I don’t clean ‘cause I’m bored. I clean ‘cause clutter mess with my head.
Mental health folks say a messy environment can increase stress and anxiety, especially for people already dealin’ with mood or thought disorders (National Institute of Mental Health). I ain’t need a study to tell me that, but it help hear professionals back it up.
They say drink water like it’s easy. Like your mind don’t argue with you about every small thing.
I learned hydration the hard way. My psychiatrist told me straight up that some antipsychotic medications can cause dry mouth and increase the risk of dehydration, especially if you forget to drink during the day (American Psychiatric Association). I ain’t like that fact, but I respected it.
Morning ain’t never rush me. My mind already runnin’ marathons before my feet touch the floor. I learned that about myself a long time ago. Schizophrenia don’t always look like folks think—it ain’t just seein’ things. Sometimes it’s thoughts stackin’ on top of thoughts, voices loud like a radio stuck between stations.
They said the woods was quiet, but that was a lie. The trees stayed whisperin’, leaves talkin’ like aunties on the porch. I came out there ‘cause the city felt loud in my head, thoughts jumpin’ like they late for a bus.
The first light of dawn barely touched the edges of the Whispering Woods as my family—my sister Kaela, my younger brother Rami, and our cousin Liora—stepped onto a trail no one in our village had ever walked before.
“Are you sure this is safe?” Rami asked, running his fingers through his thick hair.
The meadow glowed silver under the full moon as my family—my sister Amira, my younger brother Taye, and our cousin Soren—stood at its edge. Moonflowers stretched high, their petals shimmering like liquid light, and the air was alive with the soft hum of nighttime creatures.
The sun had just begun to rise over Silver Pines, casting long shadows across the forest floor. My family—my sister Amaya, my brother Jahlani, and our cousin Tori—followed a narrow trail leading to a part of the woods we had never dared to explore.
“Why does it feel… different here?” Jahlani asked, running a hand through his messy hair.
She stepped carefully along the garden path, noticing the dew on the leaves. Exposure to green spaces has been shown to reduce stress, lower...