February 2012
84 posts
I am glad to see all the recent followers this blog has gained. I have been working very hard to keep on top of things and find as many relevant pieces as possible. I was hoping that I could get any possible feedback or ideas regarding this blog, or topics I should cover that may have been overlooked. If anyone has any ideas or constructive criticism, I am more than open to it.
Thanks to...
People Without Anxiety Don't Understand Anxiety.
bluepineappleplate:
I’ve had this horrible message I received on facebook, saying horrible things about someone I care a lot about, floating around in my head for the past week or so.
Apparently, there’s this notion that having relationships, having a job, speaking at rallies, goofing around with friends, and sometimes even just having friends completely nullifies any statement of having...
“Some outward symptoms are sometimes referred to as ‘cries for attention’ in a...”
– S. E. Smith, “I Don’t Mind If You’re Crazy, As Long As You Act Sane In Public”, meloukhia.net (via trenchantashell)
“The ‘voice’ of those who have been affected by mental illness must be prominent...”
– (via h0ld0npain3nds)
Make a Change
strongforza:
Where do mental health myths come from?
-Ignorance.
-Fear.
-Media portrayals.
-Lack of contact with people that you know have a mental illness.
What are some steps to commit to change?
-Stop labeling. Watch what you say. Don’t throw phrases around such as: I’m gonna kill myself…That’s so gay…Just snap out of it.
-Try to influence people in your life to do the same.
-Accept...
On How Stigma Is Manifested
h0ld0npain3nds:
http://www.camh.net/education/Resources_communities_organizations/addressing_stigma_senatepres03.pdf
This section outlines the experience of stigma by people who have experienced mental illness and their families; how it affects their lives; and identifies those barriers which result from stigmatization. Stigma is manifested by bias, distrust, stereotyping, fear, embarrassment,...
You do not get to pull the starving child in...
“Depression in children and teens is a growing problem that often goes...”
– http://www.webmd.com/depression/tc/depression-in-childhood-and-adolescence-topic-overview?page=2 (via h0ld0npain3nds)
One Thing People Don't Understand About Bipolar...
justthissideofsane:
is that we do not alternate only between the poles of severe mania and severe depression. There are several shades of mood between, and we feel those just like other people.
But perhaps more important is that people do not understand what mania and depression are.
Mania is not being happy and depression is not being sad.
Let me clarify- mania is much more than elevated...
Mental Illness
laurencares:
Hello, my name is Lauren, and I have bipolar disorder.
Being diagnosed with a mental illness is hard. It’s not like having the flu— having a mental illness is something you deal with for the rest of your life, up until death. The development of any particular mental illness may not be apparent until well into adulthood. I, for example, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2009...
Mental Ilness and Self-Concept →
pardonmymelodrama2:
Finding out you have a mental illness can be a devastating, life-changing occurrence, but it can also be an empowering one. The effect of the illness, and the label that comes with it, on one’s sense of self is largely a matter of perspective, but other factors such as social and cultural perceptions, unconscious or semi-conscious behavior, and the inherent symptoms of the...
Perceptions of Mental Illness from the Canadian...
masterwaffle:
Research finds that personal experience with mental illness is fairly prevalent [in Canada]. For example, 15 percent of Canadians report that they have been diagnosed by a doctor as being clinically depressed, while significant numbers report experience with many issues associated with mental illness, such as stress (36%) and feelings of helplessness or worthlessness (23%).
And...
Excerpts from a wonderful piece.
h0ld0npain3nds:
Everyone tells us to talk about mental illness but we rarely get a clear picture of what life is actually like for people living with mental illness. In the media we almost exclusively tell the success stories of celebrities who accomplish their miracles despite the obstacles in their way. Or we talk about murderous psychopaths who society failed to help or homeless men and women...
Some days I'm fine, other days I'm not. It doesn't...
eraseyoufrommymind:
Since I know this is relevant to a number of people following me right now, I’m going to repeat something I’ve said several times in the past.
If you are suffering from some kind of mental disorder, something that impairs your function, like anxiety or depression or dysophoria or anything like that, you’re not a bad person.
You’re not a weak person. You’re not worthless,...
