What Is Mental Toughness? Understanding Its Role in Building Resilience and Mental Health I used to think resilience meant being endlessly strong—never feeling overwhelmed or uncertain. But the more I struggled with anxiety and the weight of past trauma, the more I questioned whether I had any resilience at all. It felt like every challenge knocked me down harder than the last, and I wondered if I’d ever have the strength to stand firm. What changed my perspective wasn’t a single breakthrough but a series of small realizations. I started noticing that resilience wasn’t about avoiding hardship—it was about learning how to recover. The first time I sat with my emotions instead of pushing them away, I felt uneasy, but I also felt in control. I began finding tools that worked for me: grounding exercises to quiet my mind, journaling to process my thoughts, and movement to release tension. None of these erased my struggles, but they made me better equipped to handle them. One of the hardes...

Mental healing is a deeply personal journey, one that feels both overwhelming and empowering at the same time. For years, I felt lost, as if recovery from the trauma I had experienced was something far beyond my reach. It all started when I found myself in 2 abusive relationships, a toxic cycle of domestic violence that left me broken in ways I hadn’t anticipated. It wasn’t just the physical pain; it was the emotional and psychological toll that wore me down, making me question my worth and my ability to ever be truly happy again. Before the abusive relationship was the sexual assault. I didn’t know how to cope with the swirling chaos of pain, fear, and anger. Every day felt like an uphill battle. The weight of those experiences lingered, coloring my perspective on life and how I saw myself. Healing, I thought, was a distant dream. My mind and heart were shattered, and the idea of putting the pieces back together seemed impossible. The road to recovery seemed so long, so difficult. For...

  I didn’t fully understand the concept of emotional maturity during my healing from trauma. At the time, I couldn’t grasp how much it would impact my mental health and overall well-being. When I wasn’t emotionally mature, I struggled to manage my feelings—especially when depression and anxiety would hit, or when trying to heal from past trauma. I’d let my emotions control me, spiraling into negative thinking or reacting impulsively in stressful situations. This only made my anxiety worse and deepened my depression, because I wasn’t equipped to handle the ups and downs of life in a healthy way. But as I’ve worked on becoming more emotionally mature, I’ve noticed a big difference in how I cope with challenges. For instance, when I feel anxiety creeping in now, I’m able to pause, reflect, and regulate my emotions instead of letting fear or panic take over. Similarly, when I feel depressed or overwhelmed, emotional maturity allows me to acknowledge those feelings without letting them ...

Valentine’s Day has always been a bit of a mixed experience for me. On one hand, it’s nice to celebrate love, but on the other, it can highlight feelings of loneliness or pressure to be in a relationship. In the past, I dreaded the holiday because of memories from abusive relationships, where the day was often filled with stress and disappointment. For those dealing with depression or anxiety, these feelings can be amplified, making the day feel even more overwhelming. Over time, I’ve realized that it's a good opportunity to focus on self-care and mental health. Instead of worrying about what others are doing or expecting, I try to remind myself that it's okay to just enjoy the day, whether it’s by treating myself to something nice or taking time to relax and reset. It’s all about finding balance. Valentine’s Day and Mental Health: Navigating Loneliness, Anxiety, and Self-Care Valentine’s Day is typically depicted as a celebration of romantic love, but for many, it stirs up com...

  Timo Wielink on Unsplash " width="224"> Can Too Much Positivity Harm Your Mental Health? I used to think that staying positive all the time was the key to being happy. But the more I tried to "just think positive," the more disconnected I felt from my real emotions.  It wasn’t until I started acknowledging my struggles that I realized I’d been caught in the trap of toxic positivity. If you’ve ever felt like you’re supposed to always be happy or that your feelings are too negative, you’re not alone. In this article, I’ll share how toxic positivity can harm your mental health and why it’s so important to embrace and understand your emotions. In today’s fast-paced, image-conscious world, there’s a lot of pressure to always be happy, optimistic, and positive. It’s a mindset that’s often promoted by well-meaning friends, family, and even social media influencers. But what if this constant push to “stay positive” isn’t always healthy?  In fact, it could be harm...