support
A solid support system is invaluable for one's recovery from psychiatric illness and mental health issues.
Support Groups
I went to my first support group meeting today. I was pretty nervous at first, but it didn't take me long to open up. There were four other people and they all seemed very open and accepting. I really enjoyed it because just to meet other people with the same diagnosis as me and have the same trial and error experience with medications and have the same daily struggles as me is very reassuring. We laughed about how we all agreed how bad Celexa was and shared what different medications we are currently taking. They gave me some good advice on medications to look into, coping mechanisms to try, and similar struggles that I could relate and empathize to. I feel like I know almost exactly what these people are going through and that it's similar to what I am experiencing. It makes me feel like I'm kind of less alone with this struggle. Its amazing what an hour and a half talk with random strangers can do for you. We talked about ways to think positively and how we can think of these problems as potentially beneficial. I shared that I probably wouldn't have gotten through my rigorous college program if I hadn't had generalized anxiety disorder to always keep me in fear. But in a way, it strongly motivated me to get everything done ahead of time so I wouldn't have to worry about it later.
By Ashley Pogue6 years ago in Psyche
The Girl in the White Dress
Picture an old dirt road on a cold night. There's a light breeze picking up dust in the distance. You see the silhouette of a person walking and as you getting closer you realize it's a girl. She looks about seventeen or eighteen; she's barefoot, with long dirt blonde hair flowing loosely in the wind. You notice the breeze gently dancing through the wrinkles of her white dress. It's a long dress; it flows all the way down to her bare feet. Her feet look dirty like she's been walking for miles; you start following her.
By Cristian Carrasco6 years ago in Psyche
Children and Mental Health
Mental health is something that in general is overlooked in many countries. In the UK there are approximately 1 in 4 people that will experience a mental health problem in each year, and in England alone 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem in any given week (https://www.mind.org.uk/)
By Nadine Walkinshaw6 years ago in Psyche
Helping Someone with an Illness
This article is useful for everybody, whether you have an illness yourself, help somebody with an illness, or both. I suffer with BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER, and I’m currently doing my best to help someone close to me through an undiagnosed illness.
By Jessica Murray6 years ago in Psyche
My Battle With Mental Health Issues
Before We Get Started This is going to be a long article. It's been incredibly hard to write. I've had to delve deep back into a frame of mind I've thankfully not had to deal with as frequently as I did in this article. This is very much my story. Make yourself a cuppa. You'll be here for a while.
By Peter Ellis6 years ago in Psyche
Dating Someone Who Self-Harms
She takes notes on her skin with a knife—notes on how to feel, notes on how to be normal, notes on how to stop taking bloody notes. She writes in her own language things like, "What is wrong with me?" "Why are you like this?" "You're making this about you again." She believes these words, because how could you deny them when they are being said to you consistently?
By Francis Grace6 years ago in Psyche
How To Help a Loved One with Depression
Depression is a horrible thing to live with, no matter your situation. It is made so much worse when the ones you love don't treat you with respect or compassion. Before I go further I would like to clarify that I am speaking of clinical depression and not being depressed due to grief, though some of my advice may still be helpful to that situation.
By Sarah Sandow6 years ago in Psyche
Signs Your Friend May Need Professional Help
Suggesting to your friend that they might need to see a psychologist is not the ideal conversation to have over coffee. There is always the chance that they may get extremely offended and ultimately resent you. It’s an awkward interaction that could cause more harm than good.
By Kassidy Brown6 years ago in Psyche
The Journey I Took and Will Always Be Taking
As the title of this blog states, I consider the constant attempt to prevent my mental illness from affecting my everyday life to be an on going journey. Now, universally, the notion of a journey is commonly associated with arriving at some kind of destination. Well, sorry to disappoint, but personally I don't believe there will ever be a moment where that destination is reached. But it's not all a Snow Patrol album, don't worry!
By Renee Wells6 years ago in Psyche
Living with Depression
It should be noted that the experiences I am writing about here are exclusively my own: they should not be considered a generalization of what is an incredibly complex and polarizing illness, and I want it known that I am not claiming in any way that what has helped me will help everyone. Recovery is an incredibly personal thing, and something that is done differently by every single person.
By Mopey Millennial6 years ago in Psyche