CJ
on
CW: Mentions of self-harm, depression, and disordered eating. I was diagnosed with depression and started therapy only a year ago. Before that, I had no real understanding of how to manage my mental health, relying on unhealthy coping mechanisms like self-harm, isolation, and disordered eating. Despite everything, I remained highly self-aware. I recognized that my […]
Grace H
on
CW: Mentions of self-harm. As someone who has struggled with mental illness for most of my life, I have used many different coping mechanisms—both healthy and less healthy for me. For some, it can feel embarrassing or shameful to talk about their unhealthy coping mechanisms due to fears of being judged or not feeling understood […]
Greta
on
Since elementary school, I’ve been a perfectionist with a strong work ethic. Some of my earliest memories go back to kindergarten, where I would volunteer to help my teacher clean up supplies from the day. Over time, my desire for perfection intensified. I wanted to be remembered as a student who worked harder than anyone […]
Grace H
on
I always saw physical and mental health as being separate until my anxiety got really bad and I noticed that I was getting sick more often. I’ve always had a lot of health anxiety, so in therapy, I identified a cycle: I would have anxiety about my stomach hurting, which would cause my stomach to […]
Charlotte
on
Exactly four days before the COVID-19 shutdown began, my world came crashing down when my dad passed away. During this time, I was stuck at home and rotting in bed all day. I desperately wanted to inform my friends about what was going on in my life, but I felt like no one would understand […]
Sammantha
on
“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). […]
Brynne
on
CW: Mentions of suicide and self-harm. What does it mean to be a mental health first responder? We hear this term a lot today, so let’s explore the concept and get a better understanding of who mental health first responders are and why they matter. Today, suicide remains a global leader in causes of death. […]
Natalia
on
CW: Self-injury, depression and anxiety, mania, substance use, suicidality, and suicide ideation. Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings, abandonment anxiety, self-injury, and suicidality. BPD has consistently been misrepresented in the media as a mental health condition that is characterized as “crazy” or “erratic”. Characters [...]
Mackenzie H.
on
Navigating mental illness is the hardest thing I have ever worked through. Having struggled with numerous illnesses and episodes over the years, I can safely say that I would happily choose to be free of my mental health struggles. However, dealing with depression has only made me stronger and has taught me lifelong lessons that […]
Greta
on
Last fall, I was diagnosed with several mental illnesses that shaped my mental health support, therapy, and treatment plans. Psychiatrists diagnosed me with major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, an unspecified eating disorder, and bipolar disorder. Through my own experiences, I’ve learned that getting a health diagnosis can be challenging–but [...]