Me: I just found the word bipolar used in that context offensive, that's all.
H: It shouldn't be offensive to u same way the word cancer isn't offensive to me
Me: No one says "cancer much" to someone, but okay.
Talking to Depression
thesummerends:
The following is an incredible piece of writing:
People suffering from depression are survivors. They face indescribable pain every day. They fight the terror of the pain never ending and fight the only logical way out of that pain. That takes extraordinary willpower and strength. It often takes all their reserves of energy not just not to think about suicide, but not to act on...
pardonmymelodrama asked: I'm so honored that you've chosen to follow my mental health blog. I really respect what you do and wish you the best. :)
Mental Health Misconceptions
pardonmymelodrama2:
I was recently in a situation where I was explaining to someone that I have a mental illness. His response was, “That’s what happens when something really bad happens in your life, isn’t it?”
At first, I was surprised by the question, as I assumed that most people were aware by now of the numerous causes of mental health conditions. The more I thought about it, the more I...
“What kinds of people self-injure?
Self-injurers come from all walks of life...”
– http://selfinjury.org/docs/factsht.html (via h0ld0npain3nds)
How Self-Stigma Hurts People With Depression
h0ld0npain3nds:
(reposted because I love it so much)
The following article is from http://www.health.com/health/condition-article/0„20425884,00.html
People who suffer from mental illness, including depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, face a litany of challenges: dark moods, an inability to enjoy life’s pleasures, powerful prescription medication, isolation, and social...
5 tags
kittensandvodka:
NHS and employment
The stigma of mental illness affects employment in the NHS. For instance, to become accredited as a nurse, an applicant must comply with the ‘fitness to practice’ criterion. The 2007 Disability Rights Commission’s formal investigation found these accreditation criteria to be a formidable and an unnecessary barrier for people with mental illness.14 The report...
Do you want Anorexia?
say-no-ana:
Yet again, apologies for getting in the way of your thinspo et cetera, et cetera.
But in my opinion, this is something that needs to be addressed - because frankly, the ignorance of some people is quite irritating… :|
Something which really winds me up is people who “want” anorexia, or “want” to be anorexic. The reason this in particular annoys me, is because of the lack of...
1 tag
Things to not say to a schizo (TW: ableism, abuse,...
warlocksexalways:
-You need to stop tripping.
-Are you on drugs?
-Did you go off your medication?
-You need to take your meds.
-You need to pray to God.
-You’re just paranoid.
-You’re hallucinating!
-The fact that you can’t see how crazy you’re being proves to me that you’re having a psychotic break.
-(In response to a schizo becoming angry) I’m locking my door tonight. I’m afraid ze’s...
The Box of Change: Trigger alert: self harm,... →
theboxofchange:
A lot of times when people talk about self-harm, they talk about cutting. They talk about wrists. They talk about the butterfly project, they talk about To Write Love On her Arms (TWLOHA).
I just wanted to say, for one moment here, that self-harm is not limited to “cutting”. I don’t know why,…
While mental illnesses constitute more than 15% of...
handsupamazing:
That makes sense right?
sarahjoyes:
the more i tell people about how i am bipolar, the more i hear about people with bipolar.
since i have had the courage to talk about it, the more i hear about people who i am friends with and people i talk to, have it in their lives somehow,
it might be their friend, their daughter or their mum.
i am no longer ashamed about being bipolar, the more we talk about mental illness, the...
8 tags
Blaming the Victim
This is a bit of a personal rant…
A few days ago, this boy I am friends with on Facebook wrote a status along the lines of “Don’t be such a pussy and kill yourself, bullies go away when you get older.” He was referring to the string of high-profile LGBT suicides that have been in the news lately.
I was appalled by his lack of sensitivity, considering he is an open member...
Mental Illness Myths & Facts
strongforza:
1. Myth: Mental illness is rare. Fact: 1 in 4 people experience a mental illness in a given year.
2. Myth: Someone like me won’t ever develop a mental illness. Fact: While some mental illnesses do have a strong genetic component, mental illness does not discriminate. No one is completely immune.
3. Myth: Mentally ill people are violent. Fact: Mentally ill people are no more...