Stigma lives within all of us Whether it is over use of alcohol or drugs, or mental illness, stigma will impact a person’s well being, quality of life and can lengthen their recovery time. Addiction is one of the most stigmatized health conditions that a person can experience. Whether it is over use of alcohol … More Addiction Stigma is Like Cancer to Our Recovery
Where we reject those who suffer, we also reject a part of ourselves and our humanity recedes one more step. Where we honor those in need, we use the power that we have to help ourselves and humanity to move towards a better way. If you (or your son or daughter or parent) were living … More When We Fear Others Because of Their Mental Illness, We Fear a Part of Ourselves
Why do we still think of mental illness as a brain disorder? ___ Many mental illnesses are not simply “mental” nor is a person just… “ill.” Many mental illnesses are not simply “mental” nor is a person just… “ill.” Some studies report that people who live with addiction experienced some form of trauma in their … More “Mental Illness” is a Brain Disorder?
People who live with a substance use disorder or a mental illness are more like us than we know. And that may be just what we may fear ___ (My apologies if the accompanying photo seems overly dramatic. One of my more public addictions is iPhone photo apps…) Most of you have never met me. I … More Most Days I Do Very Well In Spite of My Mental Illness… And So Do You
“The darkness may never go away, but it won’t always be the same.” Attributed to “Jackie.” We may not be able to change our emotions. Or even our thoughts. But we can learn to change our relationship with our emotions and our thoughts. How has learning about yourself changed how you respond to your thoughts? … More The Darkness May Never Go Away, But it Won’t Always Be the Same
“Does it Matter How We Talk About People with Substance Use Disorder?” ___ Most of you have never met me. I am about to write something that may change what you think about me. I am going against the advice of people I respect – my wife and my Psychiatrist. (In fact, even saying that … More Please Don’t Hate Me Because I have a Mental Illness
For article on the lessons that I have learned after a year with clinical depression, click on the photo above. I write articles about wellness, leadership, parenting and personal growth. My hope is to deliver the best content I can to inspire, to inform and to entertain. Sign up for my blog if you want to … More Lessons Learned From Living With Clinical Depression
What have you learned about mental illness that you would like to share with others? ___ This has been one of the most trying years of my life. But I’m not sure I would trade it for anything. Not that I enjoyed feeling the darkness cloud over me, the gloom, the isolation, and wanting the … More A Year with Clinical Depression has Made Me a Better Man
Please let me know what you think about how the genders experience anxiety differently. ___ I looked into his eyes as he asked me about 67 questions about what would happen on his first day of school. My son was anxious and when he gets anxious, he asks A LOT of questions. Watching him … More Do Men and Women Feel Anxiety Differently?
Your diagnosis does not have to define you ___ Fight. It’s what we do. We come into the world screaming and we often leave the planet still screaming and thrashing. Darwin called it the Survival Instinct, really it is just our innate sense of fighting against decline or suffering. We come into the world screaming and we … More How do You Accept Your Depression Without Surrendering to it?
Getting High on Recovery 