All Blogs
I’m Alive
COLLEEN IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW IS STRUGGLING WITH SUICIDAL THOUGHTS PLEASE REFER TO THE CRISIS HOTLINE OR TEXTLINE: CALL 1-800-273-8255 OR TEXT “ALLY” TO 741741 AND A CRISIS COUNSELOR WILL BE THERE TO HELP! On Monday February 12, 2018 I attempted to take my life...
Triggers in Medical School
ZACH I am a first-year medical student at the University of Kansas. My status, however, is almost up for expiration. In a mere 8 weeks I will have completed my first-year of classes. From the outside looking in, it would seem as if I am on the downward slope. I...
Kill the Stigmas Without Losing Yourself
COURTNEY I remember the first time I realized I had a problem. It was the first time I realized I wasn’t normal. It was the first time I thought about having a mental illness. I was not even 18, but I knew that something about me was not quite right. I didn’t feel...
The Benefits of Cognitive Distortions
For me, my own approach to handling my cognitive distortions has changed from the clinical CBT approach to a more self-accepting approach. As a person who has experienced PTSD, panic, dissociation, and insomnia, the clinical approach can be, itself, depressing and...
It’s Okay to Speak Out
I remember when I was sad, crying in front of a teacher. I remember watching him trying to deal with me but he didn’t try hard enough. He just didn’t know what to do. This whole reason is why I’m writing this letter to you. Because you, The Teachers and Adults, need...
Don’t Call Me Borderline
This is not my story although it is since I lived with it 36 years. It is the story of my daughter, Elizabeth, who took her life five years ago at 36. Born a cuddly, bubbly baby until she started school at age 5, then 'difference' was noticed. She could not count to...
Life… The Mighty Drama
Shakespeare said life is a great drama where we come on stage when born, and exit at death. So if society assigns me the role of Mad Man, what do I do? I have to act mad to survive and keep acting according to the script, all the time wondering who is the author...
Dear Depression
It's been a long 21 years. I can't say I'm going to miss you. We met 21 years ago when I was 10 years old. You came in my life and all my focus went towards you. You had my full attention. I did stupid things for you. I could've died from the things I did for you. I...
A Long Road to Finding Me
My addiction to benzos and sleeping pills nearly took my life. In an effort to self-medicate my depression, anxiety and insomnia away, I lost total control and plunged deeper and deeper into the abyss of mental illness and addiction. I lived in a clouded haze because...
The Possibility of Hope
I have been in a Psychiatric hospital for 7 and a half weeks, and today I am being birthed into reality. Today is discharge day.25 years of suffering with chronic depression and life long abuse has brought me here.I have no idea what awaits me, I know that two months...