Being insulted or humiliated is never fun. It often leaves the victim feeling helpless and alone. In cases of cyberbullying, it can be more difficult since the victim doesn’t always know who their attacker is. If you are being cyberbullied, pretending that you are fine when you are not will just make you feel worse, so be honest with yourself. It is important to remember that you have more power than you know, and that you can take steps to deal with how cyberbullying is affecting you. It’s okay to be angry, but channel itBeing cyberbullied can cause intense feelings of anger for several reasons. You may feel violated, and might think there is nothing you can do about it, or you may feel badly about yourself because a person has embarrassed you in some way. Anger is a normal reaction to feeling like we have been wronged. However, anger…

In “Going to a Counsellor: What to Expect – Part I,” we talked about the questions you can expect to be asked at your appointment. But what about your questions? If you have concerns about your experience, how your counselling sessions are going, or any recommended treatments, ASK! If you still haven’t scheduled that first appointment and aren’t sure where to begin, read on to find some answers! Why am I being asked all of these personal questions?If, at any time, you feel uncomfortable answering a question, feel free to say so. The point of counselling is to help you feel better. Don’t feel that you must talk about certain topics before you are ready. But keep in mind that your counsellor is gathering this type of personal information for several important reasons. Knowing more about you will help your counsellor… understand if you are experiencing acute stress and/or determine…

If you suspect that your friend is dealing with an undiagnosed mental health issue, you can play an important role in helping him or her to seek the needed treatment to get better. Making the decision to get help depends on a variety of factors including understanding a problem exists (or its severity), overcoming feelings of stigma or attitudes towards help-seeking, knowing where to look for help, and having a supportive network. If your friend is unwilling to go for help, it is important to understand what key limiting factor is preventing them from taking that step. As your first step, it is necessary that you are informed and educated about your friend’s potential illness. Remember, they may not be fully aware of the symptoms either. There are many resources available to gather information on signs and symptoms of a mental health issue. The Canadian Mental Health Association and the…

Cyberbullying is the act of insulting or threatening another person online, with an intent to cause harm or fear. For example, someone may send cruel text messages or emails, create a malicious website about an individual, harass others in chat groups, post inappropriate photos, or make nasty comments on social networking sites. Unfortunately, cyberbullying has become more common than “traditional” bullying (i.e., bullying in person) with some studies in North America estimating that over 50% of kids have experienced some form of cyberbullying. Who are cyberbullies? It is estimated that a third of cyberbullies do not bully kids in person. This means that cyberbullies must be somewhat different than traditional bullies. In fact, research shows they are more likely to be aggressive, and feel that moral standards don’t apply to them in certain situations (e.g., online chat rooms). Because they are not physically in front of the people they…

Often the biggest difficulty to overcoming a problem is recognizing that one exists. With mental health issues, it can be even more difficult due to social or personal beliefs. You may be thinking that your symptoms won’t last or that they are a sign of personal weakness. These feelings can stop you from getting the help you need because you may feel embarrassed. Remind yourself that the most important thing is getting better—and this means getting help as early as possible. Taking that first step Your first step could be a visit to the on-campus counsellor if there is one available at your school. This initial meeting will typically last one hour, and will consist of a series of questions to help him or her understand what you are experiencing. It is normal to feel nervous at your appointment, especially since you will be sharing some of your most…

Getting used to life in another country is challenging. Add to that the pressure of succeeding at your studies. You may feel like you are being pulled in 20 different directions. It is normal to feel overwhelmed, but sometimes our negative feelings can last longer and feel different than everyday stress. If your bad mood is turning into a series of bad days, ask yourself if you have been experiencing any of the key signs below. If they sound familiar, it may be time to take the next step and talk to a health professional about how you are feeling. I feel sad or hopeless most of the time.Everyone has bad days, but if you notice your negative feelings are here to stay, there may be a problem—especially if they don’t go away when something good happens, like scoring an A+ on an important test. Feeling sad or hopeless…