IndigoBlue Magazine March 2023

March seems to possess chaotic energy. The winter chill can sometimes shift to warmer, spring-like days, and then back again. It is like Mother Nature is trying to get settled into a new season but demonstrating defiance and resistance. Are we being resistant to change and growth? In this issue, we highlight important conversations we need to have with others and ourselves to stay on our path and focus on self-care. Our authors provide some ways we can reflect on our experiences and use them as steppingstones. We remain committed to helping our readers achieve their goals, maintain their health and wellness, and establish lasting, healthy relationships.…

Yes, we are talking about that “D” word … divorce. In the United States nearly 50% of all marriages will end in divorce or separation. In fact, there are nearly 3 divorces in the time span it takes a couple to recite wedding vows. The reasons for divorce can be cited for a myriad of reasons: finances, lack of compatibility, extra-marital affairs, or health issues. Whatever the reason, divorce or separation can affect relationships outside of the marriage, specifically the relationship between a parent and child. For parents who are divorcing, it can be a tough conversation to have with children. There is not a cookie cutter guide or a sure bona fide way to be supportive of a child that is dealing with their parents’ divorce. However, there are…

Do you struggle with your mental health and have a difficult time in getting the people in your life to be more understanding? In some cases, your colleagues might give you a hard time regarding the anxiety and depression you experience. I dealt with fear and anxiety for over 20 years and there were times that I had a difficult time in talking about my anxieties to others. As a result, here are some suggestions on how to deal with the people you know regarding your mental health issues. Listen to the professionals and not your friends Your peers may mean well, but when it comes down to it, the professionals are aware of your circumstances more than anyone. I learned from personal experience that a professional counselor knows what…

So many of us have experienced body shaming in one way or the other. Body shaming does not necessarily mean only “fat shaming.” The range of body shaming is extensive and it includes experiencing harsh, rough, unpleasant, oppressive comments or remarks about a person’s body weight, body shape, age, height, muscularity, tone of voice or accent, clothing or style, eating habits, etc. The reality is that body shaming is a considerable threat to the mental health of the general population, no matter one’s age, gender, or background. And body shaming often starts at home and at a young age. A mother telling her daughter use a certain cream on her face, a woman experimenting with various shades of concealers to hide her blemishes, a teacher telling a student to remove…

Everyone is seeking happiness and contentment. But some people might consider happiness to be an abstract idea because everyone’s definition of happiness is different. For an athlete, happiness may be winning a medal while for a corporate employee it would be the next promotion. Even though happiness means different things for different people, there are basic, foundational positive habits to generating more happiness. These habits also activate our positive, ‘happiness’ hormones like serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine. FIRST HABIT – Movement Moving our body, whether it is a 20-minutes workout, a yoga session, or even dancing is directly related to producing hormones called endorphins, which are the brain’s “feel good” neurotransmitters. According to the American Psychological Association, strenuous physical activity is useful for people who have anxiety disorders. SECOND HABIT –…

We all know that being in nature is beneficial to our physical and mental health, but life doesn’t always provide opportunities to get out in the wild for hours of hiking or forest bathing. In the U.S., 83% of people are city dwellers, and the daily grind of noise and pollution can take its toll on our wellbeing. If you live in a big city, it may seem futile to even try and connect with nature. There can be a tendency to just forget about nature and get on with city life, looking for other ways to boost our mood and leaving the natural world for weekends and vacations. However, research suggests that even having contact with the natural world in small ways can benefit mental and physical health. A…