The negative stigma surrounding mental illnesses including anxiety and depression has negative consequences on society and the person suffering from the disorder. Depression and anxiety in their evolutionary forms are healthy; they are the body’s response to stimuli that the person needs to avoid/deal with in order to get out of an unhealthy situation. From an evolutionary psychology standpoint, anxiety […]
Author: Charlotte Aitken
Dear Past Self
Dear past self, I know that the past few days, weeks, months or even years have been filled with so many obstacles and challenges. Some of them you were able to easily breeze through and other times you just barely crawled past. Then, there were those unfortunate occasions where you were completely crushed by […]
Two types of Pride
How did the emotion of pride evolve? There are two paths that led to us standing tall. One based on dominance, acquired through fear, Called Hubristic Pride- it makes negativity draw near: He holds his position by with-holding acquisition controlling rights of others through resource suppression. The antisocial ape with his intimidation; Don’t get stuck […]
Sisters
I have two sisters. One is older than me, has achieved incredible things with her life, and she’s depressed. One is much younger than me, has potential to surpass all of us with her intellect and wit, and she has anxiety (and is probably one of the most neurotic people I’ve ever encountered – not […]
Isolated and International
According to UBC Overview and Facts, students in the 2016/17 school year included 24.0% international students for the Vancouver campus, and 14.4% international students for the Okanagan campus. In other words: if you’re an international student here at UBC, you are far from alone. Being an international student can be lonely at times, even if […]
Taking the time out of our busy schedules to speak with our loved ones is important, not only to maintain that particular relationship, but also to achieve a healthier mind state. Sharing any thoughts and feelings, no matter how big or small, that can cause us stress or discomfort is one way to properly deal […]
In the midst of midterm season, and deep in the depths of studying way too much, I would like to share with you a few good studying spots. The difference between these special spots and your typical place of study is that my spots may feel a little more cozy, and a little less like […]
Social Anxiety & Me
I stare at the phone in front of me, dreading the important call I have to make. My hand clutches a piece of paper with all the questions I needed to ask and I mentally rehearse my lines again. As I start the call, I head inside to the privacy and comfort of my room […]
#MeToo.
Note: This post deals with themes of sexual harassment and assault. If you are looking for support at UBC, the Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC), located on the 3rd floor of the UBC Student Nest, has a wide variety of resources for survivors, activists, and those looking to support a loved one who has experienced […]
Growth
Though never officially diagnosed, I am almost positive that I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and while it has become more and more manageable over the years, I’m always so stuck in my head that I never really see myself getting better. But occasionally there are moments when I realize just how far I’ve come. When […]