Never Alone Initiative

There is an ongoing social discussion about sexual assault and trauma. This small fire is raging now, fueled by the stories of survivors. There is an unabashed dialogue of identifying what it is and how it makes the victim feel. There are also phrases like “sexual predators” and “rape culture” that create a camaraderie of survivors. They know they’re [...]

After a rare night with relatively few nightmares, the sun creeps through my window and I wake up to signify the start of another day. And with that comes me asking the question in my mind, “Is today going to be the day?” Since the sudden death of a longtime friend of mine and the strong, [...]

Someone with depression looks like this photo. There are no sad, dramatic pictures. There are no woeful images of a young person looking out a window like you see in the films. It is this. Depression is an invisible mask. It is something that you can’t define by the way that people look. It just eats you [...]

Humans are complex beings which can readily experience two opposite feelings at the same time. For example, you can see someone on vacation and feel happy for them while at the same time, feel sad for yourself. Children in their very early development are unable to hold these complexities. The world and those in it, [...]

Let’s face it: we’re all guilty of telling a little white lie every now and then. This is especially true for those us with anxiety. When your mind is riddled by anxiety, telling tiny fibs to get out of a triggering situation seems like the best and only option. Anxiety can be hard to explain, [...]

Nighttime can be hard, especially for those with nighttime anxiety. While the rest of the world sleeps, anxious thoughts continue to stir in your mind, keeping you up throughout the night. At a time when your body craves a good night’s sleep, your mind seems to advocate for the opposite. Having anxiety at night is [...]

Oh, the holidays. It’s the season of giving, holiday parties, celebrations for the New Year, spending time with family and friends — and the seemingly inevitable and unwelcome comments from people that feel like a punch in the gut. The holiday season can be just as stressful as it is merry, especially for those who [...]

I’m unlovable. Broken. Damaged goods. I wouldn’t want me either. These thoughts are too heavy to carry on my shoulders, so I carry them in the deep corners of my mind. The mind I have worked so hard to keep healthy. I fight to keep these thoughts hidden from the world, hidden from the ones [...]

Article updated August 19, 2019. “Fat….” I remember reaching over and trying to rub off the words she had carved into her leg. I’ve seen people read books, magazines and newspapers, but never the skin of a girl too young for even a tattoo. I watched as her tears fell from her eyes to the [...]

Trying to function in college with a mental illness? You’re not alone. I’ve been in college now for about six years now and truthfully, I always have felt alone with my struggles of anxiety and bipolar disorder. I feel like it’s such a taboo topic to bring up on college campuses in general. This past [...]