For a long time, I viewed my need for mental health medication with shame rather than seeing it as an important tool for my well-being. This shame didn’t develop in isolation. When I started struggling with depression in high school,…
Why Being “Fully Healed” Is A Myth
I thought healing and mental health recovery meant reaching a point where I would never struggle again. When I first entered treatment, I thought I would leave a completely different person. Not just better, but also fixed and healed. I…
Things I Wish People Understood About Mental Health Struggles
Some of the lowest points of my life looked completely normal from the outside. I still smiled and showed up to things. I tried to act like everything was okay. Meanwhile, I was exhausted, overwhelmed, disconnected from myself, and terrified…
I’m Not Lazy, I’m Depressed
“Lazy.” That was the word I used to use for myself. Lazy for missing assignments, staying in bed too long, and falling behind in college classes I genuinely cared about. Lazy for ignoring emails I desperately wanted to answer and…
Beyond the Rain Cloud: Understanding Depression and Hope
I don’t remember the first time I felt depressed. There wasn’t a dramatic moment or a breakdown. There was just a slow, quiet loss of joy, of energy, of hope… until one day I realized that I couldn’t remember what…
Valentine’s Day and the Gift of Self-Compassion
Happy Valentine’s Day! Valentine’s Day can remind us to not only share love with others, but also to slow down and show ourselves love through self-compassion. Simply defined, self-compassion means treating yourself with the same love and kindness you would…