If you were to wake up and notice sudden hearing loss in one or both ears, DO NOT wait a few days to see if it settles down. This is an emergency and without quick intervention, this symptom can become permanent. Your best course of action is to go to the Hospital Emergency Department immediately. The ER Doctor may need to get your hearing tested. If the doctor deems it necessary, it is important to get treated within 48 Hours. Your hearing is too important to push aside, especially as the Christmas season settles in around us.
Spending During the Holiday Season
We all know that December can be an expensive month. Between gifts, food, and decorations, expenses can add up, and the “holiday spirit” can push your budget aside. While it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, remember, you will have to compensate for these extra expenses in the new year.
This season is for spending time with family and friends, not spending your money. Do your best to reduce holiday financial stress by sticking to your budget, donating your time instead of money, and choosing free festivities over costly ones, enjoying quality time without a large price tag.
When Music Speaks
Obsessed with the threat of the dark side dominating as otherworldly creatures battle for domination of the planet, this young boy’s music reflected it all. An eerie calm, the imminent threat, then mayhem. Battle-weary soldiers of the galaxy withdrew and peace was temporarily restored. Music therapy has allowed Alex to express with the music therapist via instruments, voice, puppets, and word-play what otherwise was too scary for him to verbalize. Alex stands up to the ‘bad guys’ now on his own, both in his dreams and in real life.
Handling Self-Criticism
Some lucky people seem to sail through life without doubt. For many of us, though, a negative voice whispers in our ear, telling us how bad, wrong, stupid, crazy, or worthless we are. And even though we know it’s unfair, it can be a real struggle to get clear of it! Doubt, self-blame, self-sabotage, anxiety, lack of confidence can hamper us. How do you value yourself and make good changes when your inner voice is unsupportive? You can learn to support yourself! Counselling can be a safe place to learn this skill, find new ways to appreciate yourself, and rediscover your confidence.
Trust your Gut
Your immune system works hard to protect you from injury, illness, and disease. This process usually involves inflammation, a natural response to stress, tissue damage, and harmful stimuli like viruses, bacteria, and toxins. Inflammation functions similarly to an engine warning light, alerting you to the presence of a problem through symptoms such as heat, pain, redness, swelling, and/or loss of function. 85% of the immune system is located in our gut. An anti-inflammatory diet rich in vitamins A, C, and E and the mineral selenium provides your gut with the ingredients it needs to bolster immunity and achieve optimal mental and physical health.
Gut Health
Listen to your gut? Processed foods, chemicals, allergies, stress, trauma, pharmaceuticals and surgeries can all affect your bodies digestive abilities. Chron’s, colitis and other digestive issues are becoming more common. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been proven to encourage remission and decrease incidents of bleeding, inflammation, bloat, constipation and weight gain associated with various inflammatory bowel diseases. Importantly, HBOT encourages long term healing of digestive tissues by decreasing inflammation, increasing stem cells and improving intestinal tissue health. HBOT is a safe, effective therapy, especially when combined with good nutrition and exercise.
Have Your Home Tested for EMFs
In 1993, Canada Mortgage and Housing funded a study looking at the prevalence of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in Canadian homes. Almost 50% of homes showed elevated levels of EMFs due to electrical wiring errors. These were levels of exposure above that which has been shown to be associated with illness in the public. Powerline EMFs, combined with Wi-Fi and cell phone radiation, may also place a huge burden on our immune systems and spawned a new category of illness known as electro hypersensitivity. Protect your health. Have your home and workplace tested for EMFs and limit your use of wireless technology.
Challenged With Your Child?
Do you have a child who is anxious, depressed or acting out? Imagine your child engaging with paint, puppets or the drum. The expressive therapies offer your child a safe outlet for their inner world. Expressive therapies can help children release feelings they may not know how to let go of otherwise. This can allow your child to shift to a happier place. Acquire tools to support your child and to strengthen your relationship. Give your family an opportunity to create a sense of peace and healthy connection in your world at home today.
Balancing Stress & Celebration
December is simply a difficult month! Balancing negative stresses and positive happiness may seem impossible. One way to help yourself get through it is to pay special attention to your INTENTIONS. These are the thoughts you have before you act on them. For example, during the first week of December, say to yourself as often as you can, “I intend to experience joy and laughter even a tiny bit each day of this month” and then VISUALIZE yourself laughing and feeling happy. Just by saying and visualizing your intention, you have increased the chances of this being your reality by up to 75% more.
Clean Eating: Simple Vegan Eggnog
Ingredients: 1 15-ounce can coconut milk (400 ml), 1/2 cup raw cashews, 1/4 cup water, 3 tbsp maple syrup, 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon. Directions: Soak the cashews overnight or for at least 1 hour. Place all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Serve the eggnog chilled, so keep it in the fridge for at least 1 or 2 hours. Enjoy the Holiday Season!
Book Club: Making Sense of Mindfulness
Do you practise mindfulness? Manitoba-born author Keith Macpherson (BEd) is a mindfulness life coach and motivational speaker who has been inspiring audiences for more than twenty years.nown for his popular “daily intentions” on social media and his regular column “Keith’s Corner” in several corporate wellness magazines, Keith inspires thousands of people daily with his messages of mindfulness. This book is available now at your local book store.