Throughout my teenage and adult life, I’ve found nature and working within my community to be a great way to alleviate stress. Exercise can lead to a healthy heart and lessen anxiety due to gaining a higher-level of endorphins, and in the long run, help you feel better about you. Take your friends with or go solo. Some examples of how venturing into the great outdoors may help … [Read more...]
4 Steps Toward Positive Body Image
Body image is something I have struggled with for many years. I have gone through phases of obsessing to letting go and back to being obsessed. During high school it was the worst, the thought of body image never left my mind and that is not an exaggeration. Body image is such a hard thing to deal with because the thoughts are so incredibly powerful. Every time I would eat … [Read more...]
Do You Love Yourself?
FBF Post from one of our favorites, Louise L. Hay, Heal Your Life: I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS only one thing that heals every problem, and that is: to love yourself. When people start to love themselves more each day, it’s amazing how their lives get better. They feel better. They get the jobs they want. They have the money they need. Their relationships either improve, or … [Read more...]
CREATE YOURSELF
Are you sitting in front of your phone or computer right now, moping around? Are you dreading going to school this Monday - to face the students, semi-friends, bullies, parents and teachers? Basically- Are you living a life that is any less than fantastic? Well.. You're in for a surprise secret today. One that has been there all along, but you may just be finding out about … [Read more...]
5 Mid-Year Resolutions to Re-Implement for Self-Care in 2018
It feels like just yesterday we were counting down to the new 2018 year. I was ready to face the new year with a brand new set of resolutions, but this year, it was time to actually keep them. Half what through the year, I'm reminding myself how far I've come and encouraging myself to keep going. Looking after yourself shouldn’t feel like a chore. Self-care is important, but … [Read more...]
I’m My Own Sunshine, and You Should Be Yours, Too
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey. You’ll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away. - Jimmie Davis When we think of sunshine we typically tend to think of warmth, comfort, light, and joy; things that bring us happiness. In this classic song, Davis suggest that whoever this person is, is so full of … [Read more...]
Dear Mom and Dad: A Letter From Your Daughter Recovering From a Restrictive Eating Disorder
Dear Mom and Dad: If you’re reading this, it means you want to help my recovery. Honestly, support is one of the most important parts of recovery, and parental support makes a huge difference. But you've had an eating disorder… There’s no nice way to say this – you suck at dealing with eating disorders. And that’s okay! It’s easy to get it wrong. No matter the intentions, … [Read more...]
Me Telling You
When I was little it would come to me like a mysterious invisible monster. Usually when I was dozing off to sleep, alone with my thoughts in quiet, the thumping got louder and louder. The monster drew closer. It was closing in on me, and when I felt that it would in fact become lifelike - that I could reach out and touch it, or worse yet, it could touch me - there were only … [Read more...]
I Am A Strong Woman
I am a strong woman. I could argue that this is the hardest story I have ever written. It is a personal story involving self-discovery, confusion, anger, ignorance, laughter, and last but certainly not least authenticity. I say “authenticity” because I want to be real with you, my reader, and do what I can to paint my story in a way that is helpful. Anxiety took form in … [Read more...]
Just for Today Poem
Just for Today Just for today I will hold my head high, and forget my problems. I can smile and make everyone else's day better, even if behind that smile I crỵ. Just for today I will walk away from a fight, though I may feel hurt insidẹ. I will ignore what is said, and continue on peacefullỵ Just for today I will set an example, when I feel the need to hurt. I … [Read more...]
How to Overcome Anxiety: Stories of Hope and Help
We all have a story. And yours is a special, important one that matters. Below are the courageous stories from our readers which show, from their experiences, how to overcome anxiety and depression. The submissions are from teens, college students, parents, family members and more. They are completely unedited. To submit your own story, Just Fill It Out Here Right … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Actually Love Yourself In the Next 24 Hours
Taking time to appreciate yourself requires just that: time. Tomorrow morning, make an intention to do the next five items intentionally as you spend a few extra seconds or minutes on appreciating yourself. These small steps can make a difference that will last at least the rest of the day! Take 3 minutes to meditate in bed this morning. Be still and accept what is. Try to … [Read more...]
Eating Disorders in Teens – Q&A with Morgan
Hi, everyone! Anxiety in Teens is starting a new section, every Monday, called Mention it to Morgs. Mention it to Morgs will be a question and answer section, where I will post the questions that I receive via email each week and answer them to my best ability! In case you are wondering who you’re writing these questions to, my name is Morgan (but everyone calls me Morgs), and … [Read more...]
A Recovered Life
ORIGINALLY POSTED: "My Story, Abbreviated," A Recovered Life, November 30th, 2011 Which came first? The chicken or the egg? For me the question was between anorexia and depression. Did depression cause my downward spiral into anorexia? Or did the sharp turn into starvation-mode wreak havoc on my brain chemicals? Perhaps in someway, it was both. I was in college when the … [Read more...]
Body Image Issues
Body Image Issues: This article includes healthy [and not so healthy] living, eating, and overall well-being in teens and young adults. According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), over 50% of teenage girls and almost 33% of teenage boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals, fasting, smoking cigarettes, vomiting, and taking … [Read more...]