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...

Please enjoy this snippet! The official debut of my mental health blog is November 6th! The final name for the blog and the first blog article will be featured then.  Give Your Mental Health a Voice I started this blog to put a voice to the symptoms and experiences associated with mental illness. Living with depression involves dealing with not-so-obvious symptoms. Imagine not being able to sit in the dark because you feel like it will swallow it up, it feels like the walls are closing in and you feel like you are suffocating. That is how I describe the feelings of hopelessness and helplessness that I experience when I am experiencing the  symptoms  of depression.  Going through the daily routine becomes taxing and is done on autopilot with minimal energy.  Then, the detachment and feelings of disassociation set in... This blog is dedicated to myself and others who struggle with any mental illness. I hope that being candid, authentic, and honest about my experie...