My Mental Health Safe Haven

 Happy New Year! Long time no see! It’s been a good while since I posted. One of my resolutions is to start posting more regularly, especially since we’re coming up on the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of this blog!! It’s absolutely insane how much we’ve accomplished in the past year, thank you all so much for supporting me in this. Today, we’re starting the new year off on an important note. Today’s topic is Self-Harm and Self-Injury. I’ve been hearing lots of misconceptions about this topic recently and wanted to do my part and educate those who may be misguided. As always, if you need ANY help whatsoever, please visit my CRISIS page on my blog for helplines that are available and accessible for you. Here’s to 2023! May this year be something incredible! Be kind to people, you don’t know what they’re going through. ♡Saige

A Day in the Life in Recovery - from Anonymous Here is a day in the life of an anonymous submission; remember, everyone's recovery is different, it isn't linear, and we're all at different stages. Be kind to people, you don't know what they're going through. ♡ Saige ◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌◌ I wake up, but I'm too tired to move so I go back to sleep. When I wake up for a second time, I get ready for school. This normally includes me throwing on whatever I can find, and not even bothering to shower because I don't typically have the energy to do so. I scroll through TikTok for a while (meaning a few minutes), and run downstairs once my dad and sister tell me it's time to leave. My dad drops me off at Tim Hortons; I like to get an iced coffee, cheese biscuit, and bacon and egg muffin. I love eating these foods in the moment, but afterward, I can feel really guilty. However, I have learned to push through these thoughts: the show must on. My friend meets me around 9am, an...

 At the end of August, I had the opportunity to travel to Calgary to serve with the Mustard Seed during their Seed Serve program. During this time, I was introduced to societal and economic issues surrounding homelessness. In addition to all the information I learned about these issues that many Canadians face daily (part of which is shared in the slides below), I felt extremely humbled.  Has my life been difficult? Yes. There have been times when I felt so ungrateful for the life I had. In no way am I discrediting what I went through, because yes, it was an extremely hard point in my life. But instead of dwelling on that one situation, I am grateful to know that there are so many other areas in my life where I am blessed. I have cleaning running water. I have heat, warmth. I have clothes. I have access to safe, stable, and secure housing. I have reliable transportation. I have access to quality education. Do you know who doesn't always have access to these? People experiencin...

 Today, I tried on graduation dresses.  And despite what I would have assumed a year ago, my first thought wasn't about my body, or how the dress looked on me. My eyes didn't go directly to my stomach, my arms, or my hips. My eyes just- stared. Not anywhere in particular, but at me . Because I looked beautiful. "I look beautiful." It was such a surreal moment. Not just because it hit me that after this year I'm done high school (even though it still feels like I'm in grade 9), but because if I'm being completely honest, I didn't plan on making it this far. As a child, I envisioned a future for myself, but that began to fade during my teenage years as I became more and more engulfed in my disordered thoughts. To the point where I decided to stop trying, in everything. I gave up. But man, I am SO glad I didn't. Because now, I get to graduate with my best friends. I get to go to university and go into a career that can help people like me. I can atten...

 Hi! It's been a hot minute since I've made a blog post. I thought it would only be fair to update you guys on everything going on. I want to start off by saying... I'm okay! More than that even. I'm doing the best I have in a really, really long time, and I'm so incredibly grateful for that. As some of you may know, I'm currently in Québec attending a summer program! I am living here for five weeks, on my own, and so far it's been the most amazing experience- I have learned so much about a new language, about new people, and have had new experiences that I wouldn't have had back home. This opportunity has allowed me to grow in ways I didn't think would ever be possible for me, but here we are.  A year ago today, I was in the hospital. While it may have seemed like I was doing alright on the outside, I was dying on the inside. And even when I eventually got discharged, I would still struggle immensely with thoughts and behaviors. My struggles, especi...

I have to be honest, this post was very difficult to make. Abuse is something not to be taken lightly. It causes a lot of pain, mental and physical, and casts trauma onto the victim. This highly impacts mental health in a negative way and may cause an array of mental health struggles. Nothing about dealing with abuse is easy, and reaching out can be even harder. Because of this, I've included crisis resources on my CRISIS page and have made some infographics on this issue, so take a look if you feel inclined. On a more positive note, I have exciting news! Recently, I was featured in the St. Albert Gazette regarding my blog, mental health club, and mental health struggles. It's so incredible to know that people are reading my story and that what I'm doing is helping others. So thank you to the St. Albert Gazette and reporter Jessica Nelson for helping me spread the word and stop the stigma on mental health. I will include the articles down below! Be kind to people, you don...

