BirthTouch Support for Pregnancy, Birth & Postpartum

12/12/2025

n recent years, social media has become a dominant part of daily life for many adults. Research from National Alliance of Mental Health (NAMI) shows that social media carries both benefits and risks to mental health. The positive aspect of social media is that it can be an outlet for creativity, it offers ways for people to connect and share, and engage with others in supportive groups.

Conversely, there are well documented risks associated with social media. Research persistently shows that adults who use social media excessively harms mental health, increases stress, disrupts sleep, decreases coping skills, decreases life satisfaction, can cause body image concerns and reduces general overall well-being.

If you are feeling overwhelmed, trapped or angry or trapped by constant notifications and endless scrolling, it's time to detox from the cyber world. This post explores why social media can be harmful and offers five practical ways to disconnect and regain control over your digital life.

12/12/2025

Have a realistic holiday this year. On social media and in advertising, we are inundated with lots of images of holiday joy, family gatherings, and celebrations. Adjust your expectations to suit your actual life, practice self-care by coming up with a plan to modify what you can, and love yourself enough to turn off the imagery on social media.

Feeling lonely during the holidays is a real challenge, but there are effective strategies to help manage these emotions. Research in psychology and mental health provides guidance on how to cope and find moments of connection and peace.

12/09/2025

Frankincense, in aromatherapy, supports breathwork, focus, and emotional release. Physically, it is renowned for its rejuvenating effects on the skin and its anti-inflammatory and immune-supportive properties. With every drop, frankincense invites stillness, sacredness, and a deeper alignment with both body and soul.

In aromatherapy, it supports breathwork, focus, and emotional release. Physically, it is renowned for its rejuvenating effects on the skin and its anti-inflammatory and immune-supportive properties. With every drop, frankincense invites stillness, sacredness, and a deeper alignment with both body an...

12/09/2025

Even if you don’t know much about expressive art therapy, you have probably noticed how dancing, painting, or writing a journal can feel liberating or calming. The healing powers of art and creativity have long been known. Today, they have been scientifically validated, too.
In this article, we will explore how drawing and other forms of expressive art serve as practical tools for supporting mental health and overall well-being, rather than merely providing distractions.

Expressive art is a simple way to unleash creativity and capture emotions

12/02/2025

Familial support, caretaking support and social support are all essential to help with the physical demands, role responsibilities and loneliness that accompany new motherhood.

Mindful breathing is a simple, portable self-help tool for new moms to help manage emotions that can be done anywhere -at the supermarket, at work, at a playdate. Cadenced breathing is a simple yet powerful tool that can help calm the nervous system.

Here are some easy breathing techniques you can practice anytime, anywhere.
https://www.heartlifeholistic.com/post/breathing-techniques-to-calm-the-mind-for-new-mothers

12/02/2025

Take care of yourself this holiday season. Most of us on planet earth have suffered loss and disappointment, we have all had the experience of being shafted by someone we thought we could trust....and we live with the anger and loneliness this brings. Perhaps we feel like our lives are not how we thought things would turn out....We sure don't look like the influencers on social media. We imagine they make tons of money off views...um...realistically, probably not?

You know what? All of that and all of who you are and what you have now is all ok. You are ok. Normal. Normal encompasses a wide range of lifestyles. Being angry and bitter sometimes is part of being normal. But being angry and bitter is not a healthy and productive way to live. Accepting reality and accepting your anger doesn't mean you stop learning to manage your emotions or stop growing as a person.

That's the dialectic: multiple things are true at once.

https://www.heartlifeholistic.com/post/dbt-skills-for-the-holidays

12/02/2025

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a type of psychotherapy. It helps people control overwhelming emotions, become more tolerant of stress, and improve their relationships. DBT is one part of cognitive behavioral therapy. Like CBT, it helps you learn to identify and change unhelpful patterns of thinking and behaving. However, DBT also teaches you to accept yourself as you are.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is a type of psychotherapy used to help people control overwhelming emotions, become more tolerant of stress, and improve relationships.

11/14/2025

The early days of motherhood are filled with precious moments, but they can also be overwhelming and busy. Mindfulness is a tool to allow you to stay present with your baby; an accessible tool you can use to train yourself to over-ride the overwhelm you may be feeling. Mindfulness offers a gentle way to deepen your connection with your baby, helping you both feel more secure, loved, and present. Here are some mindfulness practices to nurture your bond.

Mindfulness offers a gentle way to deepen your connection with your baby, helping you both feel more secure, loved, and present. Here are some mindfulness practices to nurture your bond.

11/14/2025

In a world where human connections can sometimes feel distant or complicated, the unwavering affection of a pet can remind us that we are never truly alone. As countless pet owners and therapy animal programs have shown, sometimes the best remedy for loneliness comes on four legs, with a wagging tail or a soft purr. In today’s fast-paced, digitally connected yet emotionally disconnected world, loneliness has become an epidemic. According to research, social isolation can be as harmful to health as smoking 15 ci******es a day.

Pets are more than just animals in our homes — they are companions, confidants, and sources of unconditional love. Whether through structured pet therapy or everyday companionship, animals can play a vital role in easing loneliness, reducing stress, and improving quality of life.

11/14/2025

Everyone has experienced those days when the mind won't switch off, even at night. You overthink everything—from work conversations to your last argument with your partner—replaying and dissecting every word. You second-guess every decision, rerunning every detail in your mind, until you feel even more uncertain than before. You pick apart other people’s words and reactions, sometimes obsessing over even the most casual conversations.

You may constantly worry that others are silently judging you. Maybe you hear that critical inner voice whispering, "You're not good enough," "You cannot do it," or "You'll never fit in," even if you are a successful, high-achieving individual

Many of the thoughts that cross our minds each day are automatic negative thoughts (ANT). Over time, this cognitive loop starts feeding a cycle of self-doubt and worry that's hard to break. It can leave you feeling drained, anxious, or disconnected from the things that usually bring you joy.

11/14/2025

If you feel untethered through life or don’t know who you truly are—that’s natural. For most people, their sense of self doesn’t strengthen or develop until their mid-twenties to thirties, and that’s because up until that point, you’re still taking in the world around you, trying out new things, and gaining experience which you can then use to truly define your sense of self.

If you feel untethered through life or don’t know who you truly are—that’s natural. For most people, their sense of self doesn’t strengthen or develop until their mid-twenties to thirties, and that’s because up until that point, you’re still taking in the world around you, trying out new...

11/01/2025

Accepting reality is an important part of tolerating the distress of life. Accepting reality doesn’t mean that you approve of everything or that you roll over and be passive when you are disrespected.

The goal of reality acceptance is to accept reality as it is without “…throwing a tantrum or responding with willful ineffectiveness.” (Linehan, p. 451).

In addition, accepting reality is imbedded in the dialectic of acceptance and change. Life is challenging and there is pain, but it is still worth living.

But when challenged with a very triggering event, how do maintain your cool?

If you have an explosive personality, HOW can you get to the point of feeling like you can accept reality AND make changes in your life as well?

DBT STOP and TIP Skills are essential for mindfulness, mental health and managing your emotions,