TeleConnect Bermuda

Can we reimagine our lives for a minute? 💭
Take a deep breath and sit with what life would be like without the lingering fear and angst about the next day or the day before. Rather to simply exist in the present moment with gratitude and full surrender to what is.

We deserve to know life without constant hardship, and disappointment; but the truth is life can be hard.

What do you have within your power today to change the narrative about life in survival? What can you give yourself today that your mental health will thank you for tomorrow?

Is it a good, sound rest? Moving your body in nature, gratitude in your prayer/ meditation. Is it simply the radical honesty that will free you of the expectation of others and finally show up for yourself with your full truth. Reimagine it with me, now go and make it a reality. Say no to anything that is not what you see for yourself this is where our mental health begins to thrive.

Are you considering starting therapy soon?
We can’t close out this year without out a last addition to . This conversation is for you!

Everyone meet Ms Isis Wellman, a Clinical Counselor practicing here in 🇧🇲 on Thursday evening Dayla will chat with her about her practice and everything people need to know about why therapy is one of the most important investments we can make 🧠

This session will be hosted via Zoom and recorded so it can be rewatched. See you then!

Not having the capacity to match the holiday energy of everyone at this time is okay. The expectation that this time of year is joyous for everyone can be harmful.

2023 was some people’s time to try and find their way back to some kind of normal or recovery from the past 2-3 years or more.

Living is survival is more than having limited resources or financial strain.
Survival mode is a physiological stress response that happens to people when they done have resources or support to get by. It affects not only your physical body because you are quite literally walking around with an overactive nervous system but it also effects us emotionally.

We can come across as anxious, angry, or on edge, or for some they may appear just not be present in the room with you. Their mind is somewhere else and it hard to be mindfully present.

This holiday season now more than ever we need to extend grace, to yourself and even more each other. It’s okay that you aren’t merry or overjoyed we get it, and we’re with you.

If this is you, try your best to be as honest as you can with others about how you feel. Resource yourself as much as possible by moving your body, journaling and finding support that won’t shame you. Get rest, nourish yourself maybe even try to create a tradition that matches what you specific needs are this season.

It's all human behavior, and all behavior has meaning. Sometimes our community tends to shame certain behaviors like drug abuse because of visible the consequences & bbstigma more than the the other behaviors that are just as harmful and unhealthy.

This is why National is important. It gives us the chance to have the uncomfortable conversations that lead to better understanding, awareness and change. Addiction comes in many forms and can shapeshift depending on the person. Substance abuse is only one way people attempt to avoid or escape a painful reality or stress.
For the month of September we'll unpack this conversation along with resources and support available!

If we're being honest "FEELINGS" have a bad rep across cultures. There's a belief that if we actually sit with our feelings and experience them; the vulnerability of it will somehow take us out. So we develop our own ways to get rid of them without having to confront them and learn what they are trying to teach us.

Some of us drink them away, smoke them away, work them away or even try and shop them away! Whatever makes you instantly feel better. But the truth is after the brief distraction ends the the feeling or problem still exist.

There's also a flip side to this coin that we intend on digging into. Research tells us that suppressing emotions instead of processing them can actually make us sick over time. That's right! Making a habit of not acknowledging how you're feeling leaves a energetic residue if you will in our bodies and pushing them down can wreak havoc on our health and nervous systems. We'll unpack this more but in the mean time here are some ways you can actually work through a feeling that is big and persistent.

- Journaling about the feeling
- Talking openly with a trusted person counselor/ therapist
- Intentional breath work that is calming
- Intentional stretching of your body like yoga

Here’s to feeling our feelings!

Ask yourself: what kind of life do I see for myself, my loved, ones and the spaces I belong to?

Being specific about your personal needs at every level is how we build the life we don’t need to escape from. Deep connections to self, others and our community require intentional choices! Get clear. Be specific. And make every choice for yourself count!

May is and we’re so excited to be working with another amazing organization to celebrate! 🇧🇲

Join licensed counselor Dayla, as she facilitates an engaging workshop for those interested in digging deeper into the the importance of a emotionally healthy mind! The best part about all is this is that it’s FREE 🙌🏾 Save the Date, see you there!

Still here. Still talking about community. And here's why 🇧🇲🧠

Mental health is health, and as a community we have all faced challenges with remaining emotionally healthy.

"Community" comprises of so many including individual people, families, and even our elected governing bodies.

What's important to remember is that we are all responsible for self AND one another b/c we don’t get better in isolation.

What I mean is that we all play an integral part in prioritizing connection in a world that is growing increasingly disconnected.

For example, A group of individuals who suffer with mental health issues that are unaddressed, will become a collective issue in our community and the consequences will be felt by the collective not just the individual.

Investments in mental healthcare can be made at every level, not just at a organizational or governmental arena.

We can commit to connection by simply taking care and being intentional with self and each other. We must also rediscover the value and importance of community and holding one another accountable so we don't fall between the gaps.

Love heals folks, & we show love through genuine authentic connection.

