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The Prison of OCD
Having multiple issues has shown me the stigma that surrounds each one. When celebrities commit suicide we're quick to talk about their "struggles with depression". Depression seems to be the scapegoat that covers all manner of mental illness. When Robin...
Things Your Chronically Ill Friends Need You to Know About Holidays
First, thank you for including us in your holidays. Thanks for making space at the table for our wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, hospital beds, crutches, walkers, or just generally ill selves. Thank you for being patient with those of us with invisible illnesses....
Things Your Mentally Ill Friends Need You to Know for the Holidays
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. All holiday is about to break loose. Here are some things that we, your mentally ill friends, need you to know about us as this season approaches. Holidays are hard. For a lot of us the holidays are filled with triggers....
The Importance of Making the Bed
Making the bed seems like a chore reserved for children and old people. But it's turning into a very important part of my day. As someone who struggles with frequent bouts of anxiety and depression that often overlap into dismal battles to remain human, getting...
When to See a Therapist
A friend asked me when I thought it would be appropriate to recommend that someone see a professional. It got me thinking about how we see "professionals" in the first place. Often going to therapy requires admitting some kind of defeat. It's almost as if we're...
Things People With Depression Want to Tell You But Can’t
"Depression is hard." That doesn't really sum up depression. Even the word, "depression", is limiting. There are different types and degrees of depression. Seasonal Affective Disorder, Major (or Clinical) Depression, Dysthymia, Post-Partum, and the lesser known "Post...
Why I Hate Fall, But Love Pumpkins
For me, the autumn isn’t a crisp middle point between summer and winter. It’s a bitter reminder that my already hard days are about to get harder and that there is nothing I can do about it.
How One-Sided Awareness Campaigns Hurt More Than Help
This week I saw a video that was released on Lady Gaga's VEVO channel by a group she is working in partnership with called The Hunting Ground. The video is in a larger sense connected to another group called It's On Us. Lady Gaga performs a song, "Til It...
“How Are You?” and Other Loaded Questions
How do we conquer, “How are you?” when the very question makes us want to cry?
Popularity Contestant: Quitting While You’re Behind
I wish I could say that I don't struggle with the persistent fear that no one cares about my writing. Everywhere I look online I'm being pointed at another article about how to market yourself, write engaging content, be productive, and ultimately somehow succeed....