relaxation Techniques: Tips On How To Reduce Stress

Relaxation is not only about peace of mind or about enjoying a hobby. Relaxation is a process that decreases the effects of stress on your mind and body as well. Relaxation techniques can indeed help you cope with everyday stress and even with stress related to various health problems, such as heart diseases, stress and pain.

Read More
#blog Sandra Kushnir #blog Sandra Kushnir

4-Comfortable Sleeping Positions For Couples

We already know that in order for a relationship to last, two people have to be compatible with one another in most things. Their dreams, plans for the future and even sense of humor should match at least a little- but the same applies to sleep habits too.

Read More
#blog Sandra Kushnir #blog Sandra Kushnir

How To Up-Level Your Conflict Resolution Strategies

You may prefer one of the conflict resolution strategies discussed over the others, all of these strategies can be used effectively in certain situations. For example, if the issue is minor and won't have lasting consequences, it may be in your best interest to accommodate the other party rather than to try to serve your own needs. However, if the issue is severe and will impact multiple people, it may make sense to choose a strategy with more assertiveness.

Read More
#blog Sandra Kushnir #blog Sandra Kushnir

Collective Crisis: How And Why People Respond So Differently To Fear

When life-threatening emergencies arise, fear begins to work in mysterious ways and it invokes a wide range of individual responses. To better understand the collective crisis and process the seemingly odd behavior of others, let’s demystify the varying degrees of the fear response. More importantly, building awareness around why you may react in a certain way and why others may respond so differently has the power to transform exasperation and judgment into empathy and collaboration, in a time where we are in dire need of the latter.

Read More
#blog Sandra Kushnir #blog Sandra Kushnir

The Ultimate Secret of Yoga for Mental Health

Yoga is therapy, the full practice serves us work with the nature of being a human, the nature of the mind, how feelings live in our bodies, how they influence our minds and our behavior. In fact, yoga is much more than holding poses and stretching; yoga is a more widespread practice indeed, a lifestyle that includes several life principles.

Read More
#blog Sandra Kushnir #blog Sandra Kushnir

4-Tips for Sleeping Better with Mental Illness

A number of mental illnesses impact sleep, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and ADHD. These disorders can make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep, cause restless nights, and in some cases, cause you to sleep too much.

Read More
#blog Sandra Kushnir #blog Sandra Kushnir

Self-Compassion: the Antidote for Perfectionism?

why is it that we strive for perfection with our bodies, our social interactions, our performance at work, and in our relationships? We set impossible standards that only lead us to critically question our self-worth and engage in internal name-calling (i.e. “did I look smart enough?” “ugh, I am so lazy.”) This never-ending pursuit of flawlessness does not yield success, instead, it places us on a fast-track to emotional dissatisfaction and a relentless state of unhappiness.

Read More