Our Brave Space


Welcome to AFSP's Campus Walk Brave Space. You are brave for walking, for raising funds, and for sharing your stories. This page is a space to share information, give support, and to connect with our community.

Please let me know what you are doing right now by using #HopeWalksHere and tagging me! @meredithhenningafsp

Stay safe. Stay brave. You're all amazing.

Meredith

 

If you or someone you know is in a crisis, please call 988 or text TALK to 741-741.

 

How Are You?

An important question to ask yourself every day, and to ask your friends and family members. Below are ways you can check-in.

         

    

      

 

More Resources

This list of resources may not be all of the resources in your area, however, we know a lot of people are struggling and we want to provide information to help you find what you need.

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988

Veteran's Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255, dial 1 or text 838-255

Crisis Text Line Text 741-741

SAMHSA's Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746

Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-787-3244

Trans Lifeline 1-877-565-8860

The Trevor Project 1-866-488-7386

 

Helpful Tips and Information

Tips on Managing Your Stress or Anxiety

Limit Your News Consumption
  • Set a time every day to consume news
  • Choose news sources you trust
  • Make your social media feed coronavirus free
  • Make time to consume positive news
Take Time for Yourself 
  • Take breaks during the day to meditate, exercise, read, or just breathe
  • Make self-care part of your daily routine
  • Cook healthy/comforting meals
  • Separate you working time from personal time
Monitor Your Emotions
  • Keep a stress/anxiety/depression log
  • Name it to tame it
    • Naming your emotions can be a helpful way to manage them
    • Reflect on why your might be feeling these emotions
Practice Gratitude
  • Take time every day to write down three things you are thankful for each day
  • Can be a list or full sentences
  • Reflect on why you are grateful for these things
Show Yourself Compassion
  • Acknowledge your feelings
  • Don't shame or guilt yourself for your emotions
  • Forgive yourself
  • Give yourself permission to feel

 

Activities for Anxiety and Depression

  • Sign up for a meditation or stress app
  • Practice a breathing exercise (below adapted from this meditation)

    • Breathe in for four

    • Hold breath for seven

    • Exhale for eight

  • Write a list of things that are in your control and out of your control

    • Focus on the things you can control

    • Practice accepting or letting go of things you cannot control

  • Focus on your present, physical world

    • Five things you can touch

    • Four things you can smell

    • Three things you can see

    • Two things you can taste

    • One thing you can hear

  • Meet yourself where you are

    • Acknowledge where you are

    • Practice self-compassion

  • Do one small thing

    • Make your bed

    • Change your clothes

    • Wash one dish

    • Open a window

    • Take a shower

    • Send one text message

  • Draw your inner critic (Adapted from this book)

    • What do they look like? What do they wear?

    • Accept that your inner critic is not you

  • Get good sleep
  • Listen to a playlist that makes you feel positive emotions (comfort, content, happiness, etc.)
  • Catch negative thoughts

    • Write down negative thoughts

    • Reflect on why these negative thoughts are not reality

  • Stay focused on the present

    • What can you control right now?

    • What can you change right now?

 

Ways to Create Happiness

 

  • Practice Gratitude

    • Write one thing you’re thankful for and put it in a jar, take them out and read them when you need some happiness

    • Write a list of three things you’re thankful for in your journal each night

    • Write a gratitude letter and send it to a loved one

  • Meditate on a happy place

    • Can be real or imagined

    • What can you see, hear, taste, touch, and smell?

  • Create a positive mantra you repeat throughout the day
  • Listen to a positive podcast
  • Practice a Random Act of Kindness

    • Leave a stuffed animal in your window for children in your neighborhood to find

    • Drop off a baked good to a neighbor’s doorstep

    • Write a card

  • Savor Something

    • Good meal

    • Short Walk

    • Conversation with a loved one

  • Practice forgiveness and self-compassion

    • Write a kind letter to yourself

    • Practice forgiving yourself

 

Extra Distractions