Overdose</h1> <article> <h1>Overdose</h1> <p>SadieValo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:47:00 GMT</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;"><font size="3"><strong><u><span style="FONT-FAMILY:'Calibri','sans-serif';mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:'Times New Roman';mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;">Overdose</span></u></strong><font face="Calibri"> <br />I can feel my heart break<br />Crush, crush through my hands<br />Break into pieces<br />But you don't understand<br />My chest is bleeding<br />Holding onto life and I'm scared<br />Reaching for death as it takes me<br />All the needles we shared<br />When you slipped it into my arm<br />I felt it pulse through my veins<br />Now I am dying<br />I'm crying<br />I loathe you<br />I want back the first time<br />I looked in and silently smiled<br />As I screamed to the nurse<br />You always ran away<br />There for the high<br />Gone when it hurts</font></font></p> </article> <article> <h1>Broken Razorblades</h1> <p>SadieValo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:43:00 GMT</p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p><span style="FONT-SIZE:11pt;LINE-HEIGHT:115%;FONT-FAMILY:'Calibri','sans-serif';mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:'Times New Roman';mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA;"><strong><u>Broken Razorblades<br /></u></strong><br />Just as your voice I remember so clearly<br />And the pain inside I hold onto so dearly<br />I can’t let go<br />There’s a void<br />Sticking needles in my skin<br />I don’t want to begin again<br />I prefer to go straight to the end<br />And I bend until I break<br />Such a shame<br />When I could have died<br />But I always stop to cry<br />So I’m still alive <br />With these broken razorblades</span></p></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote> </article> <article> <h1>Things You Desire</h1> <p>SadieValo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:30:00 GMT</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;TEXT-ALIGN:center;" align="center"><font face="Calibri" size="3"><strong><u>Things You Desire</u></strong></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;TEXT-ALIGN:center;" align="center"><font face="Calibri" size="3">These things you desire <br />Only do I cringe<br />Have I not yet had enough<br />How long until the beating begin<br />I know what you want<br />It’s almost over<br />Don’t cry<br />I don’t need to ask why<br />You’re there and I take you so greedily<br />If I please you, you won’t leave me all alone<br />These things you desire<br />Only do I cringe<br />Still I obey<br />It has to be this way<br />I take the pain in and swallow it<br />By approval I am your desire<br />But now there are more of you with different desires<br />I have been sold <br />Still I obey<br />It has to be this way<br />Put to shame, I fall asleep<br />Far too numb to weep<br />Only desires not mine, I may keep within me</font></p> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Bullets For Two</h1> <p>SadieValo — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:23:00 GMT</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;TEXT-ALIGN:center;" align="center"><font face="Calibri" size="3"><strong><u>Bullets For Two</u></strong></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN:0in 0in 10pt;TEXT-ALIGN:center;" align="center"><font face="Calibri" size="3">When things were then<br />You embraced me as strongly <br />as the death within your eyes<br />And I could taste each tear you’d cry<br />We had bullets for two<br />One for me, one for you<br />The perfect despair<br />Beaten lovers<br />Torn within<br />Such a beautiful sin<br />Desire in one last kiss<br />But I couldn’t leave the world like this<br />Now life burns bright in your eyes<br />And I don’t know you anymore<br />It could never be like before<br />In death’s name, I mourn<br />I shudder as you no longer hear me weep<br />You left me for this cold world<br />But my heart you may keep<br />The last bullet is mine<br />Only my shell left will you find</font></p> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Teen Depression -- From the Inside</h1> <p>revgenelson — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:55:00 GMT</p> EXCERPT FROM – A RELENTLESS HOPE: SURVIVING THE STORM OF TEEN DEPRESSION By Gary E. Nelson, published by Cascade Books CHAPTER 2 – LOOKING AT TEEN DEPRESSION FROM THE “INSIDE” Irritability and reactive anger, even rage, are part of the struggle for many depressed youth. It feels like more little things bother them, and bigger things bother them even more. In other words, little things that another might shrug off and say, “What’s the big deal?” register as irritation on the screen of the depressed teen. In some ways the depressed teen feels very little. They’re numb. In other ways they feel too much. Remember the last outing to the beach when you spent too much time having fun in the sun and baked yourself to a crisp? You went inside, showered, and changed. Then, that first moment you stepped back into the sun you experienced a real awakening. Gentle sunlight fell upon your skin. Normally you might welcome it as a comfortable