Women are often raised with messages about being caring, nurturing, thoughtful, and family oriented.  These communicated values, as well as the behaviors that we have observed in the women before us, sometimes result in continued patterns of taking care of others while putting our own wants, needs, and self-care on the back burner.

In a world where technology has taken over and everything is so readily accessible in the palm of our hand, it comes as no surprise that there are endless tasks we can manage by simply unlocking our smartphones. Banking, messaging, tweeting, and emailing. The list goes on!  But did you know that you can work on your mental health by downloading a simple app?

In this post, I’ll be going over some of my favorite, free mental health apps I like to use on a daily basis! Feel free to give them a try and see whether they’re the right ones for you!

Sometimes, the people we care about are struggling with their mental health and are not willing to seek help. If you have already tried talking to them and the conversation did not go well, you may be left feeling frustrated, confused, and unsure of how to proceed. Unfortunately, there are times when other people’s unwillingness to seek counseling causes distress in our own lives. This article will talk about how you can look after yourself when you are feeling the burden or ramifications of someone close to you not seeking therapy.

Taking care of yourself and your mental health is always important, but it is extra important while in college. Making sure that your mental health is stable is beneficial to you while in college because it will help you better balance all of your responsibilities. Conversely, if you are struggling with your mental health, it can contribute to issues such as reducing productivity, focus, and overall performance in school. Here are some ways that you can try to take care of your mental health while pursuing your degree.

2020 has been a year unlike any other!  After months of being quarantined at home, you may be craving opportunities for leisure and self-care that won’t take a toll on your physical or emotional well-being. As such, we’ve included a list of our favorite Baltimore area spaces where you can enjoy yourself while also following best practices during this pandemic.

Back in March the pandemic hit us like a tsunami wave.  Within a few weeks our entire world as we knew it abruptly shut down.  Work and schools were closed as we all sheltered in place.  Our world was filled with chaos as we tried to listen to the doctors, scientists, and government officials who knew very little about this new beast.

In our pre-pandemic lives we established a sense of expectation and predictability.  We had our goals and aspirations that we were working towards.  We had a sense of stability and systems in place as we strove towards our goals. When the pandemic hit, many of those plans and aspirations had to be shelved, either temporarily or permanently. 

Self-compassion is crucial during a crisis because it helps us deal better with the all of the bad, negative things that can weigh us down. It’s a way of making room for the bad, unpleasant feelings and acknowledging them instead of trying to shove them down or ignore them. Self-compassion can look like you reminding yourself “Yeah, I’m feeling anxious and scared right now, and it makes sense why I feel this way. It’s okay to feel this way, and so many other people are feeling it too.” Self-compassion can also look like you giving yourself permission to take a break or to engage in self-care.