http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm This is the Real Lives Blog from Mental Health America en-us Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:47:50 -0500 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:58:00 -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/2009/9/4/Emplyers-should-be-more-educated-about-mental-health-conditions by Feeling Worthless in Alabama My life started getting affected by panic disorder and fear when I was in the fourth grade. Bullies from school have ruined my life, both at school and at home,I have severe depression, panic disorder, fear, phobias, behavorial issues and cannot cope hardly at all. All my relationships had failed and all my jobs never worked out well because of my problems. [More] Social Anxiety Panic Disorder Unemployment Anxiety Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:58:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/9/4/Emplyers-should-be-more-educated-about-mental-health-conditions http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/9/4/A-Coastal-Journey-to-Awareness by Larry in Pennsylvania I would like to share with you my experience with the mental health system. Years ago, when I graduated from college I went back to New York to live with my parents. I was confused and did not what to do with myself. I was getting into trouble, doing drugs, etc. My parents sent me to psychiatrist who diagnosed me as mentally ill. The shrink then referred me to a neurologist for tests. The neurologist examined me in Columbia/Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan for several days. I was given a CAT scan, heart exam, eye tests and a whole gamut of exams. [More] Social Anxiety Depression Anxiety Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:48:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/9/4/A-Coastal-Journey-to-Awareness http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/24/Take-your-mental-health-as-serious-as-your-physical-health by Yolanda in South Carolina "Mental illness" is not a welcoming word, and I never labeled myself as mentally ill. However, a lot of what I was dealing with did, in fact, affect my professional life, spiritual-self, and my relationship with my spouse. My schoolwork on the PhD level actually provided an open door for me to research, and get the therapy, counseling, EMDR therapy, and support group counseling services I needed. [More] Abuse Social Anxiety Depression Anxiety Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:27:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/24/Take-your-mental-health-as-serious-as-your-physical-health http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/10/Never-give-up-on-yourself-or-a-loved-one-with-a-mental-illness by Gail in Florida Thinking in retrospect, I can recall being a shy, nervous little girl. At an early age, I began pulling my own eyelashes out to relieve the pain. Shortly after my 13th birthday, my father took his own life. I was told to "pull myself up by my bootstraps" and to get over it. I received absolutely NO counseling or help. We were poor and in debt. I don't blame my mother. She was suffering in her own hell from his action. The rest of my teenage years were spent running wild. I would drink, smoke cigarettes, and party. I think it was a way to ease the heartache. Even my own grandmother asked me, "What can I do to make you happy? Nothing makes you happy anymore." I suppose she saw what I couldn't. [More] Recovery Social Anxiety Panic Disorder Depression Anxiety Family History Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:01:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/10/Never-give-up-on-yourself-or-a-loved-one-with-a-mental-illness http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/10/When-someone-talks-they-are-giving-a-window-to-their-heart-and-their-mind by Karen in Missouri This month marks the one year anniversary of my nervous breakdown. While the journey is certainly not over, I thought this would be a good time to send a message about it. There are several reasons for the message - one is to make one more attempt to convince the jerks that don't believe in mental diseases that IT IS REAL. Another is for awareness. Perhaps I will find the words to describe things that other sufferers like me have been trying to find all along. Perhaps, even if just for a moment, I will help someone else feel like they are not alone. At any rate, a year ago at this time I had hit rock bottom. [More] Recovery Social Anxiety Post partum depression Panic Disorder Depression Anxiety Suicidal Ideation Fri, 10 Apr 2009 17:48:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/10/When-someone-talks-they-are-giving-a-window-to-their-heart-and-their-mind 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-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/Sharing-my-knowledge-helps-reap-emotional-mental-and-physical-strength-and-lightens-load by Yolanda in Florida At the age of 21, my doctor delivered devastating news and diagnosed me as suffering from bi-polar disorder. In my early teens, I experienced episodes of pure misery, which could quickly turn into extreme jubilation. In those early years though, I only understood the depression side of the disorder. After all, how could extreme exuberance be connected with an illness? [More] ADHD Social Anxiety Hospitalization Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Family History Anxiety Bipolar Disorder Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:24:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/15/Sharing-my-knowledge-helps-reap-emotional-mental-and-physical-strength-and-lightens-load http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/9/Fighting-for-the-right-to-work by JoAnne in Illinois I have suffered from mental illness all my life. Up until recently, I was a highly successful professional. I have both a mental illness and a physical illness. I have been to federal court fighting for my ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) rights only to have the judge beat down my case. [More] Trauma Social Anxiety Depression Bipolar Disorder PTSD Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Panic Disorder Seasonal Affective Disorder Anxiety Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:46:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/9/Fighting-for-the-right-to-work 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/2008/12/9/Make-recovery-more-than-a-drug-fill-it-with-positive-people-and-activities by Harry in Indiana Hello everyone! I am Harry. I am 24. I have an awful headache. I have been suffering from mental illness since 10 and didn't seek treatment until 15. It began in the fall of 1993. I had a weekend that I describe as being sad. The world turned flat. I became obsessed with beings coming for me in the night. [More] Social Anxiety Hospitalization Homeless Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Family History Panic Disorder Tue, 09 Dec 2008 13:20:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/9/Make-recovery-more-than-a-drug-fill-it-with-positive-people-and-activities