Understanding and overcoming fear By Emmie (Golfing girl) and Holly (Celyn) What is fear? Who can get this? Why does this happen to us? Fear is something that anyone can get, no matter who you are or at any age. This comes from your brain, you can be afraid of the dark or you feel that you have monsters in your closet or under your bed, some may fear heights, needles, flying, animals or be claustrophobic. Something can happen to you and we keep it with us our whole lives or we see something...
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Article featured in Avatar - Volume 2, Issue 11 (May 2009). Friends and Family of Those Suffering From a Mental Illness by LaFin Having a family member or friend living with mental illness can be hard at times, but there are some ways to make things easier and improve communication. It’s hard to know what someone else is going through, especially in respect to mental illness, but you can try to educate yourself on the subject, be caring and understanding and at the same time help them...

How to make a calming jar by Cassie (Cassiopeia.) Calming jars are a do-it-yourself craft that is sparkly and fun for people of all ages. The colorful glittery solution can serve as a calming substitute for people struggling with the use of unhealthy coping mechanisms such as self-harm. With the help of a few materials, people can create a calming jar of their own in just a few minutes. Materials needed Old clothing (optional) A mason jar

Bic Body Mark Temporary Tattoo Markers: A review By Cassie (hocus pocus) Many people choose to draw on their skin, for fun, artistic expression or as a self-harm alternative. In my teens, I did not frequently draw on my skin, but I gained more interest in doing so as an adult. I was pleased to find these markers in stores in the US, and they're also available online in other countries. Try looking into online retailers that service your area to see if you can find these or other similar...
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What is OCD? Written by: Casey You pick up your keys and set them back down. You do it again and again, until it feels right. Then you place the keys in your pocket and take them out. You keep doing it, counting silently, breathing deeply. Thirty minutes later you finally make in out the door. These little 'quirks' rule your life. You plan your day around them. People around you throw out a term repetitively: OCD. But what does that mean? What is OCD? What can you do about it ? What...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 4, Issue 2 (August 2010). Finding Psychiatric Services By Robin (PSY) Have you ever wanted to get help for your mental disorder or substance abuse, but have been discouraged by the incredibly high prices of medications and rehabilitation programs? How about wanting to talk to someone regarding your depression or self-harm, when you’ve been told that private sessions with a psychologist are out of your price range? This issue is not...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 7 (January 2010). Art and Play Therapy By Maria (Gidig) Expressive therapy. Doesn’t that sound odd? But expressive therapies such as art and play therapy can be extremely helpful to anyone involved. We’ve heard of art and play therapy, but truly, what are they? Is it something that could benefit you? So many questions revolving around these! What is art therapy? Art therapy is a form of psychological help involving craft tools like chalk,...

Countering your anxiety By Robin (PSY) When faced with an anxiety-provoking situation, two things happen: our body expresses the anxiety, and our mind becomes consumed by anxiety-related thoughts. Most of us have had to speak in public at least once in our lives. This situation can be frightening for most people – in fact, studies have shown that some people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of dying! So what happens when someone is about to speak in public? Their...

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Article featured in Avatar - Volume 3, Issue 11 (May 2010). The Truth about Eating Disorders By Jessie (Asylum) Eating disorders are characterized by abnormal eating habits resulting in insufficient or excessive food intake. There are many types of eating disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and eating disorder not otherwise specified. Like many other psychiatric disorders, there are misconceptions surrounding eating disorders and those living...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 2, Issue 9 (March 2009). Understanding Generalized Anxiety Disorder by Lizzie Visualize for a moment a time when your muscles tensed, your heart started beating faster, your breath quickened and you felt an overwhelming sense of dread. This could be a memory of a time when your car skidded in the rain, when a professor announced a pop quiz that you are not prepared for, a partner wants to have “the talk,” or when you first realize someone caught you in...

Creating a safe place By Sammi (Elixir.) What is a safe place? In a nutshell, a safe place is something you create to escape from the world for a time. While it may sound like a physical space, there are no limits to what your safe place can be. It's entirely possible to create a safe place that doesn't exist (or can't be visited) anywhere besides your mind. Your safe place is a place for you to relax, recenter, and rejuvenate. It allows for "me" time whenever you need it, whether it be to...

Article featured in Avatar - Volume 2, Issue 10 (April 2009). Binaural Beats by Maria (Gidig) What are binaural beats? In rather broad terms, binaural beats are specifically made frequencies, formed to change your brainwaves -- which control your state of mind -- how your brain reacts, and more. Binaural beats have been acknowledged since 1893 by a German physicist, Heinrich Wilhelm Dove. Since then, they have been extensively researched with a significant amount of data collected.

Panic Attacks Written by Lee and Marie. What is a panic attack? A panic attack is an unforeseen incident of extreme fear caused by a sudden onset of anxiety. Depending on both the type of anxiety and the situation, there may or may not be an external factor triggering the event. During the panic attack, the body feels threatened and creates excess adrenaline to help defend itself from a perceived attack. A panic attack can last as short as a few seconds or, in severe...

Social anxiety By Holly Marie (Rie) We all get jittery at times and occasionally we all get nervous around people we don't know. Can you imagine that feeling intensified and multiplied so many times that it's almost unbearable to throw oneself into a social situation? Sometimes anxiety can disrupt your life, and if it severely impairs or limits your ability to function, you may be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. There are many types of anxiety disorders. To begin with, there is...