8 of Our Favorite Blogs from Buzzfeed’s Mental Health Week

 

Photo courtesy of Jenny Chang/ Via buzzfeed.com

Not to discount articles about cute kittens, film quotes for when you need an Instagram caption and what you favorite child actors look like now, but Buzzfeed also posts some content on some other important topics, too. For example, this past week they hosted their own Mental Health Week and posted nearly 150 blogs that covered all sorts of angles and topics related to mental health. One of the largest media organizations in the world, Buzzfeed, is also among one of the first companies to become stigmafree.

To stay in line with Buzzfeed’s style, here are some of our favorites from the week:

1. This Is What It Feels Like To Live With A Mental Disorder

This video combines several personal perspectives describing what it feels like to live with a mental health condition. Each personal story is accompanied by illustrations that depict what each person’s description would actually look like. One person from the video says, “Depression to me feels like a giant weight kind of like one of those big dumb bells. It starts right in your gut, and you just feel it slowly intensifying… It gets heavier and heavier, and a little bit harder to carry.” The analogies made within the video describe mental health conditions in a way that makes it easier to understand and relate to. 

2. 31 Books That Will Help You Better Understand Mental Illness And Disorders

For all of the bookworms who are looking for interesting things to read, this blog contains a long list of books that enlighten many different aspects of mental health. Each book on the list clearly states which mental health condition it will help you to understand better, which is beneficial for those who want to learn more about a specific disorder.

3. 31 Important Mental Health Tips You Should Try Right Now

These are general tips that are useful for any person who has a mental health condition or not. Some of the most helpful tips are: use your senses to help you stay in the present, remember that no one is judging you as much as you are and strive for happiness not perfection. Everybody has mental health, and it is incredibly important to keep some of these things in mind.

4. 24 Creative Ways To Channel Depression Or Anxiety

What helps you cope with your mental health condition? For many people, having a creative outlet is critical to their recovery, and to their well-being. This blog is really helpful for someone seeking ideas of how they can express themselves creatively. There are so many different creative activities you can do, and this blog offers 24 suggestions that can get you started such as, crocheting a blanket, designing your dream home and making your own candles!

5. Can You Navigate A Day With Depression?

For people who live with depression, normal activities such as showering or attending a meeting can be immensely challenging when symptoms flare. This interactive blog puts you into the mindset of someone who faces these everyday struggles. You read each scenario discovering why a certain activity is hard and every decision leads to another hard decision. This article represents what it truly feels like to be clouded by depression. 

6. Learning To Say The Word “Depression” Saved My Life

“I spent time apologizing for my privilege out loud. She [her therapist] tossed me the notion that privilege was not some sort of mental health armor. That, privilege or not, my fears and despair were valid. The funny thing is, she didn’t tell me anything I didn’t know. Just lots and lots of things I had forgotten.” This personal story is both candid and humorous as the writer relates her experiences to things like Dementors and Wile E. Coyote.

7. 11 Apps That Will Help Improve Your Mental Health

In today’s society, there is an app for almost everything. This list highlights a few apps that can be beneficial for your mental health. For example, the app, Music Escape, “is designed to create a mood map of your track library, it helps you create playlists to match or change your mood.” Sometimes the little things, such as finding the right music for your mood, can have a positive impact on how you feel.

8. 12 Ways To Get Help When You Feel Completely Alone

You are not alone. This is something that can be hard to remember when you feel like no one can relate to what you’re going through. But at times, we all feel alone and maybe even isolated from other people. This blog gives some ideas of how to make us feel better when loneliness creeps into our lives. These ideas run the spectrum from simple things like visiting an animal shelter to play with puppies to checking into a treatment center. It is important to be aware of when you need help, and to know what your options are.  

There are many other blogs that were created for Buzzfeed’s Mental Health Week that are worth checking out. We look forward to what this new partnership will bring as Buzzfeed takes on the goal of becoming stigmafree!