What's included in this article? Table of Contents: What Is Mental Health? How Mental Health Issues Affect Work Performance Real-Life Examples Suggestions for Creating a Supportive Work Environment My Story: Mental health really affected how I showed up at work. When I felt anxious or overwhelmed, it was hard to focus, meet deadlines, or even engage with my coworkers like I normally would. Sometimes, these struggles weren’t obvious to others, but they really slowed me down and made even simple tasks feel harder than they should.  I learned that it was important to take my mental health seriously, just like I would my physical health. Taking small steps to address my mental well-being made a huge difference in how I performed at work and felt about my job. How Mental Health Impacts Your Work Performance Mental health is an essential part of our overall well-being, and it plays a major role in how we perform at work. It affects the way we think, feel, and act, and can inf...

  The Cycle of Depression: Understanding the Loop and How to Cope.                                            Why Do I Feel Worse? Understanding the Vicious Cycle of Depression Depression can often feel like an overwhelming cloud that won’t lift, leaving you wondering, "Why do I feel worse?" It’s common for those struggling with depression to experience fluctuating moods, and sometimes, things seem to get harder despite efforts to improve. This can feel confusing and discouraging, but understanding the vicious cycle of depression can offer insight into why this happens. At its core, depression often creates a loop that reinforces itself, making it difficult to break free. This cycle begins with negative thoughts—thoughts about oneself, the world, and the future. A person may feel hopeless, worthless, or inadequate, leading to a sense of being stuck in an unending slump. T...

  How Anxiety and Depression Affects Daily Life: My Story Living with depression and anxiety feels like being trapped in a constant tug-of-war between my mind and body.  Some days, the weight of everything is too much, and I can’t shake the feeling that I’m drowning in thoughts I can’t control. It’s like I’m always on edge, even when there’s nothing to be anxious about, and it’s hard to explain to others what it feels like. In the mornings, it’s a battle just to get out of bed. The thought of facing the day feels exhausting. I often feel like I’m walking through life in a fog, disconnected from everything around me. Simple tasks, like getting dressed or making breakfast, feel impossible. My body is physically drained, even if I’ve had a good night’s sleep. Anxiety kicks in with a million thoughts racing through my mind—what if I mess up? What if I’m not good enough? This constant cycle of worry and despair makes it hard to focus on anything. At work or with friends, I often st...

  Comprehending Depression After a Trauma: My Coping Strategies, Symptoms, and Recovery Tips ** Trigger Warning: Suicide** The following content mentions suicide, self-harm, substance use, and mental health struggles. If you are sensitive to these issues, please proceed with caution or consider seeking support from a mental health professional. Your well-being is important. Trauma has left me with deep emotional scars, often leading to depression that feels overwhelming.  Understanding depression after experiencing trauma has been crucial for my healing process. In this post, I’ll share: the coping strategies that have helped me the common symptoms I’ve encountered the recovery tips that have been essential in my journey By learning more about my feelings and discovering ways to cope, I’ve been able to take important steps toward regaining control over my life. I remember the days my world changed, filled with shocking events that turned everything upside down. The emotional ...

How I Am Navigating Routines and Social Interactions with Mental Health Challenges. "Living with depression and anxiety as an adult feels like constantly navigating through a storm in my mind, each day bringing a mix of calm and chaos." Some days, the symptoms are a subtle presence, lingering quietly in the background, while other days, it’s a heavy weight that makes even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming.  Mental illness affects millions around the world. In fact, one in five adults experiences mental illness at some point in their lives. This statistic highlights a reality that often remains hidden behind closed doors. By understanding the day-to-day experiences of those living with mental illness we can create spaces of compassion and support.  Not everything is black and white and it is important to remember that each person's experience varies widely. That is why it is my goal to start shedding light on these struggles to help others understand and have more em...

Tips for Staying Positive Through Holiday Ups and Downs Why Holiday Cheer Can Be Overwhelming Not Everyone Exper iences Holiday Cheer...and That's Okay! Let's be honest—everyone doesn't feel the warmth, festivities, and holiday cheer. For some, the season can be: A painful reminder of separation from friends and loved ones due to isolation A harsh reminder of the loss of loved ones A time that amplifies feelings of loneliness and hopelessness You Are Not Alone in Your Experiences: Why It's Okay to Feel Overwhelmed During the Holidays I've had my share of both good and tough holidays. There have been times when I've avoided holiday gatherings because: Socializing can feel overwhelming and draining.  I know I struggle to hide things like anxiety, so sometimes it's just easier for me to take a step back from friends and family.  I have been so depressed that I have no energy to socialize let alone leave my house.

Rediscovering Hope: Life Beyond Depression "Depression can feel like facing a long, dark hallway without an end. But there is a light at the end of the hallway and yes, some joy too." Understanding the Darkness Before we discuss finding joy, it’s important to understand more about depression. It’s not just feeling sad; it’s a weight that makes everything seem gray and heavy. A bad day can feel like a bad lifetime. According to the APA (American Psychiatric Association), some general symptoms of depression include: Mood: sad, anxious, hopeless, and irritable Loss of interest in activities and hobbies Eating more or less than usual Difficulty sleeping Tired or decreased energy I can relate to all of the symptoms mentioned, and there have been times when I've experienced them all at once. It took me a while to realize that the way I was feeling wasn’t just a bad mood or something I could just “snap out of.” Recognizing that what I was going through was part of an illness m...

Give Your Mental Health A Voice I started this blog to shed light on the symptoms and experiences connected to mental illness. If you are living with depression and anxiety you might often struggle with symptoms that aren't always obvious. Mental health and mental illness are not something that everyone understands or even acknowledges. This can be due to cultural norms, societal norms, and of course the dreaded "s" word , stigma. I admit that I have let the stigma surrounding mental health affect how I view my experiences.  "I put undue and unfair pressure on myself to not act or feel a certain way." I've often felt uncomfortable with my own experiences, and I haven’t always been the kindest or most patient with myself. But that's something I'm actively working on—and it's a change that will keep unfolding. The world outside can be tough enough, so it's even more important that we learn to be understanding and compassionate with ourselves....