Good still exists, even in the worst of years.
On any other given year, we’d be sitting around the table passing mashed potatoes and dried out turkey. Our cousins would be fighting over the wishbone, our grandma would be asking us to speak a little louder, the dog would be waiting for table scraps, and our dad would be talking about his new favorite IPA. However, in 2020, that’s not the case.
This year has brought forth unprecedented events and continuous uncertainty into our lives, while the majority of us crave normalcy and a sense of predictability. …
His health reflects our health.
Kanye West’s mental health has been on display for the world to see. Over the past several days we have watched and listened to his emotions swing from one side of the spectrum to the next. His comments and diatribes have left many concerned, others furious, and more laughing.
His actions and words are not a publicity stunt or sensationalism. Kayne West is a human being, and he is suffering. His fame does not make him immune to the struggles of mental health. His wealth does not excuse him from the effects of bipolar disorder. …
His Advice — Get Better Sleep
The wait finally ended. After two months of being on a waiting list, I was finally able to meet with a psychologist. I want to start by saying that the long line was worth it.
It’s always worth it.
I’ve never had therapy before so I didn’t know what I was expecting. I knew one 50 minute session wasn’t going to solve my health issues, but that conversation did provide a sense of peace — and when you’re in the midst of depression, that’s all you can ask for.
Hail Mary solutions are rare. It often takes a methodical approach…
They say money makes the world go ‘round. Maybe that’s true. It’s certainly hard to obtain any product or service with an empty wallet. We work hours upon hours each week to secure a paycheck to stay alive — because living isn’t cheap. Money is unavoidable. You need it. I need it. We all need it.
But as our world has evolved throughout history, money has steadily gained a stronger foothold on our individualistic priorities. We are taught from a young age…
Do well in school.
Go to college.
Get a job.
Climb the corporate ladder.
Buy a nicer car.
…
Anti-depressants aren’t the solution or at least my solution — but I’m still hoping they are a piece to the puzzle.
One month ago my soul got dark enough that I knew I couldn’t figure this out alone. I needed help. My depression was hemorrhaging my life dry. My sense of emotion, my sense of being disappeared. The daily degree of internal suffering had reached a peak, so I swallowed my pride and called my doctor.
I told him about my dilemma — a shitty quality of life caused by my overbearing depression. I wanted a referral for a therapist, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, anyone that could help me untangle the web of lies that had entrapped my brain. I knew…
When quarantine is able to be laid to rest, and the inevitable social isolation hangover subsides, we are going to look back at these groundhog-like days, and think, “I’ve never seen my dog so happy.”
There is no attempt to prop up the past several months of quarantine. Glossing over the fact that 100,000-plus Americans have lost their lives to a novel virus should always set the tone for these strung together days. …
A disease that preys on the forming minds of young people
It is a well-known fact that 18 to 25-year-olds are the most common age group to be afflicted by depression. These years encapsulate the transition from youth to adulthood. Most individuals are leaving the safety net of their homes, entering or exiting higher education, or jumping into the workforce. Quickly, young adults are faced with a reality that may not align with the world they thought they were living in.
My early 20s have been just that. Now, looking in the mirror means more than examining possible acne spots or if the color of my beard grows red. …
Dear Ms. Mary Cassatt,
On May 22 of this year, you would be turning 176-years-old. I can only imagine the strokes your paintbrush could make with 94 extra years. While you left Earth long ago, your imprint on the world remains. You brought life and sensitivity to the Impressionist movement. Your art didn’t — your art doesn’t — just hang on walls or sit behind museum glass. Your art lives as much today, as the day your canvas dried.
Your work writes novels without words.
It opens eyes that are closed.
It shows fragility in a sharp world.
You brought…
It’s only a matter of time. Some of us do it at 16, some at 22, some at 30 — and no, I’m not talking about sex. The day we choose to or have to enter the workforce comes for us all. This day… The day our alarm goes off, we put on our job appropriate outfit, eat half a granola bar and wash it down with a cheap cup of coffee, then rush out the door toward a new reality — this day brings a watershed of emotions.
It’s hard to put into words what work means to humans.
…
Cars break down. Markers dry out. Teapots overflow.
What do all three of these things have in common? At first glance, not a damn thing. When looked at through the lens of mental health, it becomes clear — these are the everyday feelings millions of individuals struggle with because of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, etc.
Break down.
Dry out.
Overflow.
The thing about mental health is it’s invisible — until it isn’t. The brain is the body’s most complex, intricate organ. It controls our physical aspects like body movements, subconscious breathing, and our ability to speak. But it is also…
Zach Shaw
A bit of a writer. I like to think I’m somewhat funny. Lover of fried chicken (baked chicken can go die). I get caught up in thoughts. Twitter: @ZachSShaw
