Stereotyping mental disorders continues the overall stigma of mental illness. I just wanted to address some common stereotypes that I've seen put on clients from family, friends, co-workers, teachers, etc, that may be limiting a client's progress in therapy. Some of these stereotypes may seem extreme, while others a bit more tame, but nevertheless potentially … Continue reading Breaking Down Common Mental Disorder Stereotypes
Category: Mental health
I Hated The Person I Used To Be
I hated the person I used to be. I find the word 'hate' to be a bit extreme in most cases, but in regard to this, it seemed fitting. Now, take note that I used past tense. I do not currently hate who I used to be, because I've accepted that the old me got … Continue reading I Hated The Person I Used To Be
Anxiety Took Over One of The Happiest Days of My Life
You know those moments you think about as a kid and wonder what they'll be like? First kiss. First love. Engagement. I was one of those kids that dreamt up the grand plan of how I wanted to be proposed to. I wanted it to be in a public setting. I wanted it to be … Continue reading Anxiety Took Over One of The Happiest Days of My Life
Mental Illness Has Been Winning
I feel I've been noticeably absent in many parts of my life recently. Half the time, I'm going through the motions and not feeling whole. Whenever my stress level increases or my schedule simply gets busier, that sense of dissociation tends to happen for me. But something has been different: I am crying at some … Continue reading Mental Illness Has Been Winning
Experiencing a Full-Blown Anxiety Attack in Public
It has been a while since I've experienced an anxiety attack. I've utilized various coping skills, such as grounding, to regulate my emotions and anxiety, which has worked wonderfully... until this past week. I was catching up with an old co-worker about general life updates while in a cafe, and something just sort of snapped … Continue reading Experiencing a Full-Blown Anxiety Attack in Public
Standing Up To Myself: Enough Is Enough
I've always been one to throw myself into work. I've spent most of my adult life working two jobs, which I've always felt was necessary to make ends meet or to further my career path. But at what point is it detrimental to your health, both physical and mental? We live in a society that … Continue reading Standing Up To Myself: Enough Is Enough
Feeling Out Of Control
I waited. I waited patiently. I waited for the picturesque life I had concocted in my head. The great life after depression. Yeah, that one. I set myself up for failure though, which I'm sure is no big surprise. I made it a habit to just wait and hope for the best, but what I … Continue reading Feeling Out Of Control
I Wrote My Dad A Letter About Everything I Had Kept From Him
Years ago, I did not have a close relationship with my dad. Being raised by my mom and seeing my dad on a less-than-regular basis as I grew older, I didn't feel my dad actually knew who I was underneath it all. Due to some personal losses in my life, I ended up reaching out … Continue reading I Wrote My Dad A Letter About Everything I Had Kept From Him
How to describe anxiety to those who don’t experience it
I've heard it time and time again: "anxiety is JUST excessive worrying." I found it difficult and frustrating to attempt to explain what was happening inside my mind to someone who had never experienced any resemblance of lingering anxiety. From a mental health professional standpoint, I do like to clarify to people that anxiety itself … Continue reading How to describe anxiety to those who don’t experience it
How I Handle Triggers
They overpower me sometimes... Those triggers that pull me back into a piece of my past that I try so desperately to leave boxed up in a corner. I had another today, albeit more unexpected than most. I consider myself to be fairly self-aware of my triggers, but today, I stepped foot in an environment … Continue reading How I Handle Triggers
