Merryl HammondMay 172 minCOVID-19 and the mental health of health care workersMy previous post on March 24, Coping with COVID-19, mentioned four strategies I use to “stay sane in self-isolation.” Apart from my obvio...
Merryl HammondMar 244 minCoping with COVID-19Have you been feeling way more stressed out than usual, like you’re teetering on the edge of a breakdown with all the uncertainty around ...
Merryl HammondDec 12, 20194 minHow to Implement a Routine for StabilityIn a previous post, I talked about WHY daily routines are so crucial to maintain mental stability. To recap quickly, it’s because routine...
Merryl HammondOct 11, 20193 minThe Benefits of Smiling: Why you should find one (or 100) reason(s) to smile every day!Humans are a naturally smiley species. We appear to begin smiling even while we’re still in the womb. There are so many emotional and hea...
Merryl HammondSep 21, 20194 minUse a Routine to Recover from BipolarIn my previous post, I explain how my type-A personality contributed to the development of my bipolar disorder, and – ironically – to my ...
Merryl HammondAug 29, 20193 minDid My Personality Type Cause My Bipolar?One of my several bookcases of binders I used to pride myself on my total type-A personality. Over-achiever, control freak, wannabe wonde...
Merryl HammondJul 10, 20194 min“Most productive week of my life”: A Self-Guided, At-Home Writer’s RetreatA version of this article first appeared on the Nonfiction Authors Association’s blog on May 23 2019. Beyond my budget! Problem: As a mem...
Merryl HammondJun 30, 20194 minHappy Social Media Day!Today is Social Media Day – a day to mark and celebrate the global impact that social media has had on the lives of all of us. What an in...
Merryl HammondJun 9, 20196 min6 Tips to Write a Mesmerizing MemoirThis post originally appeared on the Nonfiction Authors Association’s blog on March 4 2019. We all have a story buried somewhere within t...
Merryl HammondMay 22, 20193 minGo to the Mental Health Gym Every Day!The concept of a “mental health gym” I’m a big believer in going to the “brain gym”: taking steps to actively (and proactively) maintain ...
Merryl HammondMay 8, 20192 minLet’s celebrate Mental Health Week! But…It’s Mental Health Week here in Canada! This year’s theme, chosen by the sponsor, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), is “#Get...
Merryl HammondMay 1, 20192 minDo your moods change with the seasons?Seasonal change is a trigger When I was first diagnosed with bipolar, my psychiatrist warned that sleep deprivation, together with stress...
Merryl HammondApr 17, 20192 minThe Power of ExerciseWe’ve all heard it a thousand times: exercise regularly; exercise is good for both your physical and mental health; exercise every day… B...
Merryl HammondApr 1, 20192 minWorld Bipolar Day: Sharing stories; shattering stigmasAt the local World Bipolar Day event, I toasted participants and urged them to take active steps to protect their own mental health. Cele...
Merryl HammondMar 30, 20192 minHappy World Bipolar Day!Time to get educated March 30 is World Bipolar Day! Do you know someone struggling with bipolar disorder? Ever wondered what it must feel...
Merryl HammondMar 15, 20192 minWhat does International Women’s Day have to do with our mental health?Celebrating International Women’s Day with my daughter, Tami Hammond-Collins (to my left), and other women from around Montreal. Chicken-...
Merryl HammondMar 11, 20192 minTips to avoid the “depression demon”A portrait of me that my daughter, Tami Hammond-Collins, painted during one of my depressive episodes. Ouch! In mid-January, I was out wa...
Merryl HammondJan 17, 20192 minBlock Your Bipolar Triggers! (Part 2)How to analyze your bipolar triggers If you missed Part 1 where I explain what triggers are, you can read it here. I learned the hard way...
Merryl HammondJan 2, 20191 minBlock Your Bipolar Triggers! (Part 1)What are bipolar triggers? Triggers can cause full-blown bipolar symptoms. They may be people, events, emotions, circumstances, or places...