Ashley B
on
The holiday season is upon us, and with so many potential interactions, clear communication is key. This blog will recount my personal struggles with expecting people to read my mind by exceeding my expectations. I will also integrate how the holiday season exacerbates this counterproductive mentality and ways I have figured out how to communicate […]
Ayanna
on
Struggling to eat, sleep, and breathe for eleven months, my chronic health condition took a toll on both my physical and mental health. My athletic performance declined and despite my efforts to fight its effects, repeated failures made it clear that my goals in rowing might not be attainable. To many, losing the ability to […]
Angie
on
The winter season brings lots of changes: shorter days, colder mornings, darker evenings, and holiday expectations. For many, this can be exhausting. There may be components of winter that feel exhilarating: hot cocoa, beautiful holiday lights, and the prospect of excessive snowfall. However, this season can bring a variety of adversities for several individuals. If […]
Natalia
on
CW: Mentions of suicide. The holiday season is fast approaching and the “merry” and “cheerful” energy is in full effect in every shop window and commercial on T.V. However, for many, the holiday season isn’t always a joyous time. The impact of the holiday season on mental health often goes unspoken. November and December may […]
Charlotte
on
I’m naturally extroverted. To me, this means that I love socializing with others, hanging out with friends on Friday nights, and I get antsy if I’m alone for too long. Like many others, I thrive on the energy of being around people—whether that’s in a lively coffee shop or strolling through bustling streets with my […]
Chloe S.
on
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 [...]
Andres
on
Talking about mental health is challenging, especially when you grow up in a community where it feels like no one talks about it at all. In Hispanic families, there’s often an unspoken rule to keep struggles to yourself, push through, and not show “weakness.” I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard, “échale ganas” […]
Sammantha
on
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 […]
Noa G
on
CW: Mentions of suicidal ideation. As a crisis counselor for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, I supported a diverse range of individuals facing challenging and distressing situations. Help-seekers with suicidal ideation (the desire to die by suicide) that reached out to the hotline expressed something called ‘suicidal ambivalence’. Though many of these individuals had […]
Ilana
on
CW: Mentions of suicidal ideation and self-harm. “I’m sorry for wasting your time–” “I don’t mean to be a burden–” “I’m not sure if this counts as a crisis–” As a Crisis Text Counselor, I receive messages like this almost every shift. Often, they seem to come from the people who need these services the […]