Living with mental illness
My adventures in living with mental illness; namely Bipolar II disorder, PTSD, and trichotillomania.
It's nearly spring in Portland and there are blossoms on trees starting to open up all around—crocuses pushing their way out of the ground—and the colors are spectacular. I try to be mindful of their beauty, as I take it all in, but, what I notice is not just the things in bloom, but all of the trees and bushes and flowers that have yet to open up. They're still waiting to bloom in their own time.
Read MoreWhen I started my outpatient therapy program, I didn't know what to expect. I thought it would help me learn some coping skills (which I have), and I hoped it might bring me some peace (which it has, as well), but I didn't expect to find something that I haven't felt in a long time: joy. Overwhelming joy.
Read MoreTomorrow will be the start of another year; another leg of my journey through the wilderness. But, I'm not afraid. Instead, I'm grateful that I'm still here to experience what lies ahead. Since I have already said enough about what I have left behind, I wanted to share a list of things that I'm taking with me on my journey this year. These are the things that will keep me moving forward as I travel into the unknown.
It's Christmas Eve day today: the time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. My family has a tradition of observing this holiday by going to a beautiful candlelit service at church and singing hymns of rejoicing. Joy to the world, the Lord has come. But I don't feel joy. I don't feel like celebrating much. And I don't go to those candlelit church services anymore, because I know that all I will feel is pain, sadness, and anxiety.
Read MoreI didn't feel much like writing this week...life has been busy, and the slowly darkening days have exhausted my brain quite a bit. But, instead of not posting anything, I wanted to share this video from John Oliver tangentially-related to the shooting at Umqua Community College. I'm sure many of you have already seen it but, for those who haven't, it's a concise and informative look at the mental health care system in our country. Of course, since it's from HBO, there is some adult content mentioned, so consider yourself warned and whatnot. It also contains humor.
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