In July 2019 I was diagnosed (by a psychiatrist) as having complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) resulting from physical, emotional and sexual abuse that occurred during childhood, adolescence and adulthood.
Deep Dive on CPTSD | The First Time I Drank, I Drank a Bottle
Substance abuse is a common feature of CPTSD. Day 5, May 18, 2020 It's bedtime on Monday night, the final day of the long weekend that is solidly linked with the rituals of camping, barbecuing, and of course, drinking. This year is different for me as I quit drinking 5 days ago. I'm not sure …
Continue reading Deep Dive on CPTSD | The First Time I Drank, I Drank a Bottle
Starve COVID, Feed Food Banks
With fewer volunteers and fewer donations, our food banks are going to need to hire paid staff AND purchase more food items. Our national network of food banks needs all the help it can get.
Deep Dive into Anxiety Relief | Walking in a Small Town
Walking increases the flow of oxygenated blood in the brain as well as boosting the release of feel-good endorphins and dopamine.
On the Loss of a Dog
This post contains TRIGGERS related to pet loss. I know firsthand how the loss of a dog can break the heart of a family. On June 28, 2019 our family said good-bye to our beloved rescue dog Cassie. I adopted Cassie on August 9, 2007 during the single mom phase of my life. I remember …
Deep Dive into Cannabis | Part 2 | Sativa, Indica & Terpenes
When I first started experimenting with medicinal cannabis a few years ago it was much simpler: indica or sativa was all you needed to know. Fast forward to 2020 and scientists have identified more than 200 terpenes in cannabis! Terpenes are the "fragrant, essential oils that lend aromatic profiles to cannabis products" (source: Hexo). The …
Continue reading Deep Dive into Cannabis | Part 2 | Sativa, Indica & Terpenes
Deep Dive into Cannabis | Part 1 | Cannabis & Mental Health
On October 17, 2018 (the day recreational weed became legal across Canada) I posted a blog on cannabis and mental health. I want to do a few follow-up posts offering more about research in this area and my personal experiences. Since recreational cannabis edibles became legal on October 17, 2019, the update seems (relatively) timely. …
Continue reading Deep Dive into Cannabis | Part 1 | Cannabis & Mental Health