Depression is a lot more common than one might think. I personally have dealt with depression, and I know countless others who have to. Depression can really mess with you; for me, it got to the point where I didn't even want to live anymore. This is hard for me to write about as depression is something that has affected my life in insurmountable ways, but I believe it's important. Yes, I struggle with depression. No, it doesn't define me. To everyone struggling with depression, or those who have loved ones who do, know that it does get better. You're going to be okay. Be kind to people, you don't know what they're going through. ♡ Saige

There is a large taboo around Mental Health Medication, and I'm not exactly sure why. To me, the image is simple; people with mental illness are sick. Medication is a way for those people to accomplish their dreams and goals. Why wouldn't somebody want to do that? It baffles me when somebody says that these medications "don't work" or that they are placebo. Scientifically speaking, researchers and scientists have proved that these medications have a physical component, which is to act on the chemicals in the brain (such as serotonin) and balance out the irregularities. If you're not exactly sure what I mean by Mental Health Medications, I encourage you to have a read below. You never know, somebody in your life may be influenced by this right now. Be kind to people, you don't know what they're going through. ♡ Saige

 Losing friends can be really hard, especially in mental health recovery. When friends end the relationship, you can feel like you're a burden, or that you aren't loved. Sometimes you feel like everybody hates you, and you're incredibly lonely. I know I've sure felt that way. I've lost some of my favorite people in some of the absolute lowest points of my life, and it was horrible. Even now, I feel like I can't forgive them for how and when they left me, but I'm trying. They deserve that forgiveness because I know despite our differences, they are kind and genuine people. So my advice: take a deep breath. Remind yourself that there are so many people out there who love you, appreciate you, and want to be a part of your life. Focus on those people. Love those people. And, eventually, you'll start to love yourself more than those friends ever did. Self-love comes first, forever, and always. Be kind to people, you don't know what they're going throu...

 DBT has helped me in so many ways, I can't even begin to count. It has given me so many tools I can use to help with my intense emotions, and allows me to act rationally in difficult situations. It's so easy to turn to a harmful solution when faced with a crisis, but DBT can teach you to consider all the different actions you can take. It truly can help anybody. With that said, sign yourself up for some Dialectical Behavioral Therapy! It doesn't matter if you have mental health issues or not, all that matters is that you're willing to learn more about yourself and how you process your feelings. It gives you insight into how your mind works, and helps you understand yourself on a deeper level. If you're still not sure what DBT means or its core practices, read the slides below or ask me any questions on my Instagram: @my.mh.safehaven! I will also be making multiple parts to this post, as there are so many skills to cover for adolescents, adults, and parents! Be kind...

Hey y'all! Before we get started I want to say something... THE HOODIES AND MERCHANDISE ARE READY! If you want to place an order or share my page, go to @my.mh.safehaven on Instagram. ALL of the proceeds go to the Mental Health Foundation in Edmonton, Alberta! This fundraiser is something I am so incredibly passionate about and it would mean the world to me if you could check it out and support me! Okay, back to the post. Today's topic is alcoholism. April is Alcoholism Awareness Month, and it is something that has impacted many people in my life. Sometimes, people have a skewed perception of alcoholics, that they're all abusive and mean. But that is NOT true. Truth is, they're just people who struggle with an addiction, something that is almost impossible to control by oneself.  This is why it's so important to show love and understanding to people going through these incredibly strenuous circumstances. If you are struggling, look at my CRISIS page for some helplin...

 Long time no see! As some of you may have noticed, I took a short break from posting. I've been struggling lately, and I knew that my work wouldn't be at its full potential if I continued to post. But don't worry, I'm back! Today's post is about something very important; how mental and physical illnesses relate to each other. For example, when I would experience extreme anxiety, I would pass out. My mental illness caused me some physical symptoms. People don't always realize how much the two intertwine, but the overlap is significant. Take a read over the slides, and let me know what you think! Be kind to people, you don't know what they're going through. ♡Saige (ALSO: stay tuned for mental health hoodies and water bottles! All proceeds will go to the Mental Health Foundation in Edmonton!)