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Education damaged my self-belief

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For so many years in a row, July felt like a surreal month. After months of frantic studying, and then weeks of daunting exams, all of a sudden it was just as Alice Cooper had foretold: School was out for Summer. Some of my peers would be on holiday and I might not see them for weeks, and for a handful of others I might never see them again; Because of the media I consumed, I even harboured feelings of regret from missing out on attending a traditional ‘leavers-ball / prom’ experience. Fast forward nearly half-a-dozen years, and I write this article at 23 years old. I have suffered with mental health issues since I was about 14 years old, which is (at the time of writing this content) roughly a third of my life - That may not sound like much, especially for older readers, but just imagine you ordered a pizza only to find that 33% of it was mouldy and unenjoyable . Reading blogs from other people who describe similarly negative experiences within school, prompted me to write th...

Music & Mental Health - The Understated Symbiosis

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Music can have a surprisingly powerful impact on our mental health.  Whether it’s playing or listening to music, many people feel a strong connection to it. This isn't just an opinion from some randomer on the internet:   Researchers from McGill University in Montreal have found evidence that music releases dopamine (that feel-good chemical in your brain) There are even blogs from people describing their personal experiences with music and how it has helped their mental health  ( "Music sets me free from the prison I feel inside my head"  -  Laura via Mind ) Plus there’s always that notable author of beloved fairy tales, who is so often quoted regarding the value of music: "Where words fail, music speaks" - Hans Christian Andersen