Mental Health
In this section, I share my personal journey with mental health. I’m being vulnerable, open, honest, and doing this without shame. It took me a long time to realize that taking care of myself had to come first, but I’ve learned just how true and necessary that is.
Since receiving my diagnoses, so much has become clearer. I’m proud to be neurodivergent. I believe we all carry hidden superpowers. We all have the quiet strength it takes to move through the world that often misunderstands us.
Mental health is the foundation of our well-being, and it deserves to be nurtured with compassion and care. If you’re struggling and need a story to relate to, I hope some of mine help you feel a little less alone. You’re worthy of support, rest, and a life that feels good to live.
Mental Health
Understanding Rejection Sensitivity and Its Impact
The Moment That Still Stings Featured on medium All it took was two words… “I know.” Two simple syllables that she probably didn’t think twice about. Two ordinary words that anyone else might have brushed off without a second thought. But for me, those two words hit me like a punch straight…
The Hidden Struggles of Holiday Depression
Lately, I’ve been feeling raw, like my nerves are exposed and everything touches a little too deeply. I’ve been on-edge, emotionally fragile, sensitive to the smallest shifts. Reactive. And beneath all of that… depression. Last night, familiar shadows returned. Dark, dreary thoughts — the kind I haven’t visited in a…
Understanding AUDHD: Challenges and Strengths
Standing there, anxiously rubbing my hands together, I froze in silence. A million thoughts swirled in my mind, but I couldn’t translate them into words. Intense anxiety and sensory overload led me down a path to exhaustion as I tried to socialize. All I could do was stay silent, even…
The Hidden Struggles Behind a High-Functioning Exterior
On the outside, I look like I’m doing just fine. People often see me as capable, responsible, and put together. I show up every day, get things done, and smile when expected. But what most people don’t see is how much effort it takes just to hold everything together. Some days, even just existing…
Understanding the Impact of Family on Mental Wellbeing
My family has had a major impact on my mental health and how I view the world. I truly believe it shaped me into the person I am today—for better or worse. I’m understanding just how much the impact of family can have on mental well-being. Growing up, I inherited…
How to Support Someone with Mental Health Struggles
I understand what it’s like to support someone through mental health struggles because I’ve lived it. I’ve been the one struggling, the one trying to survive day to day while appearing like I’m “fine.” And because of that, supporting others comes naturally to me. I’m able to recognize the signs. I can feel…
Finding Confidence in Public Speaking
I believe that most of us have performed on stage or given a speech at some point in our lives. For me, I’ve done both. Was it by choice? Sometimes—most of the time, it wasn’t. Public speaking has always been a real struggle for me. Growing up and going to…
Finding Yourself Again After Depression
For me, depression has always been like that nosy neighbor next door who comes over unannounced. I’ve been plagued by it my whole life. It’s like a heavy cloud that follows me around, waiting for the perfect moment to burst into rain—or should I say torrential downpour. Once it hits…
Recognizing and Healing from the Freeze Response
Have you ever been in a situation where you know what you want to say—the words are right there—but your mouth doesn’t move? Or someone asks you a question, and suddenly your mind goes blank, your muscles tense up, and all you can do is stand there, stuck? If you…
The Impact of Constant Apologies on Self-Worth
I’m constantly apologizing for taking up space. I can’t even begin to tell you just how many times a day I say the words, “I’m sorry.” It’s like a reflex I can’t switch off. If I’m at the grocery store and take too long to grab an item, I’ll apologize.…
Understanding Internalized Ableism and Its Impact
I’ve always carried around this burden of shame. My constant struggles with trying to fit in with society made me feel weak, underappreciated, and out of place. I’m plagued by emotions that become overwhelmingly unbearable and impossible to control. Walking this path of life has made me more aware of…
The Comfort of Neurodivergent Friendships
For me, neurodivergent friendships feel different, somehow more whole, than neurotypical friendships. It’s not that neurotypical friendships can’t be meaningful, but there’s something uniquely comforting about being around people whose minds feel familiar. People whose energy feels safe. I’ve always been the “quiet friend,” the “deep one,” the one who…
5 Things I Wish People Understood About My Quietness
I’ve been quiet for as long as I can remember. The kind of quiet that often makes others tilt their head and ask, “Why are you so quiet?” or the one that really feels like a punch to the gut for me, “You need to speak up more.” I remember being…
Embracing Both Solitude and Social Life
I genuinely crave solitude. I love being alone because it’s the only time I can fully unmask and be myself. I’m still quiet — I’m always quiet — but in solitude, I’m alive in a different way. I’m writing, watching shows, reading, listening to music, doing all the things that help me feel grounded and…
Understanding the Fear of Being Seen
There’s a strange tension that I’ve carried for as long as I can remember. It’s the feeling of wanting to be seen and wanting to disappear. I’ve spent a long time trying to understand why my chest tightens when someone looks too closely at me, and why it aches when…
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“Your mental health is a priority. Your happiness is an essential. Your self-care is a necessity.”
Unknown