experience. Now, with freshly charbroiled skin, you greet the same gentle sunlight with shrieks of pain. Suddenly the gentle rays feel like a blowtorch glowing red hot against your skin. You feel the same sunlight as before the sunburn, but with the sunburn you feel it so much that it’s intensely painful. Feeling that kind of pain, you scream, yell, run for the car, or do whatever else is possible to avoid the painful sunrays. This sunburn analogy is one way of grasping the idea that teens fighting depression feel some things too much. That’s why they seem to over react to the same stimuli experienced by others. They are not really “over reacting.” They are actually trying to deal with an intensity of feeling that others are not experiencing. The teens are suffering from “emotional sunburns.” They feel too much and respond out of their pain in ways that are sometimes inappropriate and hurtful. Before going on, let’s stretch the sunburn analogy just a little further. Suppose you’re in that parking lot with the sunburn, you make the mad dash for your car to avoid the pain, and accidentally step on the toe of a stranger standing nearby as you race for relief. The stranger might not take the time to put all the pieces together and figure, “Ah, they must have a whopper of a sunburn and are trying to get out of the sun. I’ll try to be understanding and not get upset with them.” No, there’s a better chance that in that squished-toe moment the stranger will wince with pain, and shout something through clenched teeth like, “You jerk!” or worse. “I’m sorry,” you might cry over your shoulder as you close the car door. Your glance at the stranger shows the offered apology fell on a deaf ear and you wonder to yourself, “Why don’t they realize I was hurting and only trying to get away from the pain? Why don’t they realize my stepping on their toe was an accident? I would never “try” to hurt them. I’m not that kind of person!” You see the point, don’t you? When teens begin to feel the effects of the depression and sometimes react in strange ways to deal with the pain, their actions can often be more reflexive than planned and consequently misinterpreted. They react to the pain by either trying to avoid it completely, or getting away from it once it’s struck. In the process they might accidentally hurt others around them. The others might easily think the teen “meant” to hurt them. If we’re not careful and observant, we might be too quick to cry, “You jerk!” as the teen runs to their sanctuary and slams the door behind them. This heightened intensity from the illness can amplify other feelings in addition to irritability and anger. It can also amplify sadness, loneliness, and anxiety, just to name a few. This extra intensity leads to that feeling of being overwhelmed that I’ve mentioned before. Depressed and anxious teens are easily overwhelmed. Things that would not trigger a similar response in others set off a powerful feeling of being overwhelmed in depressed teens. That feeling of being overwhelmed is not a very comfortable experience. Do you remember the last time you felt it? Didn’t it make you want to get rid of it somehow? Didn’t you want to run for the car when you had the sunburn? When a depressed teen feels overwhelmed they don’t normally say to them selves, “Hmm, I think I’m feeling overwhelmed.” In fact, one of the goals of therapy with depressed teens is to help them consciously identify the feeling of being overwhelmed and take healthy steps to respond. However, before they’ve been educated about their illness, the depressed teens just know they feel something very uncomfortable and want to escape its hold. They do whatever they can to rid themselves of the feeling. We call that act of trying to avoid or rid them selves of the painful feeling a “defense.” Their favorite defense might be that flash of anger, or withdrawal, some sort of shutdown, or some other form of escape like alcohol or other drugs. It’s not a rational, thought out process. The depressed teens just do it, because somehow it makes them feel better in the moment (just like you dashed for the car and stepped on the stranger’s toe.) A shutdown is another form of defense. The shutdown is often the depressed teen’s preferred response to feeling overwhelmed by school and homework. Here’s how the shutdown defense might go. The teen “zones out” or has difficulty concentrating in class. They miss a lot of the explanations for the homework. They go home and open the book. Then they start to realize they may not know how to do the work, or they may understand it, but it feel like there is so much homework that they will never be able to finish. The response then is usually, “I’ll never be able to finish all of this. It will take forever, so why bother.” They close the book, lie about doing the work when quizzed by a parent, and go off to school to repeat the process the next day. Eventually the depressed doesn’t even bother to look at the book. They just “know” it will be overwhelming, so why bother. By the time a report card makes it home, the student is already in a deep, deep hole that further intensifies that sense of being overwhelmed. They continue to practice their defense on a daily basis because it momentarily keeps them