Sammantha
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I was going through my things while preparing for an imminent move when I found a binder. It was full of worksheets and papers from my time in an in-patient mental health facility over 3 years ago. That binder held papers, notes, and my schedule for those 21 or so days. It told me what […]
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I wrote the following poem for my Aunt, who passed away by suicide over two years ago. Her passing was absolutely heartbreaking to my family, especially my mother, who lost her baby sister. This piece was in speaking to my Aunt, the love my mother had and does have for her, and the admiration I […]
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“When we protect ourselves so we won’t feel pain, that protection becomes like armor, like armor that imprisons the softness of the heart” – Pema Chodron Most people experience pain that may never be spoken about. For some of us, that pain causes mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). […]
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It’s a common experience: you fall in love with a hobby, craft, or pastime, but when you see others excelling and perfecting it, you decide to quit while you’re ahead. Maybe you were comparing yourself to others too much, or you didn’t think it was worth it to practice something if you were never going […]
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For some people, the idea of spring or summertime coming is a welcome joy, but others may dread the hotter months of the year. They may even experience feelings of depression or sadness during the spring or summer months, which can be symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Sometimes referred to as seasonal depression or […]
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CW: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, homicidal urges, mentions of depression and anxiety. Disclaimer: I am not a mental health professional. The following explains my experience with OCD. When you hear the term “OCD”, you may think of lining everything up in order or keeping your room extremely clean. You may even picture Jack Nicholson’s character in […]
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Everybody has a different mental health journey and experiences that have helped them grow and feel more in control of their emotional state. Personally, talk therapy has been and continues to be one of the most essential parts of my journey to understand myself, those around me, and how I interact with the world. Although […]
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Content Warning: Suicide Words fall short in many situations, and for those impacted by suicide in any way, this rings exceptionally true. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to spread information and awareness about how to help ourselves and those around us who may be struggling with suicidal ideation. Importantly, this month brings […]
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CW: PTSD As we meet new people, we have many questions that may come up, whether it be what someone does for work, inquiries about their family, or where they were born. When we think about family, this can also include our pets. For many of us, our animals are truly part of our family. […]
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The month of June is known as Pride Month around the world! In June of 1969, riots broke out after police raided a gay bar in New York, the Stonewall Inn (Archie & Griggs, 2022). These riots incited a global movement to support the LGBTQIA+ community, often called the Stonewall Riots. Since then, we have […]