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. […]
CW: Suicidal ideation When I began my senior year of college, I took on a lot of responsibilities. The stress of school, sports, work, friendships, and life became overwhelming. I quickly began to develop academic burnout. Instead of slowing down, I continued pushing until burnout led to depression. It can be hard to tell the […]
CW: Binge eating, self-harm, addiction. Most people deal with stress throughout their lives. Learning to cope with stress in healthy ways can make people more resilient and help combat chronic illness and mental health issues according to the CDC. However, not all coping mechanisms are healthy. Negative coping mechanisms such as substance abuse, compulsive spending, […]
During the decrease of COVID’s prominence toward the end of 2021, I had just begun my sophomore year. The air was starting to chill and teachers were getting more comfortable with assigning mass amounts of work that nobody was ready to do. In the midst of this adjustment to what “real” high school felt like, […]
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 […]
With decision day fast approaching for high school seniors, the junior class is not far behind. Being a member of the class of 2024 means college tours are just around the corner and it’s time to start thinking a little more seriously about our futures. It’s both terrifying and overwhelming, but it can also be […]
CW: Suicidal thoughts. I’m just going to say it…life is hard, and sometimes I want to die. Sometimes I feel a rush of unbearable sadness take over me. It turns out I’m not alone. To get through some statistics quickly — from 2000 to 2018, there was a 36% increase in suicide rates, according to […]
From mindful walking to fidget cubes, I’ve been exploring tools and techniques that help me when I’m feeling anxious or overwhelmed. With the support of my therapist, I’ve been finding ones that work for me! In this blog, I’d like to introduce you to a few so you can try them, too! I’ve been collecting […]