Summers can get overwhelmingly busy, but typically people end up having some extra time to relax. This summer, I worked, was a camp counselor, went to off-season training, was in rehearsals for a musical, all while also trying to have enough time to prioritize my mental health and give myself some much-deserved downtime. Sometimes I’d […]
CW: Depression/Mental Illness Having depression sucks, and so does having mental illness in general. But you know what? People like us are not alone. So many people are in our shoes, and we are no less valuable because of our illnesses. Let’s talk about one of the things that sucks about mental illness, something that […]
The National Institute of Mental Health defines social anxiety as “an intense, persistent fear of being judged by others.” For many, it is not that straightforward. For those who struggle with social anxiety, it may be hard to explain why they feel uncomfortable in social situations. It can be as simple as an increased heart […]
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. […]
CW: Suicidal ideation When I began my senior year of college, I took on a lot of responsibilities. The stress of school, sports, work, friendships, and life became overwhelming. I quickly began to develop academic burnout. Instead of slowing down, I continued pushing until burnout led to depression. It can be hard to tell the […]
When you bottle up negative emotions, it can add extra stress to your life and body. This can make dealing with anything much more difficult. It can also lead to angry outbursts or eventually depression. If you only rely on reaching inwards during times of difficulty, it can be tough to try and console yourself. […]
CW: Binge eating, self-harm, addiction. Most people deal with stress throughout their lives. Learning to cope with stress in healthy ways can make people more resilient and help combat chronic illness and mental health issues according to the CDC. However, not all coping mechanisms are healthy. Negative coping mechanisms such as substance abuse, compulsive spending, […]
During the decrease of COVID’s prominence toward the end of 2021, I had just begun my sophomore year. The air was starting to chill and teachers were getting more comfortable with assigning mass amounts of work that nobody was ready to do. In the midst of this adjustment to what “real” high school felt like, […]
Get outside! No, really! There are a couple of things we’ve learned through research that tie together here. First, looking around at the space we’re in can help us feel grounded. Second, when we’re in nature, our eye movement is naturally increased. That means that when we’re in “green space” (a nature trail, forest, or […]
In the United States, the month of June is Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month. However, men’s mental health often gets overlooked in part due to the stigma around it. The societal ideal of a man is strong, stoic, and supportive; most do not see men as vulnerable. When a man is open about his feelings, […]