Thanks to sensationalized media depictions of mental illness and stigma surrounding mental health conditions, people tend to have a limited view of what depression actually looks like. When you think of a “depressed person,” perhaps you envision an image from a movie or medication commercial: Someone lying alone in a dark room, crying into
Last summer, I completed a 10-mile sponsored walk to raise money for the hospital that cared for me after my accident. By the end of the day, I realized I’d walked almost 16 miles. It was a remarkable achievement, given that nine months earlier, I couldn’t walk at all. I was crossing the street,
While sitting in a waiting room at a doctor’s office in 2014, I struck up a conversation with the woman sitting next to me. As we got acquainted, she told me she was deeply involved with an organization called the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). I hadn’t heard of it, but I was
I began my mental health journey 40 years ago, when I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder I. Outside of therapy and medical appointments, I had no one to talk to about what I was going through, so I began journaling as a means of self-expression and to let out my pent-up feelings. While writing
A trigger, sometimes referred to as a stressor, is an action or situation that can lead to an adverse emotional reaction. In the context of mental illness, referring to triggers usually means something that has brought on or worsened symptoms. In the ongoing dialogue about mental health, we don’t talk enough about triggers. Most often,
Robert, an adult in his 50s, had been processing the early emotional neglect and abuse that led to his low self-esteem and a decade-long episode of depression. Together, we had processed his rage, fear and disgust. With my therapeutic support and his courage, he worked his way through each emotion: Naming it, validating it,
Acceptance. In one word, that is how I cope with mental illness and the emotional journey to find effective treatment. Accepting the reality of my mental health has taken time. It all began in 2008 when, within months of giving birth to my first baby, I was diagnosed with severe postpartum depression. During what
Our team at NAMI remains focused on access to the best care, so we’re sharing information on changes to how the medication, clozapine, is prescribed and dispensed. Clozapine is an effective medication, and the only one that is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Clozapine also reduces the risk of suicide
When things got bad, everyone told me to exercise. “It always helps me to take a workout class — just to sweat a little,” my well-meaning friend said as she stroked my unwashed hair. “Just try it.” “Come to the gym with me!” My co-worker begged. “We both need the endorphins.” “How have you moved your
I first experienced mania during my sophomore year of college. My highs were mountaintop experiences filled with euphoria, drama, risky behavior, gambling, substance use and poor judgment calls. Mania is intoxicating and can feel like a force binding all your physicality into a cauldron of energy and creativity. During a manic episode, it can