CW: Mentions of self-harm, harmful behaviors, and addiction. Two years ago, I couldn’t imagine giving up self-harm or non-suicidal self-injury (SH/NSSI). Because my wounds would always heal, I felt like there was no risk in engaging in these behaviors. Now that I’ve been clean for over a year, I can appreciate the growth and healing […]
I was recently evacuated for the third time due to a major wildfire in California. Because of my past experiences, I was prepared to leave my home this time. Though the emotions never get easier to cope with, with experience I have learned how to be more efficient during these times. In the case that […]
CW: Mentions of suicide/suicidal ideation, depression, and self-harm. Since I was in fourth grade, I’ve been enrolled in many different mental health treatments for my struggles with anxiety, eating, self-image, depression, trauma, and self-harm. Sometimes, I’ll mention something casually in conversation that might confuse someone who hasn’t been through treatment themselves. Their puzzled [...]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
“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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