Tag: Mental Health
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The Ugly Truth About Pill Shaming
In the mental health community, pill shaming seems to happen more often than not. I personally have heard people I know in real life post “well-meaning” things on social media that say, “I don’t take pills because I’m more aware of what I put into my body.” This, flat out, is pill shaming. By saying […]
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Shock: My Experience with Electroconvulsive Therapy
It’s no secret that I’ve been through ECT, otherwise known as “shock” therapy. I’ve talked about it before. I’ve done interviews on the subject of ECT. Six years were spent going through ECT, and I had probably close to 150 – 200 treatments. I went through several acute series and years of maintenance treatments. I […]
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The Reality of Psychosis
You see, my official diagnosis is severe Type I Bipolar Disorder with Psychosis. That, however, is not the point. The point is that I experience hallucinations and delusions from time to time. Not all the time. Stress can induce them, such as when I’m in a big, crowded, noisy store. (I’m looking at you, Costco.) […]
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How Long Has It Been?
It’s been since August 12th that I posted my last blog post. I’ve read that it’s “bad business” on a blog to point out how much time has passed if you’ve taken some sort of hiatus, which is exactly what I’ve done. Let me be honest with you: I lost my job back in July. […]
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Self-Care while Writing
Self-care is important on a personal level. Everyone needs different types of self-care, including writers. But when you hear the word, do you think bubble baths, face masks, a glass of wine and a soppy movie? Sure, that can be it if that’s what you need. But self-care is so much more than pampering yourself, […]
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I’m Proud of You
Mental illness doesn’t take a break for the holiday season. With just one more day until Christmas, I understand it can be an extremely trying time for those with Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Schizophrenia and other illnesses. I hope you don’t feel guilty if you’re just surviving, day by day, if you’re […]
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Sobriety. It’s a Beautiful Thing.
August 20th marks 12 years of sobriety from alcohol and pain pills for me. I was 21 when I went to a three-month outpatient rehab program for my drinking and drugging. I remember the withdrawals. Vomiting the morning after as my body reacted to the drugs leaving my system. I remember the cravings. Being unable […]