Mental Health and the Place of Worship

This past Sunday I attended church. I was invited by my uncle’s girlfriend and decided to go because she told me they’d be discussing mental health. While I wasn’t sure what to expect, I was thinking the pastor would be preaching “just pray and your mental illness will go away”. It’s common, especially in the […]

Living With Bipolar Disorder – Life Update

Living with bipolar disorder is like riding on a never-ending roller coaster. Some days I’m up, others I’m down. Sometimes I’m sitting at baseline. Even when I’m at baseline, I still have to make sure I’m taking care of myself and managing my illness. It’s not easy and even when things are great, I’m in […]

Bipolar Disorder vs. Depression

When I was 11 or 12, I was diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). At the time, this diagnosis seemed accurate but as the years passed, it seemed that something more was wrong. I switched therapists and psychiatrists countless times and they all said the same thing. My mom also voiced her concerns to them, […]

How to Cope With the Side Effects of Psychiatric Medications

When it comes to taking medication, there are usually a plethora of side effects associated with the medicine. It’s no different when you’re taking psychiatric medications like antidepressants and antipsychotics. I’ve been on medication for my mental health since age 11. I’ve stopped and started so many different meds that I’ve lost count. That being […]

What To Do When Family and Friends Don’t Accept Your Mental Illness

I recently had a conversation with a friend in which she asked me how to deal with family members not accepting your depression and talking down on you for it. After helping her through her problem, it got me thinking of my own battle with my mental health and how I’ve had to deal with […]