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 […]
When I started at a new school last school year, it definitely wasn’t easy. Going into a new environment where I knew no one, I often felt like an outsider and didn’t think I could ever find my people. There’s one issue that I experienced firsthand that is rarely talked about, and even when it […]
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. […]
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 [...]
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 […]
At 14, I started to advocate for mental health by sharing my struggles with suicidal ideation, depression, and anxiety publicly. Whether in classrooms, on panels, or before cameras, I welcomed the opportunity to educate and empower others by helping to destigmatize conversations and inspire recovery. However, over time, I started to have negative experiences. During […]
CW: Struggles with mental health and hospitalization. When I was struggling with my mental health, I hid behind the exclusive identity of mental illness. I told almost everyone about my struggles unprompted and avoided making new friends due to my tendency to project my problems onto others. Viewing myself solely as someone who was ill, […]
Social media enables us to do some beautiful things. However, it also creates a less-than-ideal one-stop shop for FOMO (fear of missing out). The grass is always greener on the other side, right? Only sometimes! Join me as I recount my experience of combatting FOMO head-on and remaining fulfilled in how I decided to spend […]
In today’s climate, it’s important to discuss how families can support their children, particularly when it comes to their mental health needs. Having a child who is experiencing significant challenges is difficult, and it often feels like nothing seems to help, no matter what you try. I can’t even imagine what my family went through […]
Content warning: Mentions of suicide, and suicide ideation. In September 2018, I tried to intentionally end my life for the first time. Something in my brain suddenly snapped and I became acutely suicidal. I felt like I was a plague that only caused harm to others around me. I eventually suffered a mental breakdown, and […]