As somebody who has struggled with anxiety and depression most of their life, I know from experience how this pandemic has impacted mental health. As a high school student there are already so many things we have to go through whether it be harder classes, mental health, preparing for college, or even preparing for test. Those few things named (trust me there is so much more) take a big toll on us because it doesn’t feel like it is something to be shared.

One day we are in school, talking with friends and going to classes, just living our best lives. The next we were told that our school is being closed. We all know that for teenagers school isn’t just about academics, it’s also about the social interactions. In the hallways and classrooms of our schools, we are exposed to a variety of different perspectives and people that may be different than us.

During this pandemic, people say that we shouldn’t be upset because we didn’t really lose anything. That’s not true at all. High school seniors lost a lot of things. We lost our Prom, Senior Breakfast, Gradnite, Graduation and even just our last day of school. All those things are important and then over night they are just taken away from you like it was nothing.

All the good things in our lives changed so quickly that we didn’t really have to time to process it. I can say personally that when these things happened, it was hard for me to talk to somebody about what I was feeling because it seemed like everybody else’s problems were bigger. I know I am not the only Senior or just high schooler in general to feel that way.

So I made an Instagram account that only has quotes and videos on with encouraging and reassuring words to help people get through life. I will also list a few more accounts that post encouraging things. These accounts will help you understand that it is perfectly normal to be sad and hurt especially in this time. Nobody should ever feel that their problems are less than others.

https://www.instagram.com/mentalanxieties/

https://www.instagram.com/positivementalinfluencers/

https://www.instagram.com/barriosmentality/

https://www.instagram.com/anxietyhealer/