Mental illness People assume you aren’t sick unless they see the sickness on your skin like scars forming a map of all the ways you’re hurting. My heart is a prison of Have you tried? Have you tried exercising? Have you tried eating better? Have you tried not being sad, not being sick? Have you [...]
What comes to mind when you hear the word "bully?" I always thought it was mainly a physical attack, so I never felt I was bullied; but I was. I was only 11. I wasn't a "big" girl, I was maybe 110, but to some of the kids in school I was "big Jennifer". I [...]
Healing the Pain of the Past By Michele Rosenthal It’s New Year’s Eve and I’m at an enormous party at the Breaker’s Hotel on Palm Beach Island off the east coast of Florida. The band is rocking, the dance floor is packed with over 100 guests, friends and strangers are celebrating with jubilant, life-affirming glee [...]
Empower Yourself and Recognize Stigmas Hold Zero Validity By Robert Parmer We live in a country still unfortunately filled with some social, physical health, and mental health stigmas. America doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to these types of shamming behaviors and that is, to put it lightly, disappointing. Taking the steps [...]
I would like to preface this recount of my experiences since being diagnosed Bipolar I by stating that my intent is NOT to blame or in any way shame anyone or any organization for what was done to me, but mostly to shed light on the realities of our society and our (mis) handling of [...]
Who can love the unlovable? My dad left when I was five I didn’t understand it. What five-year-old does, right I remember the fights My mother and father screaming As often as not it was about me Or something I had done I remember the ‘licks’ That’s what they were called in my home [...]
We all have a voice. Sometimes we're afraid to use it. The world lets us know that our voice is powerless. "Stop talking," is often the subtext of society. No one wants to hear you. Unfortunately, one of the groups of people who suffer silencing the most are young people. Their voices are powerful, beautiful [...]
I ALWAYS KNEW I have always known I was different. Always TOO something. Too loud, sad, mad, crazy, happy. Sometimes alternating through all of the "toos" hourly. I was a hot mess. In spite of this roller coaster, I had a great job. I was raising two toddlers as a single mom. I did it [...]
From Suicidal To Sensational The first time anyone asked if I was out of my mind, I was six years old. With an old towel tied around my neck, I had climbed up to the garage roof and jumped off. If Superman could do it, so could I, right? Even at that tender age, I [...]
Most mornings are the same - I tell H.* to get dressed and he puts his pants on his head while wandering around asking me if I've seen them. I tell him it's time for breakfast and he yells, "You're not the boss of me!" When we leave the house he pretends to hit me [...]