Coulture
I felt an overwhelming sense of awareness wash over me. It felt like a wall had been blocking a part of my being, a wall I never saw before but had just, in an instant, fallen down. It may sound ridiculous or exaggerated, but I genuinely felt physically lighter.
Having a thirteen-year-old brother that has not been vaccinated yet, I am hesitant to get rid of the mask for good. On April 28th, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper lifted the required mask mandate, and normalcy appeared to be in sight. However, is the new mandate a false sense of security?
As an avid Instagram user AND online shopper, I have stumbled across more than a few eye-catching brands from my extensive scrolling. What began to stand out to me was that so many of these companies had something to do with mental health — whether it be the words “your anxiety is lying to you!” across the back of a hoodie or a brand’s profits donated to mental health organizations.
However, I have recently been typing out my thoughts, feelings, and epiphanies. I can attest that it has been cathartic. The piece below is an honest, unfiltered, and raw journal entry.
Within the fashion industry, many factors cause anxiety or worry in consumers. Some stores only cater to a specific body type or a small size range. Brands like Lululemon, Torrid, Victoria’s Secret and more are blatantly geared towards specific women and they prove it through their marketing and models.
Truth be told, I am not sure how I would have reacted in the past. It was not until college when I understood how crucial it was to protect our mental health at all costs. It was also the first time a friend suggested I try therapy.
With no customers and no other means of staying afloat, many well-established community businesses had no other option than permanent closure. People were losing their jobs and struggling with deteriorating mental health. While so many businesses and people were facing bleak prospects for the future, one industry was doing its best to spread joy and positivity: dog adoption.
For decades, psychology theorists have talked about the impact of interior design in homes have on emotional stability. The application of some simple interior design techniques will boost your mental well-being.
Being a college student in the current world is not an easy task. Balancing exams, papers, internships, mental health and a pandemic with no light at the end of the tunnel is exhausting. Let us not forget that we just witnessed one of the most crucial elections in American history. But being an international student – pandemic or not – brings a unique set of challenges.