Common Minds

A variety of people will go on and say Mental illness is all in your head. They might think that you have the power to turn the off switch at any given time. As for me and my family Mental Health was hardly ever discussed, and probably because of the stigma that society has on it today. Before this topic was brought up in my class, I didn't really know where I stood with it exactly. As I did some research into the topic and really began to analyze the different actions that are considered mental health issues, and it really opened my eyes.I didn't realize just how many factors I had occurring with my mental health personally. I reviewed just how many people are facing theses issues and how long it’s gone unspoken within my family and the ones around me.  Especially here on campus, with many people who have the ability to help, like the counseling and psychological services that we have here. Take advantage of that, and be the one to talk to others, you never know who may need it. 

Adding on to the pressure I am a first generation Student, struggling to understand college and discover some hacks as well. So freshman, you're probably entering the time of your life where you're going to encounter the most stress. There will be days where you have an assignment due for every class, and you might just want to yell, attend the resources and it'll help I know from experience.But its college and if you play your cards right, you'll be out in 4 years, in no time! Good Luck you got this.

Advice for Freshmen

Being a freshmen here at Cal State LA is a struggle. Not only are you overwhelmed with so many emails from the school, but you will be doing a lot of work in your classes. I'll be honest being here for my first year, I stressed a lot. For my first couple of weeks at school I was a faced with many obstacles. You will be stressed and you will need help, so my advice to the new freshman is that you should talk with your adviser. If you have many problems with enrolling for classes or even figuring out what classes you should take, I suggest you talk with your adviser. Talking to them will become a big help in your college life. Another is that you will gain stress from classes, and to be honest you will have to just find a way to overcome that stress. This campus has many resources though if you are in need of help so make sure you take advantage of it. I honestly didn't my first year and I regret it. Make sure in your classes try to make a friend in that class so that way if you need help you can ask your friend with that class. Overall to overcome some of the stress here at school you need to open up and put yourself out there, make new friends, go to the schools resources, and maybe even join some clubs to help reduce the stress for classes.

Healthy Mind

Mental Health is not something many people talk about, it is not a very discussed subject but it is very important. I recently started hearing and discussing about it, after 18 years. I never realized that I personally was being affected and most of the stress and anxiety was being caused by school. Fortunately, I discovered a great and useful tool that has provided aid during my first year of college.  It has been very useful and I will continue to use this resource throughout my entire four years of college. This resource is called CAPS, which stands for Counseling and Psychological Services. It has been of great help to me, because they help you with adjusting to college and coping with stress, which were the most troublesome factors in my life. At first, I was trying to deal with it on my own, but then I heard about these resources and decided to give it a go, which I do not regret. They provide a lot of support and actually help get through tough times. Adjusting to college and coping with stress are not the only services they provide, there is so much more. Many students are not aware of it and others simply just choose not to reach out, but you’ll be surprised how much better your life will be after seeking for help when you need it.  It is also confidential so you don’t have to worry about someone else knowing all of your business. I can tell you from experience that you’ll feel more relieved after opening up to someone, that way you don’t carry everything. I greatly recommend this resource, I know I will continue to keep reaching out to them and the services they provide.

We're all in this together

Health above all

            College life can be a drastic change in your life. You might take it in as a good thing or possibly as a bad thing, only time will tell. During these past few months, I began to see the effects of attending college. I started to feel lonely, helpless and hopeless. This only made me wonder what others felt. Are they feeling the same as I or are they possibly in a worse situation?

    Like I said before, college can be a drastic change in your life. It can completely change you as I for one have been seeing that with my long-time friends, including me. Friends who I’ve known for a long time, even my new friends, have changed so much since the start of this semester. They have begun doing things that are questionable, such as skipping class, doing drugs, as they say, that they’re “living life”. I won’t say it’s a bad thing, but rather a choice. They are living their own lives, so I let them be because the goal is to maintain our mental health above all, which is one thing I lacked.

    My first semester was not that stressful, but I’m not saying it will be the same for you. If it is, then it can take a toll on your mental health. College is a stressful time as you try to keep up with your grades, your job, your relationships, and your health or whatever it is, it is a lot of work. You’re not alone. CSULA provides a bunch of resources that can drastically help you for the better, such as tutoring, jobs, couple counseling, and much more that you can seek. The one resource that I believe will help you as a freshman is counseling and psychological services, or CAPS because you’ll never know what will happen during your time in college. Believe me, counseling can help you. I personally haven’t gone, but I have been hearing countless stories where my friends tell me how much it helped them. This made realize how helpful CAPS can be and helpful it can be for you. Don’t be discouraged to go! Like I said before, your mental health comes before anything else. Now to wrap this into a complete package, I recommend you to go to the massage therapy because you deserve it and you should treat yourself.

    Your time here at CSULA will be a life-changing experience, and you’ll learn many new things here like I did. You might see dramatic changes in your life, but in the end, it will be a good thing. If anything, there are resources available that are there to help you for the better. Don’t let them go to waste! Enjoy the ride, and good luck!  

