http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm This is the Real Lives Blog from Mental Health America en-us Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:58:57 -0400 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:31:00 -0400 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/Learning-how-to-face-her-eating-disorder-wiht-courage by Lauren in Colorado July 7, 2007 was the best and the worst day of my entire life. After spending a week and a half in a medically-induced coma, I awoke to learn that I had walked away from everything and everyone I had ever loved or cared for. With absolutely no memory of the nearly fatal suicide attempt that took me through complete kidney and liver failure, I came to learn that the lies of my eating disorder had convinced me I was not worth the air I needed to breathe. [More] Recovery Hospitalization Eating Disorder Suicidal Ideation Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:31:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/24/Learning-how-to-face-her-eating-disorder-wiht-courage http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/24/Overcoming-depression-and-accepting-things-one-can-not-change by Karen in Wisconsin I am 30 years old, married, with one son. We are a happy family, but I still struggle from time to time with mental illness. It's something that runs in my family - my grandmother was one of the most severe cases, and had multiple suicide attempts; my grandfather committed suicide when he was 82. [More] PTSD Depression Hospitalization Recovery Family History Eating Disorder Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:20:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/24/Overcoming-depression-and-accepting-things-one-can-not-change http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/10/I-am-a-beautiful-talented-successful-woman-and-I-needed-help by Morgan in Illinois As far back as I can remember, mental illness has affected my life. My diagnosis, like many, is one of many disorders. I can remember the fights my parents had because my father, who suffered from bi-polar disorder, refused to seek help but self-medicated with drugs, alcohol, and countless women. My mother overcompensated by keeping an immaculate home and starving herself to meet the unattainable expectations of my father...always with a smile on her face. Even at 4-years old, I felt like there was something I should be doing differently, that it was my job to fix everything, and mostly, that it was all my fault in the first place. [More] Recovery Depression Hospitalization Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Family History Eating Disorder Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:01:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/4/10/I-am-a-beautiful-talented-successful-woman-and-I-needed-help http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/Dedicated-to-making-the-world-a-better-place-for-people-with-mental-illnesses by Jennifer in Florida At the age of 12, I began to have trouble with depression. This became a chronic problem for me, which eventually resulted in a suicide attempt at age 15. At the same time, I was developing anorexia nervosa, which I struggled with for many years. I was hospitalized for my eating disorder at age 17. I had also developed an addiction to self-injury as a teenager, something that I was able to completely stop doing when I was in my twenties. [More] Hospitalization Substance Abuse Suicidal Ideation Eating Disorder Uninsured Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Homeless Unemployment Schizoaffective Disorder Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:53:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/Dedicated-to-making-the-world-a-better-place-for-people-with-mental-illnesses http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/If-something-is-weighing-you-down-build-a-bridge-to-help-you-get-over-it by Rayelle in Minnesota My mental illness has affected my life since I was around five years old. I grew up in a very violent and abusive home in Minnesota, as have a lot of my mentally ill friends. I have five siblings who grew up there with me and we all suffered the wrath of alcoholic parents who used us as punching bags. I was beaten regularly and even have memories of a sibling that was murdered in our kitchen, but no one ever talks about it or acknowledges it even happened. That caused a lot of anger and rage towards most of my direct family members, and I have cut most of them completely out of my life. That, I believe, was the healthiest thing I have ever done. [More] Anxiety Depression Eating Disorder ADHD Abuse Bipolar Disorder Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Panic Disorder Seasonal Affective Disorder Family History Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:03:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/If-something-is-weighing-you-down-build-a-bridge-to-help-you-get-over-it http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/15/I-will-survive-this--I-am-strong-I-am-a-might-warrior by Joshua in Arkansas Yesterday I was discharged from a health care center, where 4 ½ days earlier I was voluntarily admitted because of an emotional and overall mental break down  one of many I have experienced over the course of the past year. My discharge diagnosis was bipolar, manic depressive, attention deficit disordered and bulimia. I continue to battle these things everyday of my life. [More] Seasonal Affective Disorder Hospitalization Bipolar Disorder Eating Disorder Suicidal Ideation Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:12:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/15/I-will-survive-this--I-am-strong-I-am-a-might-warrior http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/14/I-fight--I-fight-everyday by Stacy in New York I am 22 years old. I have been fighting this battle successfully since I was 14. I have attempted to quit many times. I believe God has been trying to tell me something by keeping me here. I fight against the depression every day and win. Thank God for big miracles. It isn't easy. I try to eat 3 to 4 balanced meals a day. I try to sleep regularly. It is hard. Just when life is tough enough, something else comes along to test my abilities to stay sane. [More] PTSD Depression Self-Injury Borderline Personality Disorder Eating Disorder Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:30:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/14/I-fight--I-fight-everyday http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/14/We-need-all-support-we-can-receive-from-insurance-government-family-and-friends by Kristen in Maryland My story of mental illness began when I was 18 years-old. I am now 32 years-old. Due to my bulimia and depression, I was unable to teach to the best of my abilities after only three strong years of teaching. I have been to several therapists, have taken many medications, and have been in programs to help me achieve wellness. [More] Depression Eating Disorder Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:20:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/14/We-need-all-support-we-can-receive-from-insurance-government-family-and-friends http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/9/Believing-in-myself by Mary Theresa in Pennsylvania For much of my life I did not realize I had worth as a person. It prevented me from using and improving my talents. I was always living in fear even in the most common situations. In my relationships, I was undemanding. I felt I didn't have any rights. I did not know I had the right to have wants. I did not have the ability to resolve any differences or conflict. Instead, I would be resentful and not recognize that I was pushing down anger. [More] PTSD Depression Trauma Eating Disorder Self-Injury Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:49:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/9/Believing-in-myself http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/9/Grateful-for-the-life-I-now-have by Bonnie in Pennsylvania I have lived a life that I would not want anyone to live. At the age of 13, I went on my first diet even though I was not overweight. This was when my life began spiraling out of control. It took about four years to get a diagnosis and that diagnosis was anorexia nervosa. I went from 110 pounds to 90 pounds to 69 pounds over an eight-year period. [More] PTSD Borderline Personality Disorder Recovery Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Eating Disorder Anxiety Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:31:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/9/Grateful-for-the-life-I-now-have http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/3/Fast-Forward--I-have-reached-the-other-side-and-I-am-grateful-each-and-every-day by Bonnie in Pennsylvania I have lived a life that I would not want anyone to live. At the age of 13, I went on my first diet even though I was not overweight. This was when my life began spiraling out of control. It took about four years to get a diagnosis and that diagnosis was anorexia nervosa. I went from 110 pounds to 90 pounds to 69 pounds over an eight-year period. [More] Abuse PTSD Depression Hospitalization Recovery Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Eating Disorder Anxiety Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:56:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/3/Fast-Forward--I-have-reached-the-other-side-and-I-am-grateful-each-and-every-day 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 -0400 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/Struggling-with-an-Eating-Disorder by Pearl in Texas I am a 25-year-old suffering from anorexia nervosa. I cannot begin to express what it is like to live with an eating disorder. Words could never fully describe the fear, hatred, and overwhelming sadness that I awake with every single morning. The truth is I wake up each day fearing that today may be my last day. [More] Eating Disorder Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:12:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/11/21/Struggling-with-an-Eating-Disorder