1 time for the healing power of COMMUNITY 🇧🇲🌱

Mental health is health, and taking care of one’s health isn’t gendered 🧠

Now more than ever the conversation about mental health needs to be inclusive of every experience, this means our men too!

Join Dr Peets Jr of MASC, counseling for men by men as he talks with Dayla TC about Men's mental health in Bermuda and how we can provide support for the guys while they’re journeying through life. Dayla will have special guest to co host while talking to Dr Peets. We’re still adding to our TherapistDirectoryBDA this year 🌱 tune in!

Dont know who needs to hear this but your 2023 wellness journey may be missing an essential item.

THERAPY 📣

There are many ways to journey through healing however therapy is worth the consideration in getting started.

Not sure if therapy is for you? Consider these 5 questions below:

Are you struggling emotionally and time has not provided sufficienct relief from something?

Do you feel numb? Or unable to experience happy feelings?

Is stress interfering with your sleep and you have excessive day time fatigue?

Do you think of certain memories and experience intense distress?

You experience crushing feelings on a frequent basis ( low self worth, guilt, fear, depression, irritability, or extreme anger, being negative or harshly self critical.

If you are considering getting started or getting restarted have swipe to view the current psychologist who are accepting new clients this month.

Watch this space for future local therapist who are culturally sensitive, accesible and qualified!

Happy New year from TC ✨

As a counselor in Bermuda, It's always exciting to identify local clinicians who are bursting through the doors with passion and fresh perspective.

Chardonae's experience is in children's mental health and she has much to offer. Parents, and support persons of our little people, this one is for you!

Join us this week Wednesday November 9th at 7pm where we'll learn about her practice and tools she uses to work with our little people. We're also trying to get her over here over on our . Hopefully she'll take the bait 🎣😆 Stay tuned, see you Wednesday!

Have you ever experienced a injury or sickness so excruciating you thought it could end you? 😣

Emotional pain can be just like physical pain. It can make us feel like we just want to check out of life. When we encounter the life moments that feel emotionally unbearable the only thing we want to do is FEEL better. So we reach for, or do the thing that helps it for the time being. But at what point do we actually address the pain? When do we heal it instead of avoid it?

Have you ever observed the first thing you do when you’re hurt? Go ahead an think about it without judgment.

Maybe you go home, get under the blanket and turn on Netflix and forget. Maybe you sleep it away. Maybe you try and drink or smoke it away. Maybe you eat it away ☝🏾, maybe you put your phone on DND and withdraw from everyone for days 🫢

But when you're finished have you actually addressed the emotion? Has the issue been resolved? Or have you just swept it under the carpet to be later triggered by it?

What are some things we can do reconnect once the initial pain is over? Stay tuned for our next post on how to reconnect with yourself after a difficult period! 🧡

Hey you lot, 👋🏾

A strong relationship with self helps us to recognize when disconnection happens or when (unhelpful ways may cope with life) show up. Being able to identify when it happens helps us return to our healthier habits or patterns quicker each time. 💡

Everyone’s pattern can look different. take a look to see if this resonates 🧡

It’s here 👀🎉

TeleConnect Bermudas first Webinar series! Hosted by founder, Dayla Burgess a licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor by The Allied Health Council and the BACB.

This is a TWO part webinar series facilitated on May 25th and June 1st at 12pm for only 1hr, FREE to join 🧡

We will explore mental health vs mental illness & substance addictions! These webinars are for everyone, whether you’re curious about learning more on emotional health & how we cope, OR if you’re someone seeking help and in need of resources. Tell a friend, share & repost! We’re diving into all things emotional health, in a energetic engaging way. Register using link in BIO!! 🌱

TeleConnect Bermuda updated their website address.

Hey folks!

I don't know about you, but leaving the first 90 days of the year behind and entering spring was filled with mixed emotions. 🗓

While the blooming energy of spring and summer are upon us; we can't help but think on the recent events in our community that have shaken us at our core. Grief and loss during a time when we are also ushering in new seasons can be confusing and overwhelming for some.

This post is dedicated to the organisations in our community that are committed to moving people through difficult times and onward to connection and healing. 🌱🌸

While we are all excited for what new seasons will bring us including what we have sorely missed like fun, connection and summer events.

Let’s continue to be mindful of the emotional shifts in our community that have left imprints forever. 🇧🇲

The organisations we have mentioned provide counseling and therapy to a range of populations. (Men, women, families and children)
Do you have an organisation in mind that you think should be included? Drop their name or mention below? We wanna know! 🧡

Pinch punch, it’s the end of the month! 🎉 We’re still talking stress, trauma and recovery b/c there’s much to be said!

