My name is Brandy Eaklor, and I’m excited to be writing for the Getting Through Tough Times blog at HealthyPlace. I am 24 years old and have been struggling with anxiety and depression since I was around 12 years old. I lived in a toxic environment as a teenager, with a stepmother who did not want me to have a relationship with my father. The alternative was to live with my mother, who had abusive men in and out of her life. This pain also lead me to emotional eating and binge eating to cope with my emotions. I felt alone, unaccepted, self-conscious and unworthy.

Using proper communication methods in relationships at work and home are important, but, for people with anxiety, communication can be very difficult. Many people either do not communicate enough or primarily choose to use one method--either verbal or written communication. However, both written words and verbal speech are very important to maintain relationships. If you struggle with proper communication methods, read on to learn about when to talk and when to write and how each can affect relationships.

New year anxiety can be a problem when you're thinking about the future. Beginning a new year can be very stressful. You'll hit more milestones. You'll experience triumphs and setbacks. So it's understandable that the first month or so might shake some nerves. Here are some ways to cope with new year anxiety.

A little over a year ago, I started writing for HealthyPlace. During my time contributing to the website, I learned a lot about myself and how I can better manage my mental health. I also learned about others, how they cope, how they communicate about mental health, and how we can help each other strive for wellness. Writing for HealthyPlace has given more awareness of when depression starts to hit and when to seek help. Read on to learn more about my first year writing for HealthyPlace.

You have probably heard of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. What you might not know is that it is intended for anyone going through depression, even those who do not experience suicidal thoughts. The resource connects callers to local crisis centers where counselors are there to listen and provide support. Sometimes, just having someone there to listen can save a life and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can do that.

Facing the possible side effects of changing antidepressant medication can make trying a different one really scary. You read the list of the medication's side effects and hear all of the horror stories that other people have told. You try to remind yourself that these are their stories and not your own. So you gather up the courage to actually try it. I recently started a psychiatric medicine and have learned many things about how to cope with the side effects of changing antidepressant medication.

The mental health lessons I've learned while writing for HealthyPlace will serve me well as my life changes. I am not a stranger to major life changes. I've undergone quite a few in the last few years, and there are about to be a few more. For this reason, I have to say goodbye to HealthyPlace this week, but not before sharing my mental health lessons and asking you for yours.

Have you ever had a really vivid dream that affected your anxiety? Maybe you found yourself overanalyzing the dream the next day. Perhaps it was just a nice dream that you wish would exist in real life, or maybe it was a nightmare that increased anxiety. Whatever the case, vivid dreams can cause us to behave or think differently after we wake up. Read on to learn about how my vivid dreams affect my anxiety and what I am doing to cope.

Being a pushover isn't what I expected to happen when I refused to acknowledge my anxiety. But slowly I began to sink into a puddle, losing my spine. I felt like I was becoming the world's biggest pushover because my ability to trust and express my opinions disappeared. Once I realized I was letting this happen, I started asking myself questions in an attempt to get better. Where did being a pushover start? How has it affected me? How can I stop being a pushover?

You can benefit from distractions when life gets overwhelming and you just need a break. If you use distractions for a short time, they can help you become more productive. But what happens if you use them too often and without time restraints? Read on to learn about how to benefit from distractions by using them wisely and effectively.