I was 25 when my therapist diagnosed me with an eating disorder. I legit said to her, “But I’m not skinny!” And she said words that shattered my world in the best way possible: “You don’t have to be skinny in order to have an eating disorder.” This week has been national eating disorder awareness week, and I want to…
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Author Catherine Linka: The Girl Beside You in Econ 101 Sleeps in Her Car
She’s not a druggie or an alcoholic, and she’s not mentally ill. She’s one of thousands of college students who can’t afford a place to live. She might be someone whose scholarship doesn’t cover housing. Or her family lost their home after racking up mountains of medical bills. She could be the first in her family to attend college and…
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YA Author Shamim Sarif Partners with Headwaters Relief Organization to Combat Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is prevalent worldwide, even in more developed countries such as the United States. Around 4 million people are trafficked each year—with 50% of trafficking victims being children—taken for forced labor or sexual exploitation. Areas that have recently suffered a natural disaster are especially vulnerable to human traffickers, and this hidden aftermath caught the attention of Headwaters Relief Organization,…
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Their Uproarious Laughter
When I heard Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s opening statement, what struck me, as it struck so many people, was her recollection of the laughter of two teenage boys—their uproarious laughter at her expense. It made a memory, one that I’ve often pushed down over the course of my life, resurface. The school bus in middle school was no man’s land. No adults except for the bus driver who, with his back turned to us and concentrating on the road, could…
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Why You Should Get a Background Check Before Getting Married
Sponsored Post With the advent of online dating applications, finding your “soul mate” is now made easier. Strangers can meet and connect with just a few clicks. You can go on dates even if you’re miles away. You can even enter a relationship and secure it with just a touch of a button. There are even some matches that end…
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The Naked Truth About Suicide
Last night she nearly let go. She wondered what left her holding on. If she left, the lights would still glisten. If she left, the stars would still shine. If she left, the moon would still empower. If she left, the sun would still shower possibility. If she left, the world would go on. If she left, the Earth would…
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5 Signs of Emotional Abuse You Need to Know
Let’s get real about emotional abuse: It’s real, and it’s really dangerous. Emotional abuse destroys your confidence and your ability to trust others. It can leave you with mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. But the more you know about emotional abuse, the better you can protect yourself. So here are 5 red flags to watch for in your relationships:…
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Four Days
Day One ren@animeaddict: oh my gosh! did you see her today?! gosh! i hate seeing her face. everybody hates you! ane@fakinginnocence: nobody likes you! you and your black lips can fly away!!! n@animallover: in reply to ane@fakinginnocence: “nobody likes you! you and your black lips can fly away!!!” hahahahah black lips 😀 em@notyourgoodgirl: i ACCIDENTALLY push her against the wall.…
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Suicide: Seek Help, Be Help
So many young people are taking their own lives before their life even truly begins. Why is that? Maybe it’s a home situation, maybe it’s a result of being bullied, or maybe it’s just a side effect of a chemical flaw. Whatever the cause is, the end result is still the same. We are facing an epidemic of premature deaths…
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To Him, From the New Me.
About this piece: As a teenager, Prithiva suffered abuse in her first relationship. After 5 years that relationship ended. This is a letter back to her ex, her abuser, telling him how she has grown over these years and how she is thankful for whatever he taught her. . You were the only relationship I had, and maybe that is the…
