http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm This is the Real Lives Blog from Mental Health America en-us Fri, 20 Nov 2009 21:37:10 -0500 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:58:00 -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/2009/9/8/Coping-with-plenty-of-leisure-activities-and-sense-of-purpose-in-life by Grant in Pennsylvania I feel that I do my best. Sometimes I feel hopeless. That's the bipolar in my brain talking. Never pay attention! [More] Bipolar Disorder Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:58:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/9/8/Coping-with-plenty-of-leisure-activities-and-sense-of-purpose-in-life http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/9/4/A-thinker-philosopher-and-reader by Elvia in Texas In 1996, at the age of 22, I was hospitalized for the first time after severe sleep deprivation during my senior year in college. I was diagnosed bipolar but it was unclear whether that was accurate and if so, what did that mean for me in my life. [More] Recovery Hospitalization Bipolar Disorder Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:46:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/9/4/A-thinker-philosopher-and-reader http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/9/4/Recovery-brings-confidence-joy-and-peace by Cheryl in Virginia As a Child, I was sexually abused and had an alcoholic parent. I was an anxious child and as I grew up I had many depressed and manic episodes throughout my life. [More] Abuse Recovery Hospitalization Bipolar Disorder Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:39:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/9/4/Recovery-brings-confidence-joy-and-peace http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/9/4/Family-and-support-groups-help-mother-with-life-long-battle-with-bipolar by Deb in Pennsylvania Mental illness has affected my life in more ways than one, because I have not been able to hold a full-time job since 2003. Because I have some very severe mood swings, and I can't handle stress because it sets my anxiety off. I really wanted to go back to work; therefore, I decided to try it and I was there one day had an anxiety attack. I had to quit. [More] Anxiety Bipolar Disorder Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:26:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/9/4/Family-and-support-groups-help-mother-with-life-long-battle-with-bipolar http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/9/4/Drumming-his-way-to-good-mental-health by Marc in Wisconsin Hello, my name is Marc and this is my bi-polar adventure. I was diagnosed bi-polar back in 1998 or 1999 after a severe manic episode. During this episode I attacked my father, put cereal boxes in our driveway, and had enough energy to just go and go...I've never felt more free. It was like when you're a little kid and you do something and you forget about it and move on to the next thing. [More] Bipolar Disorder Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:22:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/9/4/Drumming-his-way-to-good-mental-health http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/24/Encourages-others-to-seek-help-when-young by Laura in Florida I knew that I had something wrong with me early, around 12 or 13. Being one of five girls, my parents really did not notice the different things I did, and I was not going to tell them. I was too embarrassed. [More] Anxiety Bipolar Disorder Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:37:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/24/Encourages-others-to-seek-help-when-young 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/Design-ur-Life-Makeovers by Life Ministries in Wisconsin My whole life I have been on some sort of medication. At the age of 14, I was told I was a manic depressive. The medicine my parents and doctor put me on turned my life upside down. I started drinking, having sex and then running away. I was 13 and just moved from Great Lakes, Il to Camp Lejeune, NC. My dad was in the Navy. [More] Alcoholism Depression Anxiety Bipolar Disorder Substance Abuse Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:59:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/24/Design-ur-Life-Makeovers 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/2009/4/24/Bipolarann--An-ongoing-story-of-managing-bipolar by Ann in Kentcky My story is ongoing. I am in progress of healing. I have had bipolar symptoms since I was a young girl although the doctors did not know what could possibly be wrong. Through high school things worsened, beginning first with depression for a couple years and then a year and a half of mania and hypomania in which I abused alcohol and prescription medication to bring myself down. [More] Bipolar Disorder Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:10:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/24/Bipolarann--An-ongoing-story-of-managing-bipolar http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/10/Understanding-trial--error-and-what-it-means-not-just-to-exist-but-to-be-alive by Cynthia in Michigan I was 48 years old and in the Autumn of my life. No longer flying below the radar, I was struck as if by lightening. For many years our father told us we were Greek's with a type A disposition and it was easy to believe by our energy and enthusiasm. Unfortunately, we were hypersensitive and were agitated easily. Gatherings were often noisy but they were stormy too. My depression began about the time my father became ill. I had no knowledge of the darkness that was about to engulf me. [More] Recovery Bipolar Disorder Fri, 10 Apr 2009 19:08:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/10/Understanding-trial--error-and-what-it-means-not-just-to-exist-but-to-be-alive http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/God-spared-my-life-for-a-reason by Renee in Pennsylvania My search for the meaning of life began at the age of 14 when drugs and alcohol became a way of life for me to cope with the years of abuse and the nightmarish memories of my past. I became a high school drop-out and ran away from home, looking for love in all the wrong places. I had been consumed body, soul and spirit by overexposure to alcohol, drugs and sexual abuse by the time I was 17. [More] Hospitalization Substance Abuse Recovery Uninsured Depression Alcoholism Bipolar Disorder Self-Injury Homeless Unemployment Suicidal Ideation Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:17:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/God-spared-my-life-for-a-reason http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/Dont-sell-yourself-short by Cheryl in New Jersey Hmm...Where to begin? Well, I was fourteen when the misery struck. Being a freshman in high school was rather easy for me. I was vice president of my class, participated in various groups such as SADD and student council, and also succeeded at a varsity level in tennis and softball. But then, like night and day almost, as if something inside of me snapped, I fell into an extremely deep depression. I didn't eat, I couldn't sleep, hygiene became a thing of the past. all I did for months was lay on my bedroom floor and stare at the wall. [More] Hospitalization Bipolar Disorder Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:36:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/Dont-sell-yourself-short http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/We-deserve-equal-access-to-appropriate-psychiatric-care-and-freedom-from-stigm by Barbara in Pennsylvania I was literally the last person anyone would have expected to develop a psychiatric disorder. I've never used recreational drugs or abused alcohol. I had a good childhood and adolescence. I attended a fine undergraduate college (Smith) and graduated cum laude. In fact, I shared everyone else's belief that I was immune to bipolar or anything like it. If you're among those who still think immunity to mental illness exists, wake up (Even men can get breast cancer, you know.) [More] Hospitalization Bipolar Disorder Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:24:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/We-deserve-equal-access-to-appropriate-psychiatric-care-and-freedom-from-stigm http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/It-is-OK-to-get-help-for-what-ails-you by Marsha in Kansas When I started my downward spiral after hospitalization, I was asked to quit my trade school classes and take a break from the stress of it all. It was a nice way of saying we don't want you to come back. I couldn't handle the stress of marriage so I divorced my second husband. He got main custody of my daughter but I got half custody of her during her last year of school. She came to live with me full-time. [More] Depression Bipolar Disorder Schizophrenia Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:18:00 -0500 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/It-is-OK-to-get-help-for-what-ails-you