from feeling that awful sense of being overwhelmed. Reprinted by permission of Cascade Books, an imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers, www.wipfandstock.com. </article> <article> <h1>Teens Surviving the Storm -- New Video on Teen Depression</h1> <p>revgenelson — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:52:00 GMT</p> Hi. Here's a video I just posted on the internet called, "Teens Surviving the Storm." It's all original material (I hold the copyright), so you are welcome to use it however you like. If you would like a DVD copy, contact me through my website --- www.survivingteendepression.com. Here's the link for the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1hSpxC_G24 Peace, Gary Nelson </article> <article> <h1>Hiding by Kelly</h1> <p>Caitlin — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:32:00 GMT</p> The pills I hide from my roomate <br />medication hastily swallowed <br />or stashed deep in a drawer <br />What would you think if you <br />knew about my antidepressants? <br />Would you still see me as <em>me</em>? or as <br />a freak, mentally ill. Labels for <br />people like me, ascribed by <br />people out of ignorance. But I <br />am not a spice jar. I resent <br />such things. And I am <br />weary from hiding. </article> <article> <h1>Recovery by Kelly</h1> <p>Caitlin — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:59:00 GMT</p> <p>When you pass through a valley of tears and finally start climbing the other side, feel the sun begin to touch your face as you crest the top and step out onto new ground. <br />You laugh and cry, because you never dreamed life could be like this, never believed it - until you felt it for yourself! <br />A sweet ripe peach after years of vinegar. </p> </article> <article> <h1>Silence by Kelly</h1> <p>Caitlin — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:44:00 GMT</p> <p>Silence hurts <br />it envelopes you <br />so you can't move; <br />and makes you fear <br />if you do find the words- <br />to utter your truth <br />it will be scorned. <p>Silence hurts <br />as it stands <br />menacingly <br />between you <br />and loved ones <p>filling the throat <br />with concrete <br />the tongue with <br />jagged glass... <br />untill you bleed <br />from the inside out <br />and silence is <br />replaced by sobs </p> </article> <article> <h1>The Birth of the Thesaurus</h1> <p>Caitlin — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:20:00 GMT</p> <p><em>His mother suffered dark depressions and tried to dominate his life. His sister and daughter had severe mental problems, his father and wife died young and a beloved uncle committed suicide in his arms.</em></p> <p><em>So what did Peter Mark Roget, the creator of Roget's Thesaurus, do to handle all the pain, grief, sorrow, affliction, woe, bitterness, unhappiness and misery in a life that lasted over 90 years?</em></p> <p><em>He made lists.</em></p> <p>I saw this story: <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080328/lf_nm/books_roget_dc_2">http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080328/lf_nm/books_roget_dc_2</a> on Yahoo News today and immediately recognized myself and my OCD in it. I, too, used to make lists to get the clutter and dark thoughts out of my mind. Though I doubt they'll ever amount to much other than, well, scraps of paper, look what good can come of lists! I use <em>Roget's Thesaurus</em> daily!</p> </article> <article> <h1>The "Glamorization" of Suicide</h1> <p>Caitlin — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 03:33:00 GMT</p> <p>As I was surfing the internet, I stumbled upon this article: <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/117749">http://www.newsweek.com/id/117749</a>. It was the top story on Newsweek. Though not the prevailing message of the article, there was a definite underlying message about the "glamorization" of suicide and its victims. </p> <p> </p> <p>Some highlights:</p> <p><em>Since the start of 2007, a total of 17 young people in and around the played-out South Wales coal town--most of them teenagers--have killed themselves by hanging. </em></p> <p><em>Each new suicide has inspired another memorial page on popular social-networking Web sites like Bebo. Natasha Randall, 17, posted a cheery tribute on Liam Clarke's memorial page on Jan. 15: "RIP Clarky boy!! gonna miss ya! Always remember the gd times!" Two days later she hanged herself. </em></p> <p><em>The Internet is a recurring theme in the Bridgend hangings. Most and possibly all of the victims were members of the Bebo networking site, and many of them posted messages on the public memorial pages of those who preceded them in suicide.