Stigma Fighters: Melanie Luxenberg

    When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A teacher, a doctor, a lawyer? Did it change as you got older? Once I thought I wanted to be a social worker because I thought that was the best way to help people, but I would become so emotional [...]

    By |2015-12-01T13:02:38-08:00December 1st, 2015|Categories: Bipolar, Stigma Fighters|1 Comment

      Stigma Fighters: Valerie Ordonez

      That ache in the stomach Your heart's pounding Your anxiety's taking over you You feel something's wrong with your body You know something is wrong but the doctors can't put a diagnosis on yours symptoms. No matter how many appointments, blood checks and many exams they put you through. Until one day, in a big [...]

      By |2015-11-30T17:39:32-08:00November 30th, 2015|Categories: chronic pain, Stigma Fighters|1 Comment

        Stigma Fighters: Christy Abram

        Joy lives here by Christy Abram I won't go... They told me I have to... I dug my heels deep in the earth to escape his strength ... Stop...you can't take me..I won't go... Crooked smiles passed as he led the way... I resisted sprouting obscenities and pulling at his scratchy coat... I won't go, [...]

        By |2015-11-29T14:36:32-08:00November 29th, 2015|Categories: PTSD, Stigma Fighters, Trauma|0 Comments

          Stigma Fighters: Kelly Pestritto

          I have had anxiety for as long as I can remember when I think back about it. I just didn't realize I had it or what it was until I was a bit older. I remember when I was maybe preteen, I would have a bunch of Dr. check ups where I would try to [...]

          By |2015-11-29T08:24:51-08:00November 29th, 2015|Categories: Anxiety, Stigma Fighters|0 Comments

            Stigma Fighters: Justine

            Father's Day 2015 As emotions ran high, the pills slid down my throat, the world spinning around me, and suddenly I'm 9 years old again. The room is dark. Everyone else my age is at the movies, having sleepovers, But I am alone, too afraid to say a word, too afraid to make friends. My [...]

            By |2015-11-28T09:43:25-08:00November 28th, 2015|Categories: Anxiety, Depression, Stigma Fighters|0 Comments

              Depression During The Holidays

              The holidays can be a stressful time for those of us living with mental illness. There is a lot of pressure to smile and be happy. We are seeing family members that we don't see often. Family can be a trigger for some of us. It's especially challenging to put on a smile or fake [...]

              By |2015-11-26T06:35:24-08:00November 26th, 2015|Categories: Depression|1 Comment

                Stigma Fighters: Heydon Hensley

                And Depression Is two hands squeezing strangling until you’re dry too dry so dry you wonder if desiccation only happens to corpses Depression is the fear that you’re immortal in a world of goodnight kisses painfully unlaced with cyanide staring into the void and letting it seep in until you are what is left a [...]

                By |2015-11-24T13:46:55-08:00November 24th, 2015|Categories: Depression, Stigma Fighter's Poetry, Stigma Fighters|0 Comments

                  Stigma Fighters: Al Colvin

                  Stigma and The Arrest of A 1st Grader I can’t state it enough that stigma and stereotypes are at the root of so many unfortunate events such suicides. Stigma one of the biggest challenges to decreasing suicide can be eradicated. If we as a society want to bring an end to suicide and eliminate suffering [...]

                  By |2015-11-23T11:15:58-08:00November 23rd, 2015|Categories: Stigma Fighters, Suicide|0 Comments

                    Stigma Fighters: Rachel Finch

                    Looking back, troubles followed me for most of my life.. That, or I follow it.. I was sexually abused at 8 on two separate occasions and violently gang raped at 12. These events have played a major role in who I came to be. The out of body experiences had started. We were like gypsies [...]

                    By |2015-11-22T12:10:17-08:00November 22nd, 2015|Categories: Borderline Personality Disorder, Stigma Fighters|1 Comment

                      Stigma Fighters: Kayla Bornman

                      I got Type one Diabetes on the week of my eleventh birthday. I had a sleepover planned, had a cookie cake ordered, the whole shebang. Then genetics happened (on my grandfather's side). And my sleep over had to be cancelled while I learned a new set of skills that I'd have to carry with my [...]

                      By |2015-11-21T19:02:18-08:00November 21st, 2015|Categories: Anxiety, Depression, Stigma Fighters|0 Comments