For some, the holidays are a time of year for joy and celebration. But for others, it can bring on unnecessary stress and tension, especially if you are struggling with mental illness. Everyone has a family member (or two or three) who spreads rumors, pushes buttons, or pokes their nose…
10 Tips for Supporting Your Loved One with Depression
We all want our loved ones to be happy, and when you’re caring for someone who is struggling with depression, it’s common to feel hopeless or stuck. Whomever it is in your life that has depression, whether it’s your friend, spouse, or family member, it can be painful to watch…
How Self-Advocacy Can Reduce the Stigma of Schizophrenia
In today’s world, mental illness is still, unfortunately, stigmatized. While there is a movement to reduce stigma, we still have a long way to go. It may surprise you, but some of the biggest culprits of fearing and having preconceptions about mental illness are those who have it. I wish…
How to Manage Anxiety
Anxiety is a human emotion we all share, and it’s important to remember that you are not the only one who suffers, or has suffered, from it. It’s important to keep in mind that anxiety, at low and moderate levels, isn’t destructive, and in fact, can be beneficial. It keeps us…
Managing Your Mania
WHAT IS BIPOLAR DISORDER? Bipolar disorder (Type I) is a mental illness characterized by having prolonged fluctuations between manic and major depressive episodes, whereas bipolar disorder (Type II) is characterized by fluctuations between hypomanic and major depressive episodes. People who have bipolar disorder experience intense emotional instability and find it…