After juggling life as a highly driven student-athlete for four years in undergrad and then working a full-time job while pursuing a master’s degree, I eventually reached burnout. I thought I could do it all – because I had for so many years. Unfortunately, I did not recognize how I always operated on a low […]
The following blog discusses difficult topics of eating disorders, treatment, and hopeful recovery from the perspective of one individual. Keep in mind that recognizing and seeking treatment for an eating disorder is a journey that looks different for everyone. If you are struggling or in crisis, please call or text “988” or chat online at […]
CW: Mention of hate crimes, AIDS, slavery, and racism. June is a big month for awareness and commemoration events. It can be hard to take in a lot of information about these important occasions, so let’s break down a few of them. You probably already know that June is Pride Month, which is dedicated to […]
CW: Mentions of suicide. In the wake of my father’s suicide, when I was just 12 years old, I was engulfed in a storm of grief, guilt, and confusion. During a late-night internet deep dive, I stumbled upon a report by the John Hopkins Children’s Center that found that children of parents who die by […]
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to talk about and prioritize our mental health. Each year, millions of people from across the country come together to raise awareness for mental illness and take action to better the help-seeking culture. Mental Health Awareness Month was first celebrated in 1949 by Mental Health America (MHA), […]
TW: Suicidal thoughts, depression, internalized homophobia, and panic attacks. June is Pride Month. Pride Month celebrates the many contributions made by the LGBTQ2SIA+ community to history, society, and cultures worldwide. This will be my first year of Pride as an openly queer person. It’s both scary and freeing. The Gay Liberation Movement has come a […]
It’s a common experience: you fall in love with a hobby, craft, or pastime, but when you see others excelling and perfecting it, you decide to quit while you’re ahead. Maybe you were comparing yourself to others too much, or you didn’t think it was worth it to practice something if you were never going […]
Did you know that the last time the United States Government released a national strategy on suicide prevention was in 2012? That’s 12 years since the nation has had an updated and comprehensive outline that can guide us in the fight to prevent suicide. Recently, the Biden-Harris Administration released a new National Strategy for Suicide […]
CW: Mention of Bipolar Disorder, mentions of depression and mania. When I first asked my mother to see a therapist, I was 14. She looked at me with a bewildered look in her eye and proceeded to tell me “We’re Cuban, we don’t do therapy”. From that moment on, I was convinced that Hispanic people […]
Last October, I was sitting in my dorm room when intense stabs of pain suddenly lit my stomach like a camera flash. My stomach pounded while I called an ambulance. When the firemen arrived, I could barely get out of bed without collapsing and quickly vomited. After several ER visits and a hospital stay, I […]