I used to think I was just ​‘​bad​’​ at life.  I lost my keys twice a week. I interrupted people without meaning to. I cried in the bathrooms after social events and replayed every conversation in my head. Group projects drained me. I either forgot assignments completely or stayed up all night trying to make them perfect. In school, I wasn’t failing —but I wasn’t thriving. I floated in this space of high-functioning confusion, always wondering: Why does everything feel harder for me than it looks for everyone else?  For years, I didn’t have an answer. Just shame, anxiety and a growing list of coping strategies that made me feel…

Throughout undergrad, I earned straight As. I volunteered. I stayed busy. On the surface, everything looked perfect. Inside, I felt empty. My chest tightened. My mind raced endlessly. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t slow down. And I didn’t know how to ask for help.  Most days, I ran on adrenaline and to-do lists. I colour-coded my planner like my life depended on it, because in a way, it did. If I kept moving, I wouldn’t have to feel the weight behind it all. I was falling apart, but every accomplishment masked the growing storm.  For me, this was high‑functioning anxiety.  Why High-Achieving Students Often Don’t See it  Schools praise productivity…

​​​Many special milestones occur during one’s younger years. ​​At the same time, young people can face challenges as life transitions occur. Pursuing post-secondary education, starting a career and moving out of the family home, for example, are all ​positive,​ but they can also be overwhelming and stressful.   Therapy and counselling are great tools to help people navigate through life. They are both services that are available to anyone, including teens and young people.   Read below to find out more about therapy and when it might be time to start it.   What is Therapy?  Therapy can also be referred to as “talk therapy” and “psychotherapy.” It is a long-term treatment for…

I used to think being strong meant pretending I was okay, even when I wasn’t.  For most of my life, I wore emotional self-sufficiency like armour. Growing up in a household shaped by mental illness and instability, I learned early on that showing pain made me more vulnerable. There was no space for softness, only survival. So, I became “the strong one.” The helper. The calm in the chaos. I prided myself on not needing anything, on holding everything together. I believed if I just pushed through and kept going, maybe things would get better. Maybe I would be enough.  Photo courtesy: Freepik  Over time, that kind of strength started…

Have you ever said “yes” to something you really didn’t want to do — just to avoid awkwardness, guilt or disappointing someone? Maybe it was agreeing to help when your plate was already full. Or going out when you were mentally drained. Or doing something that didn’t feel right, just to “keep the peace.”  If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.  Many of us — especially teens and young adults — are taught to be agreeable, accommodating and polite. But here’s the truth: “No” is not rude or selfish. It’s a complete sentence — and sometimes, the healthiest one you can say.  Saying No Means Setting Boundaries  Boundaries are not…