Telling a depressed, anxious or struggling student to “toughen up” is as effective as yelling at a diabetic’s pancreas “come on little guy-just try harder!”
Greyscale: Step into Color and Out of the Grey
“Mama, I know I live a happy, sunshine life, but I feel like I am living in greyscale.” My mother whipped around, the tell-tale V furrowed on her brow at odds with the frozen half-smile on her face, “What do you mean sweetie?, she replied, her voice strangely pitched. “All the bright colors have faded away, and everything is grey.”
I was 10 the first time I described feeling the grey fog of sadness to my Mom. Churchill called it the black dog. The great bard beweeped his outcast state, while Keats wrote hauntingly about the “wakeful anguish of the soul.” More humbly, Dr. Suess described the Waiting Place where wait to get un-slumped.
But get unslumped, we will. Greyscale is dedicated to improving awareness, peer education, support and improving the front-lines of detection and the onramps back to stepping of they grey into color.
You can do it. You are not alone.
Greyscale App: Coming Soon
Greyscale: Step into Color is an interactive app based mood journal designed to log and track mood based on the Beck inventory: Are you worried? How is your energy? How is your appetite. Understanding how you feel is an important step in feeling good. Greyscale is not a medical tool, it’s a personal mood journal to keep track of how you are feeling, and keep you on track with feeling your best.
“The Face Of. . . “ Neurodivergence, Depression, Anxiety. . .
What does neurodivergence look like? Depression? Anxiety? You would be surprised. It’s your teacher, the football star, the prom queen, the insta-perfect/snap-ready superstar smiling next to you. According to the CDC, 42% of students experience persistent feelings of sadness. You are not alone. If you are interested in participating in a photo collage to normalize the face of these feelings, reach out. The face of neuro-diversity might surprise you,. . .it’s not just the face in the mirror.
Support for Learning
Writing an essay on Beowulf is hard on a good day, near impossible when your head feels wrapped in cotton. Tutoring and essay writing services available, or we will try to connect you with help. Email for information.
“Being human is complex, it’s glorious, and sometimes it hurts. Reach out, and look out for your friends. We are better together.”
If you are feeling in deep crisis, there is help. Always.
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988 - Free 24/7. Confidential support for people in distress
Michael Kirst, “Greyscale”
Contact
Feel free to contact us with any questions.
Email
Greyscaleinquireis@gmail.com