SPREADINGTHELOVE

When times get tough and your mental health is at its worst, it's easy to think about giving up. Quitting on life, throwing in the towel- however you want to say it, struggling with suicidal thoughts happens to everyone. Unfortunately, it can happen a lot more often for people who deal with mental illness. A few months ago, I compiled a list of reasons to live and here’s what I came up with: 1. My parents 2. My twin sister and younger brother 3. My family (including aunts,

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the U.S. They affect about 40 million Americans every year. Nearly half of the people diagnosed with an anxiety disorder are also diagnosed with depression. Though they are very treatable and can be managed, only about 37% of those suffering receive treatment. Anxiety is defined as intense, excessive, and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Some symptoms include: • Rapid heart rate • Rapid breathing

We see it everywhere. The words “self-care” plastered on almost every social media site, all over Pinterest, even in doctor's offices. It seems that wherever we go, self care is being advertised in some way, shape, or form. But what is self-care? Self-care is defined as an activity that we deliberately do to take care of our physical and emotional well-being. There are many ways we can practice self-care, and it can be practiced wherever we go. Self-care can be practiced in t

It’s a proven fact that working out releases chemicals in your brain called endorphins. Endorphins can reduce your perception of pain and also trigger a positive feeling in your body. Working out can help your body and mind in many ways. It can improve your mood, help fight off stress, increase your energy, and can even help with brain health and memory! Whether you like to work out at a gym, at home, in a yoga studio, or by playing a sport, exercising can consistently do won

I can’t remember the first time I felt depressed or exactly how depressed I was when I was diagnosed with depression at the age of 14. But what I do know is that over the years, my depression has gotten worse. 4 years after my initial diagnosis of depression, I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder II and Major Depression. However, I don’t always “seem” depressed. You couldn’t pick me out of a crowd and say, “She looks really depressed.” It’s not that I'm trying to mask my depr

Suicide can be hard to talk about; it’s uncomfortable, scary, and a difficult topic to approach. This past September was National Suicide Prevention Month, a month that holds meaning to not only me but many people across the world as well. Whether you have struggled with suicidality yourself, or know someone who has, it can still be a hard concept to understand fully. This blog may be triggering, so please read with caution. Suicide affects millions of people each and every y

Over the years, I have become a prime example of how your physical health affects your mental health and vice versa. I was diagnosed with both depression and anxiety in middle school and being forced to juggle both, I couldn't see how life could get any harder- until it did. About a year after being diagnosed with depression and anxiety, I developed a chronic illness known as Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, or POTS. POTS has a number of different symptoms including

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, affecting over 16 million adults in the United States every year. Unfortunately, only 1/3 of those affected will seek help. One major reason why individuals may not seek help is the stigma that comes with the illness. Depression is highly misunderstood, and there are a lot of myths about the illness. Here are 8 common myths that should be debunked right away. 1. Depression and sadness are the same thing Depression and sad