Remember that your brain is an organ, and just like any other organ, when it’s sick you need to go to the right doctor to get treatment for it. 

   There are a lot of mental health stigmas, like depression being the same as feeling sad, or anxiety being the same as feeling nervous.

   No matter the stigma, your feelings are valid.

 Coping mechanisms for depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses can take a while to sort through and try different mechanisms until you find one that works for you. 

   Here are some popular mechanisms that might be the right fit for you.

• Trying new hobbies
• Yoga
• Working out
• Triangular breathing, taking a deep breath for one side of the triangle, holding for another, then releasing for the third
• Meditating
• Asking for support

   Meditation, asking for support, working out, and yoga are all longer-term solutions. They can take time, but you can find different yoga poses or workout ideas online, like on Pinterest. 

   Meditation can be as simple as sitting in the quiet and focus on your breathing. This can help you focus on your emotions. Asking for support is one of the hardest things to do, but it’s also the most effective. 

   You can get therapy at places at Burrell, or an online source like Better Help if you have trouble talking vocally about your problems.

   Triangular breathing and trying new hobbies are more short-term solutions. Triangle breathing is a way to calm yourself down during a panic attack. Trying new hobbies is just a way to try and stay motivated if you have trouble with getting up in the mornings since you’ll look forward to your hobby.

   There are tons of websites focused on giving mental health advice, like MentalHealth.gov, SAMSHA.gov, Nami.org, and Nimh.nih.gov, if you need more help or information.