There has been lots of discussion over the last 2 years about the stress we’ve been subjected to with the pandemic and after effects. For the first time the discussion has included our kids and how they have managed to cope and what they may face ahead due to pandemic disconnection. 👤

Remember, kids thrive through healthy attachments with their caregivers. But if the caregiver or parent is under significant stress, experiencing a decline in their own mental health or in a unhealthy relationship dynamic the child by default will be affected. Healthy Attachment = attunement to emotional and non verbal needs that children innately have when growing up in an environment to assist with their overall biological and social development. 🌱

But what about when the stress is out of our control? We know that life, will continue to life and sometimes we manage the best way we can. For example, the PANDEMIC! 🦠

Research tells us that toxic stress can very well turn into TOLERABLE stress IF there is support and adults present that help to buffer and process the emotions that the child is experiencing. "The good enough parent" quite literally means that it only takes one person to help with building resiliency or the ability to bounce back with our kids. This relationship b/w the adult and child must be consistent, safe and ongoing. 👩‍👦‍👦👨‍👦‍👦

Remember mental health discussions extend beyond the adult realm. Our kids matter too!

Do you know your attachment style? 👀

Hey everyone, a couple of post back we talked about Attachment theory and the father of the framework John Bowlby.

Authenticity is how confident we are able to show up in the world as ourselves and in the spaces we belong to without feeling the need to begin minimize shrink OR overpower others.

* Remember * John Bowlby the father of Attachment theory, argued that the more secure our attachment is the higher chance we have of being-more of our authentic selves. Insecure attachments such as anxious, disorganized or dismissive are evidence of the initial relationships we had with our caregivers and the environment that we were raised in.
Think about these things as clues for what kind of environment you may have had. REMEMBER that attachments are on a spectrum and can vary for everyone. Was your parent able to raise you free of significant stress financially or emotionally, be present and stable during your infancy and took care of their own well being? Was your parent unwell, mentally ill, incarcerated, divorced, financially insecure, being abused or unable to meet your needs for any reason? These are some of the environments that may cause insecure attachments. I want to encourage everyone who may be interested in learning about their specific attachments style to check out they have a quiz that is research supported giving people a report based on the questions answered on their attachment style.

Why is this important?

Well because we’re relational beings. Not only is attachment theory useful for how we understand our romantic relationship dynamics but also how we connect at work with our colleagues, in leadership roles, in our families and parenting. This stuff shows up everywhere! It’s a self awareness tool that helps us to connect on a deeper level with self and the people around you.

www.connectbda.com ✨Join our mailing list for updates on workshops, lunch & learns and mental health consultancy!

TeleConnect has a online home 🎉 and we are LIVE!

www.ConnectBda.com 🖥

Hey you guys, can we talk authenticity real quick?

Go ahead and file this post under: Connection to Self 🗂

Have you ever felt the need to turn off, minimize, or hide parts of yourself in exchange for connection with others? *Here's the secret, we all have* 🤫

Often in our relationships this can happen in our romantic, platonic or even for family connections. At some point in our journey we may have learned that showing up as our full self may not be safe, accepted, or validated. So, we turn her, him, or they off. BUT! because there is a BUT!

When we do not express, think, or feel as our true self we neglect our ability to grow, evolve, and heal. Why does this happen?

John Bowlby, the father of the "Attachment theory" argues that we do it for survival. 🧠
In our earliest infant/ toddler experiences we had to attach to our caregiver for survival ( hunger, pain or fatigue) was left to our parents to resolve. If our parents were not attuned to regulate and soothe our emotions or discomfort this can lead to attachment styles in relationships that are not secure. Anxious, avoidant or disorganized attachment result from our earliest relationship.

We owe it to self to step into our most authentic being, where we can explore and celebrate who we truly are. It's time, let's go! If you like this post, share, or drop a comment! 🧡

We’re thrilled that our first 2022 collab will be with 𝐃𝐫. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞]] TOMORROW! 🎉🇧🇲

Join us for a Lunch & Learn series where we kick off the first “Forget Stigma Let’s Heal” session with 𝐃𝐫. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞]] We’ll discuss the Mental Health 101 basics. We all have mental health but let’s dig into the full spectrum of Mental Illness. Contact 𝐃𝐫. 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞]], it’s not too late to Register!!

🇧🇲 Transgenerational Trauma refers to trauma that passes through generations.

The idea is that not only can someone experience trauma, they can then pass the symptoms and behaviors of trauma survival on to their children, who then might further pass these along the family line. Scientists have found that mothers who have suffered childhood trauma can pass this memory down to an unborn baby — scans showed altered brain circuitry in young children.

Pain can be passed along but so can healing; it only takes 1 person to say it ends with me!

The “ACES” study by the and others is one of the largest studies of childhood trauma that linked high risk behaviors like substance abuse & chronic health conditions such as obesity heart disease and highblood pressure to adverse childhood experiences.

The higher your ACE score the more likely you were to experience disease disability or social problems. A questionnaire was also developed that measures for if there were any Aces in your life.

Our internal emotional world is shaped so much by the people who cared for us. Not only do we learn by observation but also by environmental cues.

The level of attunement, ans attention we were shown when we fussed or cried or tried to connect and have our needs met mattered . The dyadic relationship between infant, child and eventually young person with their parent is critical.

The attachments shaped during the important developmental moments hard wire our brains for connection to come with our future relationships. This is why physical trauma isn't the only wound that needs to be acknowledged.

Emotional trauma can leave behind wounds that adults will feel and spend time trying to mend well into their life course.