This year’s been wild, hasn’t it? I hear this every year, but so many people have proclaimed that 2018 was a terrible year for them. This could be due to my own bias, for this was near the hardest year of my life, or it could have something to do with our collective societal mood….
It’s winter break, which means that plenty of families, at least around where I live, are making a mad dash for the warmer escapes of the world. My family is one of those; we’re staying on a Florida beach for my school system’s allotted break time. It’s manageable for me now, but when my eating…
In the ages-old clash between nature and nurture, when it comes to mental illness, there is no right answer. Mental illness is often genetic; I’ve been asked by every doctor I’ve ever seen about family history of mental illness. Almost every disorder, too, is at least somehow affected by a person’s upbringing, from infancy to…
Over this past weekend, I perceived one of my fundamental understandings of mental illness to be challenged. I watched as someone posted about their active suicidal ideations on social media, bare for all to see, and got a near-unanimously positive reaction. Every article, tweet, comment section that I read was heaping on the comfort and…
In general, it’s better to say something than to say nothing at all. When I was in middle school, I didn’t understand this. I saw friends struggling in the sixth and seventh grade and I froze. I figured that if I said anything to them, they’d be triggered (this, before “triggered” was such a buzzword)…
Gift giving usually needn’t be much different for those with mental health issues. The essentials- paying close attention to their likes, dislikes, being appropriate, making it personalized and meaningful- all still apply. If you follow those rules, you’ll likely create a great gift experience for your recipient who is struggling with their mental health. However,…
You’ve just been broken up with. You have a huge test tomorrow. You failed that huge test you had yesterday. Your OCD or anxiety is flaring and everything is closing in on you, or threatening to burst. You feel a panic attack bubbling and brewing. You may have self harm urges or suicidal ideations. What,…
