Diane Mesnier Psychologist & Yoga Teacher

16/10/2020

October is pregnancy and infant awareness loss.

It is an opportunity to mark the lives of babies lost in pregnancy, at or soon after birth.
This initiative is meant to raise awareness around key issues that affect people who have lost a baby.

Depending on the circumstances, the experience of the loss and what the pregnancy meant for them, people who have lost a baby may experience different feelings among which:

- Sadness
- Confusion
- Numbness
- Anger
- Jealousy
- Guilt
- Emptiness
- Loneliness
- Panic
- Acceptance

Even though these feelings are all normal reactions to the loss, they are likely to affect the mental well being of the person who is grieving which is why they should not be ignored.

The impact of such loss on a physical and mental level is real and should be addressed. To often, couples and especially women who have lost a baby at any stage of their pregnancy, are surprised by the impact it has on their lives.

Losing a pregnancy most of the time requires to go through the process of grief. This process can become more difficult when the legitimacy of your feelings is underestimated.
Remember that the loss and the feeling of emptiness are real.

Artemis Psychology & Yoga

08/10/2020

Have you ever heard of Non Violent Communication (NVC) ?

This communication process was created by the psychologist Marshall Rosenberg referred to as a “language of compassion”.
Rosenberg defines it as “an ongoing reminder to keep our attention focused on a place where we are more likely to get what we are seeking” (Rosenberg & Chopra, 2015).

NVC is based on the principal that both verbal and nonverbal communication, is a form of exchange and negotiation between partners which can be performed with or without compassion.
The assumption that compassionate communication gives different results than uncompassionate communication and that these differences have a significant impact on both individual and societal levels (Rosenberg & Chopra, 2015).

There are basically four steps to NVC:

1. Observations
That implies presenting facts without judgment.
Separating what we observe from our personal judgment is a skill which can be learned For example, instead of saying, “You often don’t listen when I’m speaking,” you can say, “In our meeting today, I noticed that you were on your phone.”

2. Feelings
In NVC we take responsibilities for our feelings. Therefore, what others say are considered stimulus but not the cause of our feelings. What causes feelings to occur is the way we choose to respond to these stimuli.

3. Needs
In NVC, feelings are seen as the outer expression of needs such as acceptance or love, which have not been met. Therefore, we have to discover the unmet needs under our feelings in order to make concrete requests from others.

4. Requests
In NVC, requests are made in a way that allows the other to respond to the request with compassion. This is very different than demanding something which can come across as being forceful and imposing. It’s crucial to formulate the request in a positive manner or to state what we want and not what we do not want.

What is important to remember is that NVC is mostly about being aware of those four components. That’s why it NVC can even be done in silence. In the end, it is mainly about being conscious of our deeper needs and having a compassionate intention.

Artemis Psychology & Yoga

25/09/2020

In my last blog post, I answer 7 questions about moral harassment at work:

1) What is harassment in the workplace or mobbing?
2) How to deal with psychological harassment at work?
3) How does workplace harassment manifest itself?
4) What are the different types harassment in the workplace?
5) What are the consequences or consequences of harassment at work?
6) How can we help someone who is being harass at work?
7) Who can help you?

You can find the article here:

https://www.artemispsychologyandyoga.com/post/moral-harassment-at-work

Artemis Psychology & Yoga

What is harassment in the workplace or mobbing? How to deal with psychological harassment at work? How does harassment in the workplace manifest itself? What are the different types harassment in the workplace? What are the consequences of harassment at work? How can we help someone who is being bul...

14/08/2020

In a mind-body view on psychology, the mind and the body are considered as one functioning unit. The mind and emotion influence the body and the body influence the mind and emotions. In other words, physical conditions affect mental health, and that mental conditions affect physical health.
Feelings are physical sensations because our emotions and thoughts live in the body and not only in the mind. A good illustration of that is when we get « butterflies in the stomach » when we are nervous or are « hot-heated » when we are angry. That’s also the reason why depression acts like physical pain on a neurochemical level.
That’s why we should also listen to the body when we are not feeling well mentally. In fact, recognizing the physical impact of our mental state is key in developing and maintaining a healthy mind.

As a psychologist trained in yoga, I help my clients in this discovery of the connection between their mental and physical health.

If you are curious, you can find more information on my website:
https://www.artemispsychologyandyoga.com/

Artemis Psychology & Yoga

05/08/2020

According to the Greater Good Science Center at Berkeley, mindfulness is:
“maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens.”
The outcomes of mindfulness include: greater quality of life, more empathy, more satisfying relationships, greater hope, increased positivity and a greater sense of coherence (Vago & Silbersweig, 2012).

