Let's Talk About It

Mental health is still often a stigmatized and polarized topic.

Depending on how you grew up - how much or how little you talked about your feelings, whether emotions were met with support or silence, or whether seeking guidance was seen as a strength or a weakness - everyone’s view of mental health looks different.

The more you grow and change, the more you may start to feel the pressure of always needing to perform well academically, socially, or even physically. You may start to face peer expectations in how to act and look.

For me, that pressure began to show up in how I see myself. I’ve struggled with my body image for as long as I can remember. Over time, it stopped being about what I could physically do and became intertwined with how I viewed myself. My self-worth felt tied to how others perceived me.

The mindset is difficult to shake because even when you try to see yourself differently, it just never seems good enough.

Now that I’m 21, I have changed a lot, especially in how I view myself.

I’ve learned to tune into movement and do what feels good rather than what looks good. Whether it’s hiking, biking, swimming, walking, or even stretching, I try to stay active in ways that feels fulfilling and right. I don’t do all of these every day, and I’m not chasing perfection. I move because it helps me feel grounded and strong in my own body again.

Movement isn’t just physical - it has the power to shape how you feel about yourself. Even just 30 minutes of moderate exercise can help you feel calmer, clearer, and more in tune with who you are.

Sports and physical activity can help with body confidence. For many, being active becomes a way to reconnect with your body in a healthier way physically and emotionally. But it’s important to recognize that physical activity can also intensify body image pressure, especially when the focus is only on appearance or performance.

That’s why it’s important to shift your perspective. Focus on what you can do. What skills can be built? What challenges can you overcome? How do you feel during and after movement?

It becomes less about the pressure of needing to fit into an ideal mold, but to focus on yourself.

I started forming opinions about myself from a young age, but I didn’t begin to open up about my mental health until I got to college. It can be difficult to talk about how you feel because part of it can feel very isolating battling something inside no one can see. You convince yourself that no one would understand, but the thing is, nobody can understand you unless you start talking.

If you don’t know what to say, start by just saying something.

If you haven’t experienced mental health struggles yourself, then be someone who listens. Not everyone will come to you with the exact words you expect, but sometimes all people need is someone who’s willing to sit with them, without judgment, and listen.

Physical activity won’t magically change how you feel about yourself. But it can help. It increases endorphins, clears your mind, and gives you a sense of accomplishment.

It should never be about fixing yourself, it’s about caring for yourself.

Don’t be active because you feel like you have to. Don’t move just to change how you look or to meet someone else’s standards. Be active because it helps you right now and in the long run.

I cannot speak on the experiences of everyone’s mental health, but I do know that there is no right way or time to talk about it. It’s just how we feel.