Mental Health - Widower Experience (WX)

Time to Talk Day is an annual awareness day held at the beginning of February - on the first Thursday of February - 6th of February 2025. The day is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health and breaking the stigma surrounding it. It is a day for friends, families, communities, and workplaces to come together to talk, listen, and change lives.  It aims to encourage people to talk about mental health and to help those who are struggling.. Talking about mental health isn't easy. But a conversation has the power to change lives. Starting Meaningful Conversations In a world where many people struggle with mental health issues, grief, or depression, offering an open ear can make all the difference. Starting a meaningful conversation doesn’t require special skills—just genuine care and a willingness to listen. Here’s how you can do it: Approach with Empathy Start by showing you care. A simple, “Hey, how are you really doing?” can open the door to honest conversation. It’s import...

If you're planning or about to spend the holidays alone, here are some suggestions on how to avoid feeling lonely. By the way as one of my main focus of my blog is around grieving - I might have a look at the article I wrote beginning of December " Managing Bereavement during the Holidays " The holiday season is usually full of happiness, love, and people coming together, but this is not the case for everyone. Whether you're alone choice or due to circumstances such as being geographically or emotionally distanced from family and friends, there are ways to cope with being alone during the holidays. Feeling lonely, sad or uninspired is normal, particularly if this situation is new for you or if you're dealing with loss. However, it might be beneficial to find ways to lighten your mood and make the holidays easier to get through. Adjust your expectations Television, movies, and social media often portray a perfect holiday season, which can make you feel like you...

We strive to live and eat healthier, look better and work more productively. But the road to self-improvement can be a slippery slope. Accepting and appreciating ourselves is sometimes harder than we think.  There are moments and time of trouble in life - challenges when you struggle. With ourselves, the path we have taken or certain circumstances that make up our lives. However, the most important part(s) of finding yourself and self-awareness are remembering what you want and why you want it. Don’t be afraid to reassess your approach if things start to tip in the wrong direction. With all the stress of everyday life, you often forget yourself. To keep self-care and self-esteem high, breaks are essential. I like to share with you a few ideas - how you can practice a little bit of self-love every day. A small sentences - just 3 words - can have a big impact. And you should say these 3 sentences to yourself more often "I love you" or "I love me" We are who we are -...

'Being-for-yourself' and 'alone-time' on the one hand and loneliness on the other hand are two very different animals.      And being alone doesn't mean turning your back on the world. On the contrary: It's about learning or having been learned to enjoy my own unaccompanied presence and to be happy with myself.  That is something I wish so many people. And sure there are moments and situations I still are learning. Being alone with no distractions. only me with myself. Why? Everyone has their reasons or their circumstance - perhaps because you live alone or because you are planned or unplanned without company right at a certain moment or time - during this pandemic, we have been isolated from others. While for many this isolation is spent with their families, some people are socially separated from all. In these times, the feeling of being lonely is a common response. And yes - when it gets quiet around you, your thoughts suddenly become very loud. Then question...