Blogs
Virtual support is a much-needed option as loneliness and mood disorders are tough to cope with, especially during the pandemic. The good news is that we have the technology to keep us connected at this time. I found an app called Wisdo to be very helpful in giving me a supportive, virtual community. In this article, I will explain how you can benefit from Wisdo as well as what you should keep in mind when using the app.
Recovering from mental illness is a lot of work all on its own, but lately, those of us in recovery have been handling another major mental health issue: pandemic fatigue. Pandemic fatigue is the sense of weariness and hopelessness that comes from social distancing and missing out on big events as the world battles COVID-19. Lately, pandemic fatigue has been making it much harder for me to focus on my recovery.
It's hard to stay motivated when you are experiencing anxiety. I have goals that I continuously set for myself, but when I'm anxious, it's hard to stay productive and driven to work towards those goals.
Explaining your self-harm scars to others can be uncomfortable. Having your self-harm scars discovered is a bit like being outed against your will. Still, the person who confronts you about your self-injury marks will likely want to know what they are. While you don’t owe anyone an explanation, sometimes it’s hard to avoid this conversation. Here are some of the approaches you can take.
October is one of my favorite months. I love any and everything to do with Halloween, breaking out my boots that have sat neglected in the closet all summer, and anything with the words pumpkin spice on the label. But one thing I don’t love is how the seasonal daylight changes affect my mood, which has a direct impact on the way I work while living with bipolar disorder.
There are both pros and cons to a BPD diagnosis. On the one hand, it can validate your experiences and give you access to necessary resources like therapy or medications. On the other hand, you can fully take on the label of borderline and lose yourself in the process.
Many people aren’t sure whether or not to talk to kids about mental illness. When I was younger my aunt had frequent hospitalizations due to mental health issues, but I was told she had a sore back. I guess my family thought this was an inappropriate topic to talk to a child about. In hindsight, I think it could have been a positive conversation if I had been told about my aunt’s mental illness – here’s why.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, etc (LGBTQIA+) community is more prevalent than we think. The possible trauma endured by these LGBTQIA+ survivors is hate crimes, intimate partner violence and sexual assault. Symptoms of PTSD can include flashbacks of the trauma(s) and a fair share of anxiety when in triggering situations. This is how my PTSD manifests in my own life.
I love getting time to myself in nature. Whether it's going for a hike, bike ride, or even driving through a forest, finding time in a natural setting away from more populated areas is very soothing and enjoyable for me.
Medication failure is not bad. Don't get me wrong, I know that it feels really, really bad, but just hear me out on this one: even though it feels terrible, a failing medication is not bad.