Author Archives: astrosanalog

As common as mental health is, a lot of people still don’t talk about it.  I think everyone, in one way or another, struggles with mental health whether they’re fully aware of it or not.  Whether it is a mood, trauma-related, or eating disorder, they’re all important.  While I do believe the overall stigma for mental health has gone down, talking about it in a social setting is not common.  I guess rightfully so.  It is a personal matter that not everyone is going to relate to or understand, but it continues to amaze me the amount of people that are not aware, acknowledge, or even recognize other people’s or their own mental health.  

I think at the beginning, I didn’t know I was depressed either.  I didn’t really understand feeling anxious around people.  I had always thought of myself as an extroverted, out-going, and super social person.  But as the years went on, I have seen myself isolate more and more.  Sometimes I come out of this deep fuzzy cave I have made for myself to dip my toe in the social pond, but my stomach starts to turn, I’m just waiting to leave, and my mind starts a frenzy of who hates me most in the room.  Even in less personal settings, like walking through crowds, I begin to lose my breath, my heart skips a beat if someone makes eye contact with me, and I find myself walking as fast I can even when I start to sweat.  My parents noticed before I ever accepted it and sent me to more than one therapist over the years, and I have yet to find my goldie locks perfect combo.  But that has not stopped me from wanting to go to one anyways.  My mom always calls them “wizards”, and I like the idea of that.  I think I am always surprised by people’s reactions when they hear I have been to a “therapist”.  “Really?!”, is most people’s first impression, followed by random assorted questions as if they want to test the waters before jumping in.  I didn’t realize how much people don’t really talk about going to see a therapist.  As if I am so crazy that someone needs to talk me through my mind.  My mind might always be racing but therapy is not for the crazy, it is not even for the weak.  It is for the people that are strong enough to recognize that they don’t want to live in a mind that constantly attacks them.  One of the first steps in changing is recognizing there is a problem or something off in the first place.  Now, first glance at me, I probably don’t come off as the first person that needs therapy.  This isn’t a pity party for me, but don’t judge a book by it’s cover.  So many people carry scars from battles they don’t talk about.    

Living with mental health.  Again, I think everyone struggles with mental health in some way, shape, or form.  But how do most people deal with it? Everyone is different, so everyone copes in different ways.  I will always suggest going and talking to someone that you know will show support.  Even if it is not a close friend and is in a professional atmosphere, talk to someone.  Sometimes that can be all you really need: someone to listen and validate your feelings and thoughts.  You’re not crazy and you’re not alone.  But not everyone is ready to talk about what is going on, and that’s more than ok too!  Write it down!  In a safe space, write everything down that is holding you back.  No one is going to read it if you don’t want them to, so don’t hold back either.  Write letters and burn them.  Get it all out.  And I know it might be the last thing on your mind and sounds like so much work, but take care of yourself.  Take a shower if it has been a couple of days, it won’t take as long as you think.  Go for a walk and feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, it’s not as much work as you think.  Read a book and escape this world for an hour or two.  Make your favorite food and enjoy it how you want to.  If there are no words to describe it, draw it.  Scribble nothing and crumple it up, burn it, tear it up into a million pieces.  Do a quick yoga or meditation session.  I have a couple of favorites on YouTube that center your thinking, get your body moving, and relax your physical and mental states.  Change is not a passive action, so intentionally changing your mindset will change your life.  Start in small ways!  Instead of saying (or really thinking) “If” and “Have to” statements like “If only”, “I have to”; change them to “When” and “Want” statements, “When I”, “When that”, and “I want to”.  

I guess my point in going into all of this is to be patient with people.  Remember that how someone treats you is more a reflection of what is going on internally with them, than how they feel about you.  I know it is hard and feels so alone sometimes, but you’re not alone.  You are strong enough to do this.  You will be ok.  You will be a stronger person in the end.  Take it one day at a time and keep smiling babes.  You’re doing great.  

If you want to talk more in-depth about anything mentioned, please feel free to reach out!  My email is under the contact me tab for a quicker response or you can reach out on any of our social media!

It has officially been over a week since the new year has commenced!  Have you kept up with your new year’s resolutions thus far?  What were your resolutions?  I had two big goals for this year: learn and start investing and expand Astro’s Analog.  I am proud to say that I have been pretty on top of them so far.  I wanted to start investing because my whole family invests.  Even more, I swear my brother will go into investment banking someday.  But the whole thing is like a foregin language to me.  Well, I got tired of sitting on the sidelines during their discussions and I fully plan on changing that this year!  I have started reading two books: The Intelligent Investor and How to Invest Like Warren Buffet.  Being someone who is not as educated on the subject at the get-go, these reads are a bit wordy and confusing for me.  But Rome wasn’t built overnight!  I have been rereading pages, sometimes twice, sometimes five times, to understand it just a little better.  I research every word that I do not know.  I have yet to actually start the process of buying stocks because I would rather be more educated on it so I am not going in blind.  This is not about stocks though, this is about wanting to do something and starting somewhere.  Things and ideas can seem daunting at first.  And from personal experience, people typically put them off or procrastinate because of how much work or effort is involved.  AND THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO CHANGE.  Wouldn’t it be awesome to get things done the minute it comes up?  I want to be the person my future self will thank.  

I find a lot of things to be intimidating or daunting at first, but I know it will be worth it in the end.  Start anywhere!  Start small and build up your confidence.  Do the things you’re dreading doing… JUST DO IT.  Wake up an hour earlier.  Go for a walk.  Make your bed when you wake up.  And do it again the next day.  Keep showing up for yourself.  Break the cycle and change your life.  Change your mind and change your life.  These have been the biggest factors that have changed my motivation to be more active and productive daily.  Take it one week at a time, one day at a time, one situation at a time.  Reach out to me personally through our contact tab if you want advice, a listener, or moral support.  I’m always here (:

  Welcome Welcome!! I am so happy you’re here. Astro’s analog has been an idea I had for years now because of my passion for writing. I have always found it to be an outlet where I can truly express myself.  But I had no idea where to begin to start a blog.  After a couple years of Astro’s analog being on different froms of social media, I wanted to tie everything up into one platform.  While I love twitter, intsgram, and especially pinterest, none of them gave me the opportunities to fully present myself the way a blog would.  So, here I am! I am so excited to start sharing my experiences and have the opportunity to let my creativity run wild.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.  

Come by every week for new stories, reels, inspo, and more from yours truly.  Please keep in mind that this is not a space for critiquing or judgement.  This is a space for opening up your mind, finding what you need, including anyone and everyone, being kind, and smiling a lot. I can’t wait for us to get to know each other.