by Amy Campbell ✿

As the days grow darker, we may find that our moods darken too.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is believed to be caused by a lack of exposure to sunlight, and it affects one in three people in the UK. The disorder, also commonly referred to as seasonal depression, can manifest in many ways…

by Kate Koles ✿

All of us have felt the disappointment rise in our stomachs while scrolling through endless pictures of friends hanging out, drinking, and laughing on social media. Many of us most likely stayed around a toxic group of friends because we were too afraid to be alone.

by Tabetha Guier ✿

When people around us are sick, we always make sure to say, “I hope you feel better”. Why is it not the same with mental health?

Some days are just a struggle to get through. You’re never told “I hope you feel better”.

by Allyson Cochran ✿

There is an obvious sort of beauty in the emergence of spring. It is a reminder that all is not lost in winter. Flowers thought to be long gone subtly make their show-stopping reappearances. Pink peonies, daylilies, coneflowers and hollyhock decorate the landscape and remind us that nature always finds a way to be beautiful.

by Jessica Palmer ✿

I own this 'self-belief' journal, and one of the questions is: 'What compliment do you get the most?'

My answer is 'you're smart' or 'you're so good at thinking' or 'you've got an excellent brain!'. They're always about my mental game. My ability to conjure up ideas and be creative or how many books I read. It's never 'you're so pretty' or 'you look great in that top'.

by Samantha Webb ✿

It’s 2:18 AM as I write this. There’s a cup of tea on my bedside table, along with a bowl of raspberries, my current book, a countdown until I leave home, and a tally of all the days I’ve stayed clean. Both of which are in the 100s now, and it feels like a strange coincidence.

by Katreena Sarmiento ✿

Over the years, more and more people have come round to the idea that everyone has a responsibility to save Mother Earth. And living sustainably is one great step.

Sustainability is a daily decision. It entails an overhaul of one’s mindset, behavior, and decision-making.

by Caitlin Mussen ❀

Something I am learning to come to terms with and speak out about is that I’ve been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. When I was first diagnosed in July all I could really find on the internet was the scary medical stuff and statistics - so welcome to a day in the life with BPD (a trigger day). Let me preface this my saying not all days are like this. Some days are worse but a lot of days are better.

by Karolina Ct ❀

We all have a story that we are telling ourselves, most of the time unconsciously. This story is a summary of our experiences from the past, of who we think we are, what we can do and what are our limits. It is a story that feels comfortable on a daily basis, it is familiar, cosy and we are used to it; it is all good if we feel good in it... The problem is when this story is so comfortable that it holds us back to evolve and improve.

by Caitlin Mussen ❀

So, we’re at that time of the year where the sniffles and sneezes are well and truly setting in. As much as I am extremely grateful that that is all it is, it seems to be hitting harder this year because we’ve been so protected from germs and bacteria. Mine literally floored me.

So, what was in my cold care kit?

by Claire Hussey ❀

*Trigger Warning* : This article contains mentions of s*lf h*rm, depression, and other sensitive topics. Romanticise your life. The social media trend that's exploded over the past year as a result of the pandemic, and our trying to suck some serotonin from the monotony of lockdown, has had us both appreciating and documenting the little things. We filmed and photographed ourselves baking, reading, and making coffee at a time when many of us were feeling the emotional effects of months spent isolated.

by Claire Hussey ❀

If you haven't come across the term self-care while scrolling through your social media, you must be one of the few who've managed to detach from the platforms.

Over the past eighteen-months, the term self-care has been popping up online so much it feels like there's no escaping it. Everywhere you look, someone's run a bubble bath or blitzed a green juice in its name. It's a necessity that's become a mainstream trend; the social media posts accompanied with a classic #selfcare.

by Caitlin Mussen ❀

Living with mental illness can be challenging to say the least. And sometimes it makes looking after our wellbeing seem like an impossible task. Typically, the little things can help us learn more about ourselves, make a bad day good and help us appreciate the big things more. But what happens when you factor in mental illness?

by Caitlin Mussen ❀

Having boobs and watching Greys Anatomy religiously does not make me a qualified expert on boobs, but there’s a few things I think the curriculum missed out when we were younger.

SO, there are two things I wanna cover in this post - how to check your boobs and insecurities or things that NEED normalised a bit more.

by Caitlin Mussen ❀

Everyone knows that saying “no” to someone can feel awkward and uncomfortable; but just how many times are we saying “no” to ourselves in order to say yes to others? Believe it or not despite the worry that they may feel let down, disappointed or annoyed, saying no does not make you a bad person!

by Zainab Shakeer ❀

Loving oneself is the most beautiful thing one can do for their happiness and well-being. Self-love is not just about pampering, nourishing yourself and living holistically, but it is also about believing in yourself, accepting your flaws, loving your body, being confident and knowing your worth. The first step to self-love is to take care of yourself.

by Samantha Webb ❀

Several months ago, I lost a childhood friend. We drifted after moving schools, lost touch, disappeared into our own individual teenage years. So, I suppose we weren’t particularly close, but a friend they would always be. I’m pretty sure that if I had ever reached out to them, they would have answered, if I ever wanted to reunite, they would have accepted my offer. Which is why, I think, I’ve been struggling a lot since they passed.

by Paige Thompson ❀

“Growth can feel like loss” I think of this as I currently shed the old shell that was my former self and feel myself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually entering a new chapter of my life. When you’re conscious and really alive, you are so tuned into the waves and feelings of life, it is impossible to not recognise when the present is fading into the past and when the future is dissolving slowly and becoming a new, different, reality. I have long lived my life attached to things and people - I do not think I have ever been just one, just me, I have been an extension of people and moments, thinking my identity belongs to the experiences I have lived, the pain and love I have felt.

by Samantha Webb ❀

June is the month of Fathers Day, a time to appreciate the presence of grandads, uncles and Dads across the globe. So for my piece this week I wanted to focus on male mental health, and open up the subject of why “manning up” isn’t a useful method of comfort. All men struggle too and its time to amplify the conversation about social norms, when it comes to masculinity. Good mental health is like oxygen. Without it, we cannot survive. Without it, we will suffocate within ourselves. So why is it so much more taboo for men to need this oxygen?

by Safiyyah Hanif ❀

The way we think and therefore act is governed by the neurons in our brain. As humans it is in our nature to seek comfort, and so we resist mental challenges and shy away from pain. The subconscious mind is a map of conclusions and beliefs that we thread together over time and it is heavily influenced by our surroundings and experiences. As creatures of habit, this often means that our thoughts are repeated, and our natural thought processes become almost one dimensional. When trying to form new habits, this consistency and repetition can be used to our advantage in training our minds for success.