http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm This is the Real Lives Blog from Mental Health America en-us Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:39:08 -0500 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:10:00 -0500 BlogCFC http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss webmaster@mentalhealthameica.net webmaster@mentalhealthameica.net webmaster@mentalhealthameica.net http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm no http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/24/Tired-of-the-mental-illness-label-detracting-from-the-person by Susie in Wyoming I was born and raised in Southern Illinois, right outside of St. Louis. I really can't tell you when I first noticed my depression/Bi-polar illness. But from high school, which was 1972 and on, I have abused alcohol and drugs and overdosed several times which required hospitalization. [More] Alcoholism Hospitalization Divorce Bipolar Disorder Substance Abuse Suicidal Ideation Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:10:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/24/Tired-of-the-mental-illness-label-detracting-from-the-person http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/24/A-second-chance by April in Georgia My Bipolar disorder has been the dictator and ruler of my entire life up until about three years ago. As a child, it destroyed my self-esteem, isolated me, confused me and eventually, consumed me. As a teenager, the black cloud seemed to get thicker; however, the common misconception was she's a teenager. [More] Recovery Hospitalization Divorce Bipolar Disorder Substance Abuse Suicidal Ideation Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:36:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/24/A-second-chance http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/People-wiht-mental-illnes-CAN-recover-I-am-living-proof by Edna in Tennessee My name is Edna. I am a 47-year old single mother. My two children are grown, but have lived a life of confusion with my illnesses. I was a happy child, with a good life. However, in my teen years I started having bouts of sadness, depression, anxiety, and loneliness...even though I had a large family and many friends. [More] Abuse Social Anxiety Panic Disorder Divorce Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Unemployment Anxiety Depression Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:34:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/People-wiht-mental-illnes-CAN-recover-I-am-living-proof http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/I-live-in-a-world-where-time-doesnt-exist by Cierra in Colorado I have been fearful, sad, and anxious as far back into my life as I can remember. It created social problems, family problems, and isolation/loneliness. The first time I started thinking about suicide, I was 10 years old. I didn't know anyone in the whole world that felt that way. [More] PTSD Social Anxiety Divorce Depression Suicidal Ideation Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:28:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/I-live-in-a-world-where-time-doesnt-exist http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/15/Mental-illness-is-not-a-personal-illness-it-affects-everyone-close-to-that-person by Louise in Nevada I was in high school when I first remember thinking that killing myself would solve my problems. Back then, I had never heard of depression or even knew mental illness was anything other than what was shown in the movies. [More] PTSD Depression Hospitalization Divorce Anxiety Self-Injury Suicidal Ideation Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:24:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/15/Mental-illness-is-not-a-personal-illness-it-affects-everyone-close-to-that-person http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/15/Looking-for-others-who-understand-me-and-my-illness by Brandi in Ohio I can't remember a time when I wasn't depressed. As a child I always felt like I wasn't normal and that something was wrong with me but didn't know what. My parents didn't believe in mental illness or psychiatrists/therapy, so the feelings I was having just kept getting worse. When I was 16 I tried to commit suicide. [More] Panic Disorder Divorce Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Bipolar Disorder Anxiety Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:11:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/15/Looking-for-others-who-understand-me-and-my-illness http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/15/Mental-illness-as-affected-me-most-of-my-life by Patrick in Oregon My mental illness has probably affected me most or all of my life. I was a loner. My siblings both younger and older (yes I'm the middle child) were so much more advanced than I was that I was labeled to be slightly retarded. I didn't understand or much less care about anything or try to do anything because I would never follow through. That's what I was told. [More] Social Anxiety Divorce Anxiety Bipolar Disorder Substance Abuse Suicidal Ideation Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:06:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/15/Mental-illness-as-affected-me-most-of-my-life http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/15/Prayers-and-keep-a-mothers-hope-strong by Tamoa in Virgnia I am just turning 35 years old and have lived with mental