Category: anxiety
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When You Learn How Important Self-Advocacy Is
In the last twenty years, off and on, with my frenemies, Anxiety & Depression, I have learned quite a bit about living a life with Mental Illness. My first twelve years were in secret, keeping my mouth shut on anything relating to the words melancholy, empty, sad. I was told…
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I Will Not Hide Anymore: A Letter To The Non-Believer
To The Non-Believer, If I passed you on the street, would you be able to identify that I am not ‘normal’? Would you cringe and slither away from me? Would you see me as different, weak, an attention seeker? For years, I stayed hidden because of people like you. Taught…
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When You’re More Nervous Than Your Child On The 1st Day Of School
Crowds of kids gathered with their parents at the bus stop snapping photos of their elated children. Some even took video. I stood with my daughter giving a hug and kiss on her cheek. I did this as support, support she didn’t ask for. Why? Because today was the 1st…
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What Happens When A Dream Turns Into A Triggering Nightmare
Suddenly, I was back there. That place, both a saving grace and a hell. I was walking down the hall. Bare concrete block walls. Gray, solemn, just like the people that dwelled inside. Doorways on both sides leading to rooms with aging office waiting room furniture that was once comfortable…
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When False Information On A Meme Makes You Angry…
But we live in a society that believes Mental Illness is not on the same level as a Physical Illness.
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Struggling To Help My Daughter…
My daughter is a bright, caring, empathetic, preteen girl. Most days she has a smile on her face that melts her mom’s heart. She is typical preteen, mostly caring about binge-watching shows on Netflix or catching up on her friend’s latest YouTube videos featuring her fave, Beanie Boos. She does…
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A Letter To My Former Foster Son As You Turn 5
My Sweet Little Boy, I can hardly believe it has been a little over two years since you left our home. I can still remember your toddler-self walking in circles around the house. I can still hear your voice so vividly as I would come down the stairs in the morning,…
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What My Daughter Knows
My daughter knows I hated her just two weeks after she was born. Pure hatred, where using the actual word ‘hate’ is valid and not taboo. She knows I wanted to leave her and never ever see her again. She knows I wanted to turn back time and never have…
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Mommy’s Sick… Does Anyone Care?!
A few days ago I stayed home sick. No, I didn’t actually have a fever, but my nose was constantly draining as if someone forgot to turn the shower off and my body was achy everywhere. I was involuntarily stretching because of these aches and knew that I would accomplish…
S. Paige Writes: 