CW: Suicide My Grandma and Grandpa have been two of the most important people in my life since the moment I was born. For just over 19 years, I never had to imagine life without either of them, until last November, when my Grandpa passed away. This was a gut-wrenching few months for my family […]
CW: Alcoholism/Abuse A year ago, my life felt harder than it ever had before. Having a therapist at the time to talk it over with made it easier for me to recognize what I needed. I was taking on too many responsibilities while running on empty. I was always “mature for my age”, but I […]
Content Warning: Mentions stories involving depression, suicidal thoughts, abuse, and more. If you are like me, you may enjoy books that feature characters and plotlines that are different from the people and experiences involved in our own lives. Writers like to call this a “window,” because you are getting a glimpse as to how others […]
This past week has been one of the toughest of my life. My boyfriend of nearly seven months broke up with me. I didn’t see it coming, so that made it all the more difficult for me. When we first broke up, it felt like the end of the world. I cried. A lot. But […]
When I entered the movie theatre to watch Frozen II a few months ago, I was expecting a joyful, heartwarming story of sisters and friendship. While this was still the primary focus of the movie, there was another prominent theme: surviving despite depression and grief. If you haven’t seen Frozen II yet, I highly recommend […]
“Still, We Rise” These past few weeks have definitely been difficult for me, as the racial tension in America has taken a toll on my mental health. We as a nation have been witnesses to the recent events of community unrest with the unceasing injustices of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and countless people […]
After a year-long (serious) relationship, I broke up with my boyfriend. Although it was my choice to end the relationship, I still cried and at times longed to have him back. While sitting with my counselor, she mentioned that it was okay to process my emotions and feel sad, that it’s natural in “grieving process”. […]
“I didn’t know anyone else came out here. I thought Phillip was being forgotten.” Running into another person in a space I was starting to feel comfortable being alone in led me to confront feelings I had been having and not necessarily dealing with. At first, I was embarrassed to admit how often I visited […]
Yesterday my family and I, although miles apart in physical proximity, lit a candle in each of our respective homes for my brother who passed away 7 months ago. It just so happened to fall on World Suicide Prevention Day. The past seven months for me personally have been a whirlwind. After he passed away, […]
In April of 2013, my mother passed away from Stage Four Metastasis Breast Cancer and I carry that with me everywhere I go...in the 4 years (going on 5) that I've spent Mother's Day motherless, I've learned a few ways to cope for when the day gets blue.