illness all my life. I remember asking my mother when I was little, "was I retarded like my uncle'" who is now 60 and has the mentality of a ten-year-old. I was crying all the time and could not sleep at night because I was afraid of things coming out from the bed or closets that I was actually seeing. My parents didn't think anything of it at the time. As I got older it became progressively worse. [More] Hospitalization Divorce ADHD Abuse Bipolar Disorder PTSD Schizophrenia Family History Suicidal Ideation Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:30:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/15/Prayers-and-keep-a-mothers-hope-strong http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/14/Working-Hard-at-Life-and-Enjoying-It by Jo Anne in Arizona I can remember being a toddler and thinking that the rest of the people in the world were somehow very different from me. I did not understand why I felt so sad to be here and everyone else seemed to know what to do and enjoyed their lives. I could excel in school and be the best at various sports or activities, but even so, I was not happy. I wanted more and did more than most. [More] Alcoholism Schizoaffective Disorder Divorce Bipolar Disorder Suicidal Ideation Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:22:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/14/Working-Hard-at-Life-and-Enjoying-It http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/9/Long-road-leads-to-balance-and-unconditional-selflove by Angela in Alaska My depression started while I was young. I was a child born from an alcoholic, so I had missing endorphins (I found this out after doing research on depression. When I was 13 years old, I was medicated for severe depression after my father, who had abandoned my family when I was four, died. [More] Hospitalization Anxiety Divorce Recovery Social Anxiety Bipolar Disorder PTSD Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Panic Disorder Family History Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:37:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/9/Long-road-leads-to-balance-and-unconditional-selflove http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/6/Grndmothers-shares-her-experiences-of-living-with-mental-illness by Joan in Wisconsin Early in my childhood, I was sexually abused and threatened to stay quiet. I have often wondered if those events had not occurred would I have had a normal life, even though mental illness is prevalent in my maternal gene pool. As my young life progressed, secrets came out and people were hurt. [More] Hospitalization Anxiety Divorce Family History Abuse Alcoholism Depression PTSD Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Substance Abuse Sat, 06 Dec 2008 21:27:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/6/Grndmothers-shares-her-experiences-of-living-with-mental-illness http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/5/Family-support-makes-grandfather-feel-loved by Darrell in Georgia I have lost two jobs in nine years. Most of the time, I do not have much to offer to my family -- just my existence. I have been married to a wonderful woman for 28 years. [More] PTSD Depression Divorce Fri, 05 Dec 2008 22:17:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/5/Family-support-makes-grandfather-feel-loved http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/4/worst-misunderstanding-about-mental-illness-is-being-told-to-snap-out-of-it by Addie in Florida My depression was most likely learned behavior from a mother who drank everyday and a father who seemed depressed and despondent. I remember arguments and fighting as a young child. Then my parents divorced. This started my fears and insecurities. I remember being center stage, then on the back burner. [More] Alcoholism Recovery Depression Divorce Family History Substance Abuse Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:49:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/4/worst-misunderstanding-about-mental-illness-is-being-told-to-snap-out-of-it http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/2/Treatment-sought-for-cooccurring-disorders by Madison in Pennsylvania Because of my mental illness, I had to leave my profession in social work and claim disability. It put a strain on my marriage, resulting in a divorce and emotional strain on my parents and brother. [More] Schizoaffective Disorder Hospitalization Divorce Eating Disorder Abuse Alcoholism Substance Abuse PTSD Borderline Personality Disorder Tue, 02 Dec 2008 23:55:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/2/Treatment-sought-for-cooccurring-disorders http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/11/21/Empowered-by-Understanding-the-Disorder by Anita in St. Louis I believe that I have had bipolar disorder all my life. As a child, I was considered a tough kid, just as soon fight than say hello. I had a few friends. My siblings perceived me as a hero for them, righting all wrongs and fighting their fights for them. School was not my thing, being bored and misunderstood; I spent a lot of time in trouble. I finally graduated, married and ran away and joined the Army. In the Army, I married a second time, not being divorced from the first. [More] Recovery Divorce Bipolar Disorder Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:15:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/11/21/Empowered-by-Understanding-the-Disorder