My name is Natalie Jeanne Champagne and welcome to my blog, Recovering from Mental Illness. I am twenty-six years old and am a freelance writer among other things. (People are, of course, much more than their chosen profession!) I have spent the last couple of years working to lessen the stereotype of mental health issues and this blog will reflect that.
My Experience with Mental Illness and Recovery
I have struggled with mental illness since birth (my mother can certainly vouch for this) but was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder at the age of twelve. I was stabilized at the age of fifteen but fell deep into addiction, alcoholism, and eating disorders. I achieved sobriety when I was twenty-three years old.
I have become an advocate for mental health and recovery because, at one point, I could not see the light at the end of the tunnel. Now that I have recovered, although there are bumps in the road, I look forward to waking up each morning. I appreciate being able to communicate with people about recovery. We can and do recover from mental illness and addiction and I think that’s extremely important to point out!
Sometimes I can be a bit satirical, that is just in my nature, and my writing can reflect this (not often I assure you). I am liberal in regards to my feelings about mental health and recovery (more on this in my blog posts), and open to discussion on many different topics. I hope readers will hold back very little so we can have an open and honest discussion.
I’m glad you found me. I look forward to writing the Recovering From Mental Illness blog and connecting with people!
Natalie Jeanne Champagne’s Recovering From Mental Illness Blog – Welcome Video
You can also find me at:
The Third Sunrise (for my upcoming book:”The Third Sunrise: A Memoir of Madness”) and on Google+, Twitter, and Facebook
Welcome to HealthyPlace, Natalie. I’m so happy you’re here with us. I’m really looking forward to reading more about you. Thanks for sharing.
Welcome to the Healthy Place team. Look forward to reading your posts!
I just wanted to say that I look forward to reading your blog!
Michele
Thanks Michele! I look forward to talking to everyone.
Thank you Kendra. I am excited to be part of the team.
Hi, Patricia:
Thank you for the welcome and I look forward to connecting with everyone.
Until next time,
Natalie
Hi Natalie,
Welcome to HealthyPlace! I’m looking forward to hearing more from you on recovering from mental illness.
I love this:
“I hope readers will hold back very little so we can have an open and honest discussion.”
The dialogue is so important, I think.
Glad you’re here!
Holly Gray, author of Dissociative Living
Very happy (ha) to have found you. really.
DM
depressed in Annapolis
Welcome to HealthyPlace! I’m looking forward to reading posts — we have a lot in common!
Angela E. Gambrel Lackey
Author of Surviving ED
Thank Angela!I look forward to getting to know you.:)
NJC
Hi, Donna,
I look forward to talking about depression (as much as one can!) and all the stuff that comes along with it…
Sincerely,
Natalie
That’s great, thanks Holly. I look forward to it as well:)
NJC
Hi Natalie
Great webcam video. I’ve followed your link from http://www.mentalhealthy.co.uk/blogs in the UK (where we both blog). You have such a rich and diverse experience of mental health issues and it’s great to see you onboard at Healthy Place.
Thank you for your incredibly kind comments on my blog, to which I’ve just replied. It made me shed a tear – you have had such a tough life but are such an inspiration.
The very best of luck in all that you do and for the future.
I
Hi, Ian!
So nice to connect with you here as well:) And I appreciate being able to leave comments for you; you have walked a long road, like many of us have, and we are still standing. That’s what matters most!
Take care and talk to you soon,
NJC
Really interesting blog, keep up the good work!
Natalie: I agree with you that mental illness is a disease with a cure, and a lot of controversy. Take care, and thanks for your help on Twitter. I’m older than you, and my generation has some ‘catch up’ in understanding this media. : 0
Hi, Kathleen:
I am glad you can relate!:) Thank you for the positive feedback.
Sincerely,
Natalie