Prepared Abbotsford

05/26/2026

After a natural disaster, your nervous system may need extra support to find its way back to balance.

Take a gentle moment to check in with yourself, what does your nervous system need right now? You don’t have to have a clear answer.

If you’re feeling shut down—sluggish, numb, foggy, or disconnected, you’re not alone. It can be hard to focus, move, or feel like yourself.

👉 This isn’t a flaw. It’s your body doing its best to protect you.

When your system moves into this state, it can help to gently upregulate, supporting your nervous system to reconnect, little by little, and always at your own pace.

You might try:

🔥 Temperature – hold something warm, or splash your face with cool water to bring in sensation
🌿 Scent – notice energizing smells like peppermint or citrus
🚶‍♀️ Movement – stretch, change positions, or take a short, steady walk
🎶 Sound – play something uplifting and notice any small shifts in your body

Even subtle shifts can help your system feel a little more present and connected.

Go gently. Your pace matters, and your body's responses make sense.

Stay tuned next week for ways to downregulate when things feel intense or overwhelming.

Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18awthYZxn/?mibextid=wwXIfr

05/21/2026

Many of us understand that tummy time is important for a baby’s development in their first year but may not realize that floor time is just as important for children, teens, and adults.

Regular floor time offers emotional and physical benefits, from an increased sense of regulation (think “being grounded”) to maintaining mobility as we age.

𝗡𝗼 “𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗿” 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱!
If getting up and down doesn’t work for you, choose any position where your body can move and adjust freely—avoiding the fixed 90° posture of a traditional chair. Spending time in nature (sitting, standing, walking, riding) can also be a grounding experience.

𝗡𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝗴𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱!
The benefits come from being supported and able to move in different ways—not from specific exercises.

𝗡𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱!
You can work on a laptop, take calls, or do paperwork if you’re comfortable in your grounded position.

𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀.
Check with your doctor before starting if you have concerns about mobility or balance. If it hurts, stop.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗹𝘆.
Begin with a few minutes a day and build up to about 30 minutes (cumulative).

Learn more: https://www.sensationall.org.uk/floor-time/

05/11/2026

After a stressful or overwhelming event, emotions can show up in many ways.

For children, these feelings don’t always come out in words. Instead, they may show up as big behaviours like meltdowns, shutting down, acting out, or repeatedly talking about (or avoiding) what happened.

These responses often signal that a child’s nervous system is overwhelmed, and they don’t yet have the tools to regulate on their own. For caregivers, these moments can feel intense and exhausting, particularly while managing your own stress.

There are some simple regulation tools that can help support both you and your child.

Try this together: cross your arms over your chest, gently tap your shoulders left and right, and take slow, steady breaths. This “Butterfly Hug” can help calm the nervous system and bring the body into a more settled state.

Regulation isn’t about stopping emotions—it’s about helping bodies move through them safely.

If you support children impacted by stress or trauma, practicing simple regulation tools regularly, during both calm moments and hard ones, can make a meaningful difference.

Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WjFDsfTKo0&t=56s

04/30/2026

When disasters happen, especially close to home, it’s normal to feel a surge of emotions.

Your feelings are not good or bad. They simply are. And sometimes, they help.

✅ Helpful anxiety keeps us present and supports planning and problem‑solving.
❌ Unhelpful anxiety pulls us into “what if” thinking and catastrophic future scenarios we can’t control.

If you notice yourself spiraling, try this grounding exercise:

1. Place your feet on the ground.
2. Feel the contact—left foot, right foot, then both together.
3. Notice the support beneath you for a few slow breaths.
4. Gently ask yourself, “What can I do right here, right now?”

If the answer is nothing, remind yourself that you are capable of handling this if it happens. Then shift your focus to something present, something you can control.

Learn more at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAllRKocaJ8

04/27/2026

According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, self-care is not self-indulgent—it’s a vital part of maintaining physical and mental wellbeing. This is especially true when recovering from the stress and impacts of a natural disaster.

Self‑care is intentional and personal. What helps one person may look different for another. It can include:

✨ Moving your body in ways that feel right for you (stretching, walking, gentle movement)
✨ Engaging your senses (listening to music, enjoying your favourite food, noticing calming sights or smells)
✨ Expressing emotions (naming your feelings, journaling, talking with someone you trust)

For more tips and simple ways to practice self‑care, visit CMHA’s resource page:

https://cmha.ca/news/self-care-simplified-why-its-essential-and-how-to-make-it-happen/

04/27/2026

Build resilience, learn to support others, and strengthen your own mental wellbeing with the free Psychological First Aid (PFA) certification through Archway Community Services, in partnership with Canadian Red Cross.

This two-day training is designed to help volunteers, community members, and frontline helpers continue supporting others and themselves in healthy, sustainable ways.

📅 Choose one of our upcoming sessions to receive certification:
Session 1: May 2nd and 3rd
Session 2: May 23rd and 24th

🕘 Time: 9am to 5pm both days
📍 Location: 2420 Montrose Ave, Abbotsford

Email program coordinator [email protected] or call 236‑380‑0117 to sign up.

👉Learn more at Archway.ca/PFA

04/22/2026

The danger has long passed, so why don’t I feel better?

Our body’s nervous system is wired to remember danger to protect ourselves in the future, which can make everyday life feel overwhelming, even when you’re safe. This response is normal, biological, and especially common after trauma (such as surviving a natural disaster).

The good news? Working with a therapist to help teach your nervous system when the danger is real and when it is perceived can help you feel calmer and safer while still remaining prepared in the case of future emergencies.

Learn more at: https://youtube.com/shorts/-XvuDXgmZXo?si=ESMpENEhnPT4GfxX

04/13/2026

If you experienced the 2021 floods and are finding it harder to bounce back after more recent flooding, you’re not alone.

A recent study conducted by researchers in Australia found that repeated flood exposure can compound mental health impacts over time.

One key protective factor?

Strong social support—staying connected was consistently linked to fewer mental health effects.

As you recover, don’t hesitate to reach out. Free counselling is available locally:

Adult Support
- Archway Short Term Counselling
- Email: [email protected]

Youth Support (ages 12–24)
- Foundry Abbotsford
- Email: [email protected]
- Call: 604.746.3392

Read a summary of the study at https://www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2025/april/multiple-exposures-to-climate-disasters-leads-to-worse-mental-health-outcomes

04/02/2026

Looking for a meaningful way to give back to your community?

Join one of our sessions to receive training in Canadian Red Cross Psychological First Aid to aid those immediately around you and those in emergency situations.

This is a great way to connect with others and learn new tools for resilience to help strengthen our community.

For more information, visit:

https://archway.ca/free-psychological-first-aid-pfa-training/

To sign up for Free visit us on Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/strengthen-skills-for-recovery-and-resilience-free-psychological-first-aid-tickets-1986274733196?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join us in person to boost your recovery and resilience skills with free Psychological First Aid training with certificate!

03/31/2026

Providing children with predictable daily anchors and consistent routines helps create a sense of safety and stability. Familiar day‑to‑day patterns can support children in managing stress and coping during challenging times.

Remember, routines don’t need to be rigid to be effective. They just need to be reasonably predictable and consistent. Not every routine works for every family, so start with one simple habit that fits your family and get creative by building it around activities you and your child enjoy.

👉 Looking for something fun and calming to try with your children?

Check out Cosmic Kids and Cosmic Kids Zen Den on YouTube for kid‑friendly yoga and mindfulness activities.