CW: Suicidal ideation, Suicide It can be challenging to reach out for help, especially in times of distress. Some people find it easier to deal with issues alone, even when the situation becomes dangerous for their own safety. That’s why having a suicide safety plan on hand can help people in times of crisis. September […]
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 […]
A week or so ago, I sat down to begin brainstorming for my college essay. I had no introduction, didn’t know what I wanted to say, and couldn’t think of any life-altering revelations during my high school career. I spent three years pining after perfect grades and a shimmering reputation. It left me with quite […]
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. […]
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 […]
Being in a rut can mean a lot of things, but it is most commonly defined as “to not have changed what you do or how you do it for a very long time so that it is not interesting any longer” (“BE IN A RUT | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary”). Being in […]
By the age of 10, I had already moved eight times. Since then, I’ve moved six more. The first few times, I remember being frustrated at having to shove my favorite toys into boxes and the U-Haul truck pulling in and out of my driveway. As I got older, I adopted an angsty attitude toward […]