You aren't alone

Mental Health Can Hit Anyone

Not to brag but, I was Valedictorian, captain of the Mock Trial Team, and a very happy person in high school. Or this is how it seemed to most people. I was the “perfect” student, “perfect” child, and “perfect” old sister and friend. However, I was suffering from an invisible disease. I was constantly self-conscious and barely able to wake up most mornings. I had MDD or major depressive disorder. Over 16 million adults suffer from depression at some point in their life according to the World Health Organization. So even If you are suffering, or think you are, you aren’t alone. And the university wants to help.

It may be hard for you to speak out or ask for help, but it’s a step we should all try and take before things seem to reach that breaking point, because that typically means suicide attempts. The university has counseling services, but from other people’s accounts it’s not all that great. I did however have a few accounts with the housing staff psychologist Demontea.  On the other hand, they do have peer groups on many different topics. Including relationships, and school stress. These are probably better suited for people who aren’t familiar with therapy. Being in a group setting also helps to reinforce that you aren’t alone. Who knows maybe you’ll even make a new friend!

Be aware of mental health issues in college students

College students having mental health issues is very real. It is a matter of great importance that should not be shunned instead properly discussed. Bring awareness can prevent devastating outcomes and can provide help. Taking care of yourself physically is just as important as taking care of yourself mentally. Mental wellness is essential not only in college but also in life.

There is many resources on and off campus that are intended to deal with mental health problems. I myself struggled with a problem at a very young age. My battle with my weight is endless but I have learned to cope with it. Through therapy I overcame my anxiety and image situation.

I understand that it may be difficult for teenages to admit they have a problem but there is no need to feel ashamed or embarrassed for needing help. Seeking professional help does not mean that you are crazy it means that you need assistance managing relief or healing a disorder. Being a young individual does not mean you have to face things on your own and admitting you need help is brave.

When I began to take therapy sessions I was only 12 years old I was overwhelmed with the idea of middle school and fitting in that I lost sight of what was really important. Soon after I started being consumed with the thought of being apart of an inner circle instead of my education. Which lead to my downfall I started adopting offal eating habits that had consequences, I lost so much weight and gained anxiety as a result. I slowly began to feel unsatisfied with my body and myself and the attention that I received made it worse. My peers noticed and constantly commented on my figure I know they meant it as compliments but it made me feel uncomfortable. I couldn't deal, I no longer wanted to be in an inner circle I just wanted to get better physically in order to be even stronger mentally. I took action and made one of the best decisions in my life of seeking help. Without professional help I do not think I would have overcame my anxiety problem. I learned many valuable things that I still live by to this day. When I feel overwhelmed I tend to count to ten, take deep breaths and go to my happy place.  

I recommend anyone that is in a stressful situation to seek help. Take advantage of the resources on campus that are free to students. The student health center offers counseling and physically services which is one of the many resources that this department offers. What CAPS wishes to provide is confidential and non-judgemental help involving personal growth and psychological wellness. CAPS specializes in mental health services, which can help one express thoughts and feelings, gain perspective, alleviate emotional symptoms, improve coping skills, and make healthy changes in your life. The available services include brief assessment,workshops,group counseling,individual psychotherapy,triage,couples counseling,consultation and training. The school knows that the first step of success is having great mental health and only wish to satisfy your needs. So don't be afraid to treat yourself even if you try it and it's not for you, you don't lose a thing just gain an experience.

Mental Health Exists

Let’s be honest Mental Health/Illness is an issue that most students don’t know enough about. Can you blame them? Students are given too much information their first year. Although some resources are shared during our orientation and on our school website, this is not enough. Students are overwhelmed with so much information during orientation that mental health is not even a concern. Some students don’t even know what mental health is. At least I didn’t, until my freshman year when I participated in the town hall. It was an event that I believe is no longer the same as when I participated but basically a group of students from all “Intro to college classes” tried to figure out a way to minimize mental illness or a way to help those with mental illness. It was pretty awesome! It was here when I learned that most students suffer from mental unhealthiness due in part to the culture shock they are exposed to as first year students, among many other reasons.

But what is mental illness? A mental illness is a disorder that can affect one’s mood, one’s thinking, and even one’s behavior, depending on the severity of the disorder. Stress alone can cause mental illnesses such as anxiety, mood swings, and even eating disorders. And stress is the number one issue all students deal with through their college years. Fortunately, Cal State LA provides plenty of resources to help combat stress and turn mental unhealthiness into mental wellness. Although they have many resources, the one that helps me the most is the reflection room. Many people don’t know about it but, this room is located on the 3^rd floor of the Student Union. This a quiet place, where no conversations or the use of electronics is allowed. It’s a safe space to escape from our busy lives and just sit down and breathe and meditate. If you’re ever feeling down, anxious, or just overwhelmed with life, this is the place to go. Don’t let stress or mental unhealthiness be the reason you don’t succeed in college, instead use the resources available to you and make the best of your college experience!