Study Abroad Diaries: Mental Health Talks

By: Taryn-Mina Chase

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Entry #6 : 03.13.2024 | Time: 5:25 pm BCN

Songs of the Week 🎧

♫ Replay by Zendaya

♫ In the Stars by Benson Boone

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Dear, whoever reads this,

Hello! I am now about over a month and a half through my study abroad experience and I wanted to share a little bit about the mental health struggles that I have faced since being here. Mental health is something that I am extremely passionate about, due to its relevancy in people of my age. I've experienced my battles and have seen those I love as well. I think it's so important to acknowledge your feelings and validate them, good or bad. One of my favorite quotes is "It's You vs. You" because it reminds me that at the end of the day if you believe in yourself and love yourself enough, you can get through anything. It's an epidemic that takes the lives of many daily and I hope that people can continue to beat the negative side of themselves, every day.

I am extremely grateful to have this opportunity to study abroad in the beautiful city of Barcelona and I thank God every day. Despite being in this amazing place, I do find myself feeling homesick and down sometimes. This usually comes on during times of stress, as I have constantly been traveling, interning, and studying for school. 

To manage this stress and take myself out of a negative headspace, I have taken up yoga and try to do this during my free time. If possible I try to do this multiple times a week on my beautiful balcony in my apartment here and also take time to pray at the end. This then ties into my morning routine, where I like to clean, make food, relax, and shower. On top of taking time to be mindful and active, I also enjoy calling my family whenever I can and have found comfort in speaking with my Memae (grandma). They give me a taste of home and always encourage me to keep working hard. They're my biggest inspiration and motivators towards success and I am grateful to have such a strong support system back home.

They also like to give me updates on my cat Leo, who is being cared for by my twin brother. She's a goofy cat, born with no tail, and thinks that she's a dog. She always makes me laugh and whenever I do feel down, I tend to look at photos/videos of her to make me smile. 

Overall, the biggest contributor for me has been talking to my friends and sharing our struggles. One thing that always comes up in discussion is how fast everything is moving while we've been here. It's moments like this where I have time to truly sit down and reflect on how much has happened over the past few weeks, but also how I have changed as a person. Being present and truly embracing the moments that I have here has brought me out of my stressed-out mind. I feel like it can be hard at times to take some self-care days or spend time alone, but these little moments have made me appreciate my life a lot more. I am extremely grateful for the strangers who have grown into friends while I have been traveling the world and I wouldn't change my experience for the world, despite there being some low points.

I hope that people continue to spread love and be present because life is too short to be caught up in your head and the negativity your thoughts can bring. I pray that those who are struggling to get the help they need and acknowledge their emotions, even though it's so so hard. That's all for now.

Peace and Love, 

TC