Before I had the language for mental health, I didn’t have the words for what I felt inside my mind. Years of therapy allowed me to name my worries. Once doctors diagnosed me with OCD, or obsessive-compulsive disorder, my anxieties lost power. Dealing with this, I’ve had many mental dialogues structured this way: “That pain ...

The air is different here— unspoiled, relaxed with a festive undertone that conveys unity and camaraderie. It’s exactly what I need to forget the bickering of a belligerent boss. This beach, with its warm white sand that shifts underneath my feet, keeps the noise at my back and the light to my face. Playful breeze ...

It’s easy to lose yourself Within the forest of memory When you can’t find the sunlight Through the canopies of your past.  Leaves sway in the bitter wind Crying out for solace. For light.  Warning you of the dangers That lurk in the shadows.   But you can already feel the claws:  Vicious, twisted things Born of trauma and despair, And living deep within your mind.  They reach from the darkness  With doubt, shame, ...

When it feels like good isn’t enough, And they scream for more effort and grit, Take a deep breath and smile, Because they don’t have it figured out, either. Editor: Erynn Crittenden

Content Warning: This piece mentions thoughts of suicide. Please read with caution  How do I confess to family and friends that I almost did the unthinkable and tried to turn out the lights forever?  In 2025, I nearly acted on a fleeting intrusive thought. Depression had taken its toll, and the desire to disappear was ...

The dawn of the millennium in 2000 quietly expanded our family’s entertainment. Our parents bought a computer for us to share. I remember the excitement as we sat in our dining room, staring at the large white box, waiting for it to be set up. Before this, I’d only used them at school for typing ...

In 2019, my girlfriend and I scored tickets to see Dear Evan Hansen, my favorite musical. As I walked into the theater, the buzz of excitement charged the air and surged through me like lightning. I had always been a fan, so the opportunity to see it on Broadway made my heart race as if ...

There are Gen Z’ers who live without a smartphone by choice. Shocked? I listened to a podcast on the effects of social media and doom scrolling, a topic that fascinates me for several reasons. Being attached to our phones is so normalized that we don’t notice the abnormalities and negative patterns of this behavior. No ...

Content warnings: Contains thoughts of suicide and discussions of severe depression The doctor leaned across the desk that separated us. “After learning a bit more about your symptoms and behavioral track record, it seems to me that you show signs of having severe depression.” There was a brief moment of silence before I finally spoke ...

Exhausted. Confused. Petrified. These words pop into my head when I stare at my reflection and reflect upon where I am today. My eyes are dull, and there are prominent dark bags under them. A dull, lifeless expression dominates my face. I witness parts of my life flash before me while I watch, recalling who ...