When it comes to positive psychology, mindfulness is effective in a wide range of context and there are many different ways to apply mindfulness, including:

1) As a stress reduction technique for anyone dealing with stress and anxiety
2) As a therapeutic tool for people struggling with depression or other mood disorders.
3) As a relaxing method and coping strategy
4) Ad a self-care tool
5) As a healthy habit for mind and body in conjonction with yoga

As a psychologist, I often use tools such as breathing technics and body awareness to help my clients being more present and to release anxiety.

Have you ever practiced mindfulness? Do you have any experience of mindfulness in a psychological/therapeutical context? Feel free to share your thoughts on that topic 🙂

Artemis Psychology & Yoga

31/07/2020

Even though vacations should be relatively stress-free, they have become the cause of a lot of anxiety due to the coronavirus. Most people would really benefit from a relaxation holiday right now but there is a lot to consider in order to be and feel safe.

Here are three simple advice to consider while preparing your holiday:

1-Discuss the trip with all the participants
For families, one way to work around this dilemma is to do so together by sitting down with the kids if they are old enough and to discuss travel options.

2-Make a list of any concerns you might have and talk it through
It is important to talk about any source of worries or concerns you may have about going on holiday wether it is eating in restaurants or being part of a large crowd in order to check if there are ways to alleviates your concerns.

3-If taking a trip create to much anxiety, it might not be worst it
Since vacations are maint to relieve stress and not add to it, if anxiety builds up when thinking about the potential risks of being infected by the virus during your trip, it might not be worth it.

Ultimately, it’s about finding the balance between minimizing the risks and still getting a mental break.

Artemis Psychology & Yoga

29/07/2020

After a two weeks vacation in France, I am back to work!
I have decided to write and share this short blog post about the benefits of online therapy.

You can check it out right here 😉
https://www.artemispsychologyandyoga.com/post/6-benefits-of-online-therapy



Artemis Psychology & Yoga

In the last few months, we have come to realize that many aspects of our social lives could be done online. That also applies to therapy. Even though we might be skeptical at the efficiency of this new way of dealing with our mental health, there actually are many benefits to this approach. Here are...

17/06/2020

I just posted a new article about prenatal depression on my blog.
You can find here ;)

https://www.artemispsychologyandyoga.com/post/prenatal-depression-pregnancy-is-not-always-a-happy-time

Artemis Psychology & Yoga

29/04/2020

New post on pregnancy and negative emotions during the pandemic on Artemis Psychology & Yoga

Pregnancy is usually associated with joy, fulfillment and delight.
However, it is very common for the women to experience negative emotions during pregnancy and to go through anxiety and depression. In fact, it is even recognized by the world health organization (WHO) that “virtually all women can develop mental disorders during pregnancy and in the first year after delivery”. In addition, external conditions such as natural disaster, emergencies and stressful situations can have a negative impact on future mother’s mental health.
So if you are pregnant and experiencing negative emotions, keep in mind that those emotions are normal and that you are also living your pregnancy under exceptional circumstances. Don’t hesitate to ask for psychological support if you need it.

https://www.artemispsychologyandyoga.com/

25/04/2020

I am convinced that our body carries what is in our mind and that whatever we go through (stress, traumas, breakups etc) leaves a trace in our body. That’s the reason why I often use tools such as therapeutical relaxation and trauma sensitive yoga to help people going through a difficult time. To deepen my knowledge and experience in this field, I enrolled in a 4 months online training on somatic coaching. By continuously learning about the mind/body connection, I hope to create lasting changes in my life and the life of others.

Artemis Psychology & Yoga

22/04/2020

Can the lockdown have a positive impact on your lives?

That's the topic of Artemis Psychology & Yoga 's new post ;)

Can the lockdown have a positive impact on your lives?

Having to take a physical distance from work can be an opportunity to take a step back and to reevaluate your interests, values and sense of meaning (Schippers & Ziegler, 2019). Using your recreation time to explore a new interest or to develop your skills in an already existing interest which is coherent with your values can turn into a passion.
Ultimately, finding and living your passion can protect your mental health and nourish our sense of hope.

Do you need help taking a step back and wish to deepen your knowledge of yourself? Visit https://www.artemispsychologyandyoga.com/ and receive a free 30 min intake session in English or in French.

10/04/2020

Why is important to continue your therapy during social distancing? Three answers here: Artemis Psychology & Yoga ;)

Why is important to continue your therapy during social distancing?

1) It allows you to take a step back and to get out, at least mentally, from isolation
2) It is an efficient way to express what you are going through and to let it out
3) It’s also an effective way to keep your equilibrium when everything around you is being shaken

Still looking for support? Visit https://www.artemispsychologyandyoga.com/ and receive a 30min FREE online consultation