Tracy McKeague Counselling

21/05/2026

Overwhelm is a bit like trying to carry all the shopping bags in one go!! You don’t have to do it all at once. Put something down, you can come back for the rest later on!

Slow and steady. No race, just the here and now…..and making sure you are not at the bottom of your own priority list.

All good wishes,

Tracy 🌻

12/05/2026

07/05/2026

05/05/2026

The loss of Lewis Kelly has hit so many people hard. My heart goes out to his parents, siblings, wider family, friends, teammates and everyone in the community feeling the loss. It’s just devastating.

As a parent, I honestly cannot imagine the pain of losing a child. There are no words big enough for that kind of heartbreak.

Grief is messy and raw. Shock can numb you one minute and overwhelm you the next minute! Everyone processes it in different ways and there is no right way to feel right now.

If anyone impacted by this needs a chat, a listening ear, or some support in the days ahead, please reach out to me. I am happy to offer my time free of charge to anyone who needs it.

Thinking of all who knew & loved Lewis today & everyday. 💔

Tracy

03/05/2026

We can learn alot from animals about self care & honoring their needs & wants!

01/05/2026

Buncrana Community Policing Unit are delighted to team up with the wonderful staff at Lifeline Inishowen who provide vital support to anyone who is or who has experienced domestic abuse.

This year, we are proud to involve students from our local secondary schools to help raise awareness of domestic violence and to educate our young people on the importance of healthy relationships. Their voices and participation are key to building a safer & more informed community.

We are excited to have music on the day which will be provided by talented local young musicians 🎶

Please join us for a Coffee Morning:
📅 May 15th 2026
📍 Lifeline Inishowen, Carndonagh
⏰ 11am – 1pm

Come along, show your support and help us to keep this important conversation going within our community.

Everyone is welcome! 💜

01/05/2026

May Day - which is International Workers Day, has me thinking about how easy it is to get caught up in doing, doing, doing!!

A lot of people I talk to feel under constant pressure to keep going even when they’re already tired. But you’re not just what you produce.

Sometimes the healthiest thing isn’t pushing harder, it’s setting a boundary, taking a step back, or giving yourself a bit of rest.

If you’re feeling stretched lately, this is your gentle reminder you don’t have to earn your rest.

I was always a doer, a queen of multitasking but now I really listen to my body & give myself permission to rest!

Remember rest doesn’t have to be hours & hours, it’s 5/10 minutes here or there. Enjoy the tea, savour the dinner, sit in the car for a few minutes when you come home, go to bed half an hour earlier. Put pots in the dishwasher & sit down. Somethings can wait but your body & mind can’t always wait, it keeps the score!!

Rest from work outside the home over even now working for home is sooooo important & definitely warrants a separate post!

All good wishes for a restful weekend!

Tracy 🌻

15/04/2026

I came accross this today & felt it was definitely worth sharing

Interesting thoughts for anyone caring for someone with dementia

1a. Every time you enter the room announce yourself. “Hi mum/dad- it’s ………...”
NEVER ask- Do you know who I am??? That causes anxiety.

1. If I get dementia, I want my friends and family to embrace my reality. 🌸

2. If I think my spouse is still alive, or if I think we’re visiting my parents for dinner, let me believe those things. I’ll be much happier for it.❤️

3. If I get dementia, don’t argue with me about what is true for me versus what is true for you.👍🏽❤️👍🏽

4. If I get dementia, and I am not sure who you are, do not take it personally. My timeline is confusing to me.👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽

5. If I get dementia, and can no longer use utensils, do not start feeding me. Instead, switch me to a finger-food diet, and see if I can still feed myself.❤️🥰❤️🥰

6. If I get dementia, and I am sad or anxious, hold my hand and listen. Do not tell me that my feelings are unfounded.

7. If I get dementia, I don’t want to be treated like a child. Talk to me like the adult that I am. ❤️

8. If I get dementia, I still want to enjoy the things that I’ve always enjoyed. Help me find a way to exercise, read, and visit with friends. ❤️

9. If I get dementia, ask me to tell you a story from my past.

10. If I get dementia, and I become agitated, take the time to figure out what is bothering me. ❤️

11. If I get dementia, treat me the way that you would want to be treated. ❤️

12. If I get dementia, make sure that there are plenty of snacks for me in the house. Even now if I don’t eat I get angry, and if I have dementia, I may have trouble explaining what I need.❤️

13. If I get dementia, don’t talk about me as if I’m not in the room.👍🏽

14. If I get dementia, don’t feel guilty if you cannot care for me 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It’s not your fault, and you’ve done your best. Find someone who can help you, or choose a great new place for me to live.👍🏽

15. If I get dementia, and I live in a dementia care community, please visit me often.❤️

16. If I get dementia, don’t act frustrated if I mix up names, events, or places. Take a deep breath. It’s not my fault.👍🏽

17. If I get dementia, make sure I always have my favorite music playing within earshot.❤️❤️❤️

18. If I get dementia, and I like to pick up items and carry them around, help me return those items to their original place.👍🏽

19. If I get dementia, don’t exclude me from parties and family gatherings.❤️

20. If I get dementia, know that I still like receiving hugs or handshakes.❤️🥰❤️

21. If I get dementia, remember that I am still the person you know and love.”🌼❤️

in Honor of someone you know or knew who has dementia. In Honor of all those I know and love and lost who are fighting Dementia/Alzheimer’s.

Someone once said if you take care of someone with dementia you lose them more and more everyday. When they get the diagnosis, when they go through different stages, when they need treatment and when they pass away.

This is called "the longest goodbye ". As the brain slowly dies, they change physically and eventually forget who their loved ones are. They could end up lying in bed, not moving and not eating or drinking.

There will be people who will scroll past this post because Dementia has not touched them. They may not know what it's like to have a loved one who has battled or is still battling dementia.

To raise awareness of this cruel disease, I would like my friends to put this on their page today.
Hold your finger on the post to copy and paste to your timeline.

A special thank you to anyone willing to put this on their timeline for Dementia & Alzheimer’s Awareness Week.
💔

11/04/2026

Sometimes we build the box… sometimes it’s built for us…… It still doesn’t mean we belong in it!!

All good wishes,
Tracy & Garfield 😸

10/04/2026

I came accross this recently & the animal one made me laugh & yes that’s the one I do most!! Some of them are a bit quirky but I aim to try them all!

Do you do any of these? Which one would you be LEAST likely to try? 🤔

Tracy🌻