Rethinking Mental Illness

Rethinking Mental Illness

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jazmin-kay/running-from-crazy_b_4201264.html?utm_hp_ref=healthy-living&ir=Healthy+Living

I came across this and I do agree that we need to talk about it. It needs to stop being treated like something we can only speak of in hushed tones. The increased rate of suicide in people being treated for various forms of depression has drastically increased over the last few years, and yet, when you tell a doctor or a therapist that you think of suicide often and that you have a plan, they don’t take you seriously unless they believe you need to be hospitalized. The truth is, if someone is going to follow through on suicide, they aren’t going to discuss it with anyone. It’s a very personal, private thing.

I lost someone very dear to me to suicide 20 years ago. One of my brother’s best friends committed suicide eight years ago, less than a year after being discharged from the Army Rangers. I have very close friends that have lost siblings and other family members to suicide, so I don’t find it a laughing matter in any capacity. I, myself, am extremely open about these topics and I discuss them at length in the most direct fashion possible. I detest the stigma placed upon people who suffer from depression, and the labels and whispers that follow in their wake. It enrages me.

Don’t be afraid to get help or to talk about what you feel. Be afraid if you don’t talk about it.

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Happy Birthday M!

Happy Birthday M!

I couldn’t find a different sibling song, so this is the one I’m using today in honor of my brother’s birthday. He’s feeling really down about getting a year older (I relate, as I am sure many others do too.), but I am trying to convince him that life is to be celebrated. There are so many people who’d kill to be his age and have his problems, so on today and every day I want him to know I’ve got his back. I was asked quite specifically not to do a tribute to him or mention him by name (which is fine because I only ever call him M any way, unless I’m being mean.), so this will have to do.

Happy Birthday M! Thank you for being there for me even when I don’t want you to be, for bringing me soup when I’m sick, cupcakes when I’m down, and heating up countless ice packs for me whenever I am down for the count with a migraine or Fibromyalgia pain. You are a total pain in the ass, but you’re also pretty awesome at times too. And NO, I will not tell you what I got you.

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The Versatile Blogger Award

I got hit with three of these, so I am going to squeeze them all into one to avoid annoying people with multiple nominations.

Thank you to Fish of Gold, Shaun, and Kalabalu for bestowing these upon me. It’s extremely kind of all of you. I genuinely appreciate it.

In keeping with the rules:

1-Thank and link back to the person who awarded you.

2- Nominate 15 bloggers for The Versatile Blogger Award and include a link to their site (and tell them that you have nominated them.). You can find the graphics for each award on my About page.

3-State 7 things about yourself.

7 things:

1. I watch far more TV than I will ever openly admit to. My newest obsession: Da Vinci’s Demons. It is one of the most brilliantly portrayed shows I have ever had the privilege of watching. I’m totally addicted. If you missed out on season one, I highly recommend it. I’m definitely pre-ordering this one on Blu-Ray.

2. I’m extremely maternal.

3. I love soft, buttery spa socks. They moisturize, keep your feet warm when needed, and are nice and cozy. Especially when your body doesn’t always respond well to cold.

4. Etsy is one of my favorite places to shop on-line. I’ve gotten some of the most awesome custom-made items there.

5. I collect gemstones and crystals.

6. I am currently obsessed with lemon candles and constantly searching for the perfect one. My favorite candle company in the world is Twistavants. If you buy from them, order Cakebake, Cinnamon, Blueberry, and/or Christmas Memories. You won’t be sorry.

7.  I hate the Spring and Summer months.

I now nominate 15 blogs.

1. mentalinthemidwest.wordpress.com

2. findingmyinnercourage.wordpress.com

3. fairytaleepidemic.wordpress.com

4. fibromyalgiathis.wordpress.com

5. bipolar2ne.wordpress.com

6. http://knockedoverbyafeather.wordpress.com/

7. polishalcoholic.com

8. producthoochie.wordpress.com

9. Must Have Boxes

10. High, High Higher

11. Caffeinated Brunette

12. mymiasart.com

13. sethsnap.com

14. koshersamurai.wordpress.com

15. meganhasocd.com

Thank you again for the award(s). I hope everyone can accept graciously.

I did these in an extremely random order because it was very hard to come up with 15 AND my new laptop is driving me up the wall. Mind you it’s new in the sense that up until recently, it was sitting in my dresser drawer, still fresh out of the box for the last few years. My post-grad laptop is so badly damaged that I got every last penny’s worth out of it, but I am still slowly transferring my files over to this one because part of me can’t bear to part with the poor bastard. Between actual work and my music, it’s proving stressful, so I am going to get my brother to fix this and get it to work correctly ASAP, unless I somehow manage to figure it out myself, which is entirely possible.  Though asking him to do it MIGHT make up for the fact that he keeps saying “You’re STILL in pain!”, like it will magically go away if he keeps asking me about it! Siblings. Can’t live with them and apparently it’s frowned upon if you stab them with a fork. Who knew?!

If for some reason a link does not work, I promise I will fix it as quickly as possible

Fighting Battle…

Fighting Battles

“Choose your battles wisely. After all, life isn’t measured by how many times you stood up to fight. It’s not winning battles that makes you happy, but it’s how many times you turned away and chose to look into a better direction. Life is too short to spend it on warring. Fight only the most, most, most important ones, let the rest go.”  ―C. JoyBell C.

Praying for my brother as he engages in a very important battle. I’m here for you 110% M.