RETHINK - Rethink Blog

6 ways to manage stress

4/10/2021

Life consistently presents us with challenges and changes and at times this can lead to us feeling stressed. Planning how to manage and cope in various life situations, and finding out which coping skills work best for you, is the key to succeeding with stress rather then experiencing distress.

Anxiety Disorder Infographic

4/3/2021

Learn more about Anxiety Disorders with this infographic made by Rethink Mental Health Advocate, Aza! Understand what anxiety disorders are, the risk factors, treatment options, and more!

Generalized Anxiety Disorder Infographic

4/3/2021

Learn more about Generalized Anxiety Disorder with this infographic made by Rethink Mental Health Advocate, Aza! Understand Generalized Anxiety Disorder statistics, risk factors, pathophysiology, complications and more!

My story of Self Harm and Overworking to Cope with Mental Health, by Rethink Advocate megane Jacques

4/2/2021

[TW: SH, mention of self h*rm]
This blog article was written by Rethink Mental Health Advocate, Megane Jacuqes:

I was about 11 years old the first time I intentionally cut myself. Things were already pretty difficult for me and at some point I needed a way to regain control on the pain I was feeling. I wanted to be able to inflict myself pain, but most importantly be able to stop it and limit it as I was suffering so much from my anxiety that I felt I didn’t have control on anything. I had first heard about self harm in a « puberty guide for girls ». They had good intention by shedding some light on self harm, but the way they focussed more on how it felt, rather than the consequences afterwards, led me to think it wouldn’t be such a bad coping method.

It was quite visible, I always cut my left arm, at the exact same spot, again for control, and as it was hard to hide it, I didn’t have a choice but to tell my mother what I had done. It was incredibly hard to say out loud, I was so scared she would get mad at me. We talked and fortunately, she simply told me that although she understood my gesture, she’d preferred if I found another way to cope. She even helped me convince my school to allow me to wear a vest in gym class, because I was starting to get teased about my cuts that were visible. You see, my action was so emotion-based that I hadn’t even reflected on the fact that my uniform didn’t always allow long-sleeved shirts.

Mindfulness May Not Be So Great After All

3/29/2021

This blog article is by Tina Arnoldi for Theravive. Theravive is a network of licensed therapists and psychologists committed to helping people receive the best mental health care available. Through building bridges with others, we continually strive to lower mental health stigma. To learn more, visit https://www.theravive.com/cities to view the original blog visit https://www.theravive.com/today/post/mindfulness-may-not-be-so-great-after-all-0004709.aspx

“Be mindful”. But does that guidance really help? It has become common advice and there are proponents of mindfulness. However, a recent study in PLOS Medicine found that while mindfulness programs may have specific effects on some common mental health symptoms, they are no better than other interventions.

How Sexual Trauma as a Youth Led To My Repressed Depression

3/22/2021

A blog article by Rethink Mental Health Advocate, Natasha Lettner, from her blog, Natashawrites
[TW: SA, r*pe]

I began writing poetry in my teens. Writing is most comfortable for me when it comes to expressing my emotions. Up until very recently, this was how I show my love in relationships. Even still, here I am using my writing as a way to share this story with you!

I remember finding an old box of notebooks back before I moved out for college. The pages filled with emotions and feelings that were so dark that I scared myself. I couldn’t believe that I could write the words that I was reading. There was mention of wanting to disappear forever. I didn’t care about harm coming my way and in so many pretty words I welcomed it.

This was a sign of depression and didn’t even know it.

I lost my voice when…

How to Deal With Difficult People

3/20/2021

In business, like the rest of life we will often encounter people who are just that little more difficult to get along with. Some use the term "personality conflict" to describe the situation, yet this suggests that there is some sort of unbreakable barrier and that the problem is somewhat unfixable, since it is highly unlikely somebody is going to change their entire personality for the sake of better work relations!

My story with eating disorders by Bianca Parker

3/12/2021

[TW: ED]
To be honest, it took me a while to think about whether I really want to write this article or not. Because, to be honest, it's hard for all of us to seem vulnerable.

But it is so normal and beneficial to "look vulnerable." It is so normal and beneficial to be human. It is so normal and beneficial to want people who are going through what you have been through to be inspired by you.

My story with eating disorders began around the age of 14. Then I wanted terribly to respect the beauty pattern imposed by society: I wanted to be thin, like the rest of my close friends. I was asking myself all kinds of questions, I didn't understand what was wrong with me, why I couldn't have their flat abdomen, or their thin legs, or their lives. I wanted to have their lives.

I gradually started to limit myself to one meal a day. Then to none. After a certain number of days of eating only half a tomato, my craving for sweets killed me and I nibbled on everything I caught. That's what the first episodes of bulimia looked like.