Mental Health
Self-Care: Why It Should Be a Daily Practice, Not an Emergency Procedure
Let’s be real: most of us treat self-care like that fire extinguisher we keep in the corner—important, but only when things are really on fire. You’re fine! Everything is fine! Then suddenly, you’re not fine, and it’s time to pull out that “emergency self-care” kit that’s been collecting up dust. But here’s the thing: self-care isn’t just a fix-it tool for when life implodes. It’s supposed to be the steady practice that keeps you from reaching the meltdown point in the first place. The idea is to integrate it into your daily life, not as some last-ditch effort, but as
What I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Mental Health Journey
When I first started my mental health journey, I had no idea what I was in for. I thought it was going to be this neat little path where I’d figure out my “issues” and magically become some balanced, put together version of myself. Spoiler alert: it didn’t exactly work out that way. In the beginning, I had so many misconceptions—about healing, about myself, and about what it really takes to manage mental health. I wish someone had handed me a guidebook with some brutally honest advice (along with a box of tissues, maybe). But since that didn’t happen, I’ll
The Power of “AND”
In a world that often pushes us to choose between one extreme or another—either strong or weak, confident or insecure, perfect or flawed—it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking we have to fit into a narrow definition of who we are. But what if we could be all of these things at once? What if the real magic happens in the spaces where opposing truths can coexist? That’s where the power of “AND” comes in. This idea helps us understand how we can hold multiple truths about ourselves at once. We don’t have to choose between
Anxiety 101: How to Cope When Your Brain Won’t Shut Up
You know that feeling when your brain suddenly decides to become a 24/7 talk show host, constantly bombarding you with thoughts? Welcome to anxiety—where every little thing has the potential to spiral into a full-blown existential crisis. I’ve been there (more times than I’d like to admit), and let me tell you, it’s exhausting. Anxiety doesn’t care if you’re in the middle of a meeting, hanging out with friends, or just trying to fall asleep. It shows up uninvited, ready to take control of your thoughts and make everything feel like it’s on the verge of disaster. So, how do
Art as Therapy: Expressing Emotions Through Creativity
In the journey of managing mental health, we often hear about therapy, medication, or mindfulness practices as effective tools. While these are undoubtedly important, there’s another powerful resource that often goes underappreciated—art. Art, in all its forms, can be a therapeutic outlet for expressing emotions, processing experiences, and finding peace within ourselves. For those of us navigating mental health challenges, creative expression can be more than just a hobby; it can be a lifeline. The Healing Power of Art Art therapy is not just about creating something beautiful. It’s about the process—how the act of creating can help us understand
The Intersection of Physical Health Recovery and Pre-existing Mental Health Struggles
Recovering from a physical health condition is a journey that demands resilience, patience, and strength. However, when this journey is compounded by pre-existing mental health struggles, the road to recovery can often feel overwhelming and insurmountable. As someone who has navigated the turbulent waters of both physical and mental health challenges, I understand the unique difficulties that arise when these two aspects of well-being intersect. The Dual Burden When grappling with a physical health condition, such as chronic pain or a long-term illness, the body is in a state of vulnerability. This physical vulnerability can exacerbate existing mental health issues
