This is especially for the people that feel stuck in their recovery and struggling with making that “first step” towards treatment. It is ok to be uncomfortable. Treatment is going to constantly test you. You will be pushed to places that you may have buried for years. I’ve spoken before about vulnerability and I feel like that was the hardest part for me. Something as simple as accepting hard truths was an accomplishment for me in the beginning. If you are struggling at the moment, with moving forward or accepting… Read more Being uncomfortable →
Bulimia ruled my life for many years. I was ashamed of it, but it was mine and I didn’t want to let go of it. I was open about my issues with depression and anxiety as a teenager, but guarded with discussing bulimia because it was the one thing providing an temporary fix. I didn’t care about the sore throats, stomach ulcers, arrhythmia, dizziness, etc. None of that matter. So after an inpatient stay, I finally became open about it (mostly because I couldn’t purge like I wanted to) and… Read more NEDA Awareness Week →
I have a friend that has schizoaffective disorder and we talked about the aftermath of an episode. Episodes include depressive, manic, mixed, psychotic, etc. You go through them at weeks (or months) and at times all you were trying to do is stabilize enough to make it through them. You survive it but now you have to deal with the aftermath. This could be the missed phone calls/emails, debt from excessive spending, or things that were just once an priority that took a backseat. My friend explained it as cleaning… Read more The aftermath →
“I’m a recovering drug addict and have learned to accept my own journey. I looked at someone else’s successes and would get disappointed when I didn’t live up to them. Once I realized I was still using addictive behaviors, just not with drugs, I was able to be real with myself. I’m now 2 years drug free and I want others to know it’s hard, but possible.” Anonymous post. Thank you for sharing!
Through years of therapy and recovery, you learn different coping techniques or skills to manage your symptoms. Over time, you saw results and they were proven effective. You remain hopeful and dependent on them. Then one day, it no longer works. You give it time, try to make it habitual, but it still doesn’t work. I’ve learned with trying to manage my mental illnesses that I have to be flexible with ongoing management. What worked before may not work later. I would love to hear your experiences and thoughts regarding… Read more Moving on →
Oh the rabbit hole I fall into when I overthink, especially when I rationalize things to fit my current state of reality. I’ve learned how to step back and try to process situations rationally. This can be tough when you have impulsive/obsessive thought patterns, history of psychosis, or other factors that can cause rumination or detachment from reality. Something that has helped me in the past and recently is freewriting. I will set a timer (usually for 5 minutes) and just write whatever comes to mind. In the past, I… Read more Stepping back →
“That I am responsible for treatment even if that treatment is simply working on self awareness and discipline. Mental illness has taught me that it is not an excuse; it is something to work on.” Nettie was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. After 7 years of therapy, those diagnoses stemmed directly from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Thank you for sharing! Check out her Instagram here.
This mostly goes for myself, especially with self-talk and rumination associated with anxiety. When I learned how to set boundaries for myself and not overthink, I’m more productive with myself and also being there for others. For me to constantly go over this in my head, at times, leaves me “stuck” causing more issues. I’ve learned to accept my decisions and stand firm in them. Is this something you are still working on? If you have mastered this, what helped you?
