Category: mental health
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When You Fear Yourself
There were brief moments, tiny myopic moments, seconds that I could see my reality. In these moments of lucidity, I became scared. I was frightened at what I was becoming and how fast my body and brain were transforming. Fortunately (or unfortunately) these moments of clarity were scarce because my…
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Teaching My Daughter To Rise Above The Stigma Of Mental Illness
My daughter has seen me. She has seen me throughout her eleven years of life. She has seen me lose touch with reality several times, seen me cry uncontrollably many times, seen me at a handful of Psychiatric and Therapy appointments. She has even seen me become hospitalized. Throughout all…
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Why I Do Not Shop Black Friday
Every Thanksgiving I awaken with a huge grin on my face because I know that somewhere outside in my driveway is the large roll of Black Friday ads. I love looking at them. I dive in each year looking at items I would love to receive for the holidays noting…
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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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It Isn’t All About You: The Selfish Side Of Depression
I am a selfless person. I always put others needs ahead of my own to the extent that I ignore my body and brain’s signals that I am not well. I want people to be happy… my family, my friends, my coworkers. I want the world to be happy ahead…
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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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Hi, My Name Is Not “Sophia’s Mom”
I was not given the name “Sophia’s Mom” at birth. How would my parents know all those years ago that I would go on to have a beautiful daughter and name her Sophia. I am sure they had hopes and dreams for grandchildren, but exact details as the sex and…
S. Paige Writes: 