Hello, It's Hannah

Hello, friends! I know it’s been a while, but I just wanted to take some time off for vacation and getting ready to head to college in FIVE days! So exciting! Anyway, I’m back and ready to share another Mental Health Monday with you. Today’s topic is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, otherwise known as OCD. WHAT IS OCD? Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is defined as a type of anxiety disorder that produces unreasonable thoughts and behaviors that lead to compulsive behavior(s). ODC is commonly displayed through a fear of germs or a need to keep everything organized in a specific manner. The symptoms for OCD begin gradually and can vary in the different parts of life. SYMPTOMS The symptoms for OCD include: Compulsive behavior Compulsive hoarding Repetitive movements Social isolation Impulsivity Meaningless repetition of words Anxiety Depression Panic attacks Fear Nightmares Repeatedly going over thoughts TREATMENT Treatment...

Hey guys! I’m back with another Mental Health Monday. Today’s topic: depression. WHAT IS DEPRESSION? Depression is defined as a mood disorder causing a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. The cause of depression could be a chemical imbalance in the brain or a traumatic event, such as the death of a loved one. Depression heavily impacts daily life and activities. SYMPTOMS The symptoms of depression can vary, but the most common ones include: General discontent Anxiety Loss of interest Mood swings Excessive sleepiness Insomnia Agitation Excessive crying Irritability Social isolation Lack of concentration Thoughts of suicide Poor appetite TREATMENT The treatment for depression is usually medication, therapy, or a combination of both. There are different types of medication that can be prescribed by a doctor for depression, and also different types of therapy. It just depends. A NOTE FROM ME ...

I know, I know. “I’m too busy to put aside time to take care of myself.” “I just don’t have time anymore.” “School makes it impossible to make time for self-care.” Well, not anymore. Because today, I present to you… Self Care for a Busy Life! That’s right. I’ve got some tips and tricks for those of you who are in school, college, or your job keeps you busy, and it seems impossible to make time for self-care. I understand that it can be hard, but I promise that just taking five minutes a day to do something for yourself will benefit you in the future and will help you make self-care a habit. So, here we go! TAKE IT FIVE MINUTES AT A TIME When it comes to self-care, it does not matter if you do it for five minutes, five hours, five days, and so on. It just matters that you DO it. Five minutes is better than nothing. So I encourage you to find five minutes, just five, out of your day and dedicate it to yourself. It could be five minutes in the morning right wh...

So a few weeks ago, I got an email from another blog I follow with a printable for a gratitude journal. She had a title page, a page with a quote on it, and then weekly pages that had blanks for the date and three blank spaces to write down the things she was thankful for. The more I thought about it, the more I decided it was a really good idea. So I printed out hers, and since I have finished those pages, I started my own gratitude journal in a notebook I bought on Monday. Keeping a gratitude journal has really changed how I go about the rest of my day and how I view a lot of the things I usually take for granted, like food and a house. Because this journal has helped me be grateful for the everyday things in my life, I decided to write something about how to create your own! How to Create a Gratitude Journal: Grab any notebook you can find. You can purchase one from the dollar store, Wal-mart, Target, anywhere. You can get a plain one and decorate it with stickers to f...

Hello, my friends! Part of taking care of yourself is treating yourself every once in awhile, just so that you don’t get overwhelmed. To make that process a little easier, I’ve created ideas for a Self-Care Kit that you can take out when you are feeling overwhelmed and need a break. How to Create a Self-Care Kit: Think about all the things that make you happy and relaxed.  Books, taking a bath, candles, watching your favorite TV show, things like that. Once you’ve compiled that list, find a container or a cheap plastic box from the dollar store, and decorate it with stickers or decorative tape. The decoration is optional, but it just makes it more personalized and fun. Take the things that you put on the list and put them in a box. Put that box somewhere you’ll remember it and take it out on those days where you need a little extra boost. Ideas for Things to Put in the Self-Care Kit Tea Bubble bath Your favorite book Your favorite movie...

Sometimes, when life gets messy or rough or overwhelming, we neglect the things that make us happy and healthy. We eat more junk, we drink less water, we sleep less. And it all adds up to an unhappy, unhealthy you. So when everything seems to be out of control, here’s a few tips that you can use to make sure you still have a happy, healthy, positive life. 5 Tips for A More Positive Life DRINK WATER Guys, I’m begging you. No matter what, do NOT neglect your water. It is absolutely vital for your health, and if it is neglected, dehydration can hit you really hard and really fast. Set several alarms to drink water, get an app that reminds you, get a special water bottle just for you. Just make sure you’re drinking 7-8 glasses a day. GET ENOUGH SLEEP I’m speaking from personal experience when I say that the amount of sleep you get can make or break your life. I used to stay up all night long doing who knows what, and sleep all day. It took a to...

I don’t know about you guys, but when I tell someone I’m stressed, the absolute number one most common response is, “Oh, just go take a bath.” Ah, yes. The ol bath response. Personally, baths do help me relax and bring down my stress, but sometimes, it’s just not enough to tackle the stress that different people feel, and therefore, they get really sick of that response. But today, I’m here to give you some ways to take a break from your busy and stressful life, but without breaking the bank, and without just telling you to take a bath. So let’s get started. 15 Ways to Take a Break Go outside. You would be amazed at what just taking a step outside and getting a breath of fresh air can do for you. You can take a walk, a run, a walk with your dog, or just step outside and sit on the front porch for a little bit. It’s up to you what you do, but definitely try and go outside for just 10 minutes a day, Write it down. I cannot tell you how important it is to keep a ...