Consumption It is 2:32 a.m. I have to be up at 9 a.m. But I can’t stop thinking about that time I was in middle school, somewhere between twelve to fifteen, at my friend Monica’s birthday party. We were up late in her parent's basement. The walls were lined with trophies, awards, banners, and family [...]
“Another tattoo?”So far, this is the typical, somewhat predictable response I’ve received after people, especially the older generation – no unfair disrespect, just a fair observation – discover the not-so-secret truth that I have revealed a minimal rebellion, once again stealing from the world’s inkwell, stacking my impressive tattoo tally to a gasp-worthy eight. Can [...]
My whole life, I have been an accident-prone, clumsy person. So much that I have been told often it would be a lot safer for me to go about life inside bubble wrap and a Tupperware container. While working in restaurants I always had a new cut, bruise, or burn. I had whopping cough, two [...]
When you attempt to play chess with your own brain, you will without a doubt lose. I have been battling with mental illness most of my life. It is a tiring and arduous task. A task, up until this past year, I had managed to some degree. However, I made the mistake of getting cocky. [...]
I Am a We, and We Are Stronger Together There is strength in numbers. Two heads are better than one. It takes a village to raise a child. United we stand, divided we fall. We are stronger together. There are many popular phrases that talk about the power of teamwork, the advantages that can come [...]
I have been going to therapy for five years but, if someone would have asked me about it, I would probably have lied, or changed the subject. I guess that’s starting to change; right here, right now. I was a twenty-year-old college student when I first experienced my first panic attack. I was on campus [...]
On Mental Health Psychologists Psychiatrists Medical P.H.D. Doctors Even non-medical, non-Psychology, or non-Psychiatritry degrees Certain family members and their friends Certain so-called friends Certain neighbors Haters Enemies and everyone else in between all have his, or her idea of what each psychosis and Mental Health diseases are, their diagnosis, and their cures, if there are [...]
When Your Mental Illness Is Treated Like a Joke Often I have found that many people around me do not fully grasp the concept of a mental illness. The term mental illness, to them, is like an alien game. Something that they do not much about, but think that they do. Having a mental illness [...]
What It Is like Living with the Pure-O Type of OCD I have Primarily Obsessional OCD (Pure-O). My OCD isn’t fully like the OCD people understand best. Or even misunderstand best. There are many types of OCD, mostly defined by the compulsions people have. It is true that people are obsessed with actions from the [...]
To my 16-year old, suicidal self, Well, I suppose the existence of this letter is a spoiler warning. You did attempt suicide, your overdose put you in the hospital for five weeks, but you didn’t die. In fact, I’m you, and I’m 18 now. I know right now you’re sure that you’ll just attempt suicide [...]
