Mental Health Matters It’s OK not to Be OK Right Now “Our pain isn’t always physical, our suffering isn’t always visible” is a motto I personally attest to hold true. As someone who lost my mother to suicide when I was young, I know all too well the pain and grief when a loved one
Hey Panthers, Are you feeling stressed over the upcoming election or anxiously awaiting official results? If so, you’re not alone. Nearly 70% of Americans report feeling apprehensive and nervous over the 2020 presidential election. That’s up from 52% in 2016! There’s now even a term for it — Election Stress Disorder (ESD). Why are so
“Just breathe.” That used to be solid advice for so many things. It works to alleviate anxiety or pre-performance jitters. Breath training is key for a woman near to giving birth, or a person living with chronic pain. Singers and actors know the power of deep breathing for performances. Yet suddenly, taking a breath can
Some years ago—I got an idea. I heard an old James Taylor song come on the radio: You Can Close Your Eyes. In the song, James’ phrase, “close your eyes,” is about trust. And that day I imagined that the singer of the song is Jesus, building community among his followers, singing to all of
We grieve the things we never even had, a friend once said to me after I had experienced a profound loss. Indeed, we grieve the future we were imagining, planning toward, or counting on. In normal times, we spend much of our time engaging in anticipatory causality, a term coined by Sara Ahmed, author of
Taking some exercise and walking on Chapman’s lovely (and very empty) campus today, I entered the Piazza. That’s when I noticed that the fountain appeared to be turned off. As I moved closer, I realized that it wasn’t completely off—there was still some water coming out of one of the pillars. Hmmm…interesting. Chapman makes a
This morning, I was surprised as I sat in my living room with the door open, the fresh scent of moist, cool air wafting through the door. Hearing finches chirping and hummingbirds buzzing within an unusual silence void of traffic sounds, my senses transported me back to a brisk morning when I rose early and
Warm greetings from all of us at the Fish Interfaith Center. As we navigate through these uncertain times, we recognize the ensuing stress and anxiety generated from the Coronavirus (COVID-19). From the disruption in switching to online classes or adapted work to the unexpected challenges in your accustomed way of life, please do know that