Did You Know? Did you know that by bottling up emotions, you increase stress and anxiety?  To avoid this happening consider the following tips for expressing your feelings: Talking with a trusted friend Journaling Engaging in creative activities Expressing your emotions helps release pent-up emotions and improve mental clarity, leading to better mental health overall. For more information on this week's facts click here . 1).  American Psychiatric Association. (2021, December 14). What is depression? Retrieved January 24, 2025, from https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression For more updates click here! Disclaimer : The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional advice. If you are struggling, it is important to seek help from a licensed mental health professional who can offer personalized guidance and support.

  Practical Ways to Support a Friend Struggling with Mental Health Over the years, I’ve faced some tough spots with my mental health. There have been times when I felt overwhelmed, drained, and stuck in a fog of anxiety. One afternoon, a friend reached out to me, and we had a long conversation. Instead of offering advice or trying to fix things, they simply listened, letting me express everything I was feeling without judgment. The way they stayed calm and supportive made me feel like I wasn’t alone in what I was going through. Their encouraging words helped shift my perspective, and I felt a little more hopeful. It reminded me just how powerful it can be to have someone willing to listen and offer support, no matter how simple it seems. Supporting a friend with mental health challenges can feel overwhelming, especially if you’ve never been in their shoes. But even though you might not have all the answers, your care and understanding can make a big difference. Whether your friend ...

F acing Your Fears: Why It’s Okay to Talk About Mental Health Overcoming Fear to Have an Open Dialogue About Mental Health "Every time you avoid talking about mental health, you lose a piece of yourself." In this post, we will explore the reasons behind this fear, share effective strategies to foster honest conversations, and highlight the positive impacts of openly discussing mental health. By addressing our fears together, we can create a supportive environment for everyone. Fears That Arise With Mental Health Discussions: Fear often keeps us from discussing mental health openly, but breaking this silence is crucial. Overcoming the fear of having an open dialogue about mental health can lead to: Understanding  Support Healing Some common fears include: Stigma and judgment :  This includes judgments and assumptions made about people with mental illness. Keep in mind, that even though you have a mental illness does not mean that you do not direct those stigmas and judgments t...

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....

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...

Have you ever wanted to talk about your mental health but decided not to? If so, why did you decide to keep silent? One reason is that generally, topics that are hard to understand or relate to can bring discomfort to some; mental health and mental illness are no exception. Also, according to Dr. Patrick Corrigan, those with mental illness are secretive about it and their experiences because of the stigma and discrimination . It wasn't until just a few years ago that I began to feel more comfortable speaking about my experiences with mental illness and what it is like to manage my symptoms and navigate through life with depression and anxiety. Next month please join me in a conversation about mental health. With the holidays approaching it is important to keep the dialogue going about how to stay mentally healthy. One way is through the support of others including this blog space I created. Thank you for stopping by and stay tuned for more teasers and updates leading to the debut o...