my back injury

On March 3, 2006, I was a 19-year-old college freshman playing beach volleyball in Florida on spring break. It was a tish windy but we wanted to get in one final game before we packed up to make the long drive back to Indiana. My partner set me and I jumped to hit. The wind…

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be gentle with yourself

Over the years I have found that I am my own harshest critic. It’s not fair to me that I preach being kind and understanding to others, but not affording myself that same courtesy. Please be gentle with yourself.  If you struggle with mental illness and have trouble getting out of bed, give yourself some…

The past year…

Note: This is the first post of many that walks through what I went through in 2019. I've been writing as a form of therapy, and it is mentally draining and exhausting to detail every up and down my life has been on. I am hoping that by doing this in multiple parts, it will…

the inconvenience of mental illness

I have a tendency to spiral with my emotions. If I don’t get an invite to a friend’s party, I get upset thinking about what I possibly could have done wrong or done better in our relationship. I go back to the time in third grade when a girl told me, “It’s not our fault…

4 steps to help overcome negative thoughts

“I am a worthless piece of crap.” “I am ugly and undesirable.” “I am a burden to my loved ones.” “I am better off dead.” Thoughts like these always seem to be on the forefront of my mind. When dealing with mental illness, our minds can be a master manipulator, a liar, and a thief…

5 simple ways to support your friend with depression

1. Check in. Just to say hi. Don’t get offended if we don’t respond right away or send you to voicemail, but knowing you’re thinking of us will mean a lot. 2. Send positive affirmations. Depression destroys any semblance of self confidence so hearing genuine compliments from someone is always uplifting and encouraging. Some examples…