</em></p> <p><em>Others in the prevention field agree that suicide can spread like a virus over the Internet. "These social-networking sites, especially ones that deal with young people, have a responsibility to police their sites that they're not always fulfilling," says Paul Kelly of Papyrus, a teen-suicide prevention group in the United Kingdom. "There is a danger of glorifying young people who have taken their own lives." </em></p> <p><em>Still, there are Internet operators who take such fears seriously. The obituary Web site GoneTooSoon.co.uk removed all tributes to the Bridgend victims last week, replacing them with its apologies and an explanation. The site's founder, Terry George, says he wants to avoid any possibility of glamorizing the deaths. "If you commit suicide in the hope you'll be well-known afterwards, then it won't happen with us," he says. "We won't allow it. Something has to be done to stop these people taking their own lives." Bebo's approach has been less dogmatic. As recently as last Wednesday, Feb. 27, the site included memorial pages for Nathaniel Pritchard and Jenna Parry, as well as a group page called Bridgend Deaths with hundreds of members, most of them young people. Their commentary ranged from the sentimental ("Hope you're all happy up there") to the crude. placeAd2(commercialNode,'bigbox',false,'') </em></p> <p><em>A shocking array of resources for would-be suicides is readily available on the Web. Some sites promote euthanasia for the elderly or terminally ill, while others are explicitly aimed at troubled young people. One such site, registered to an address in Amsterdam, hosts a discussion on the most effective way for a minor to commit suicide, with posts ranging from crude and humorous to instructive and practical. The site's moderator, who portrays himself as a defender of "freedom of speech on the subject of suicide," nevertheless admits he has no qualifications, medical or otherwise, for providing advice to would-be suicides. "I don't think 'psychological professionals' are the only ones who should deal with the subject," he told NEWSWEEK via e-mail.</em> </p> <p> </p> <p>As you can see, our reactions to suicide can CLEARLY influence others, no matter how well-intended those actions are. It's great to remember the best in people once they have passed, but we have to be especially careful not to glamorize suicide. </p> <p>I myself have witnessed the outpourings of support at my own school following suicides: we wear homemade t-shirts, create memorial websites, have vigils, create Facebook/MySpace memorial groups, etc. We try to prove the decedent wrong: they were loved and will be missed.</p> <p>However, these actions can indeed be dangerous. People who are depressed and/or suicidal want the same reassurance, that they are loved and will be missed. Seeing that a person who has committed suicide has gained that reassurance, they may consider following in his or her footsteps. It is irrational, but I am sure that many of us have been irrational when lost in our mental ills. </p> <p>I have tried to contact experts regarding the best way to memorialize suicide victims without glamorizing their actions, but they, too, are unsure of how to react in the "Internet Age." Here are some media guidelines for reporting suicides that may be helpful in planning memorials: <a href="http://www.sprc.org/library/sreporting.pdf">http://www.sprc.org/library/sreporting.pdf</a>.</p> <p> I hope to have more on this issue in the future!</p> </article> <article> <h1>told.</h1> <p>alyb — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:41:00 GMT</p> <p>I told my parents.</p> <p>And now I have to meet with a therapist.</p> <p>*boing* (yay)</p> </article> <article> <h1>You know what?</h1> <p>alyb — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 15:28:00 GMT</p> <p>I think I'll tell my mom today. I think I will. Quite possible maybe, I can and I may and I will.</p> <p>I'm going to start with "Mom.. I don't know how to tell you this, but I have to. I... lost my virginity."</p> <p>"WHAT?!"</p> <p>"Just kidding! Haha. Nah, I'd rather have to say that,.. "</p> <p> </p> <p>Love. love God, love your Family, and love your Friends.</p> <p>"Been crying for so long, fighting tears just to carry on, but now, it's gone away! ...Everybody's going to love today-- anyway you want to, anyway you've got to..."</p> <p>"You can't keep on like this, now's a bad a time as any."</p> <p>If I chicken out.. man.. I'm sorry.</p> </article> <article> <h1>lives of the Cutting/anorexia</h1> <p>alyb — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:56:00 GMT</p> <p>Well, this would be my first blog entry here, though it is most definately the first one about what I do. I know that this online thing is about prevention and stuff, and as I read through other posts, I realize how much stuff is really out there. How many of us there are. </p> <p>I don't have anorexia, bulimia. I don't have OCD, nor any other medically defined issue. I have hypergraphia, but that's a different story. It has nothing to do with this.. whatever it is. </p> <p>A little about me: I come from a loving family. I go to church every sunday and have a grounded faith in the Triune God. I am lutheran, though I make references to mythology as if I believe in the greek and roman gods. You can thank Disney for that. I have lots of friends at a small, private lutheran high school in MN. I've never been abused. My family is rich by no means, but we aren't really in debt either. I am in speech (serious prose) and I have top grades. I am not pressured to do drugs or drink by anyone really, nor am I pressured to be perfect. Basically, I lead a seemingly wonderful life.</p> <p>So what's wrong with me?</p> <p>That's the question that I really secretly know the answer to. My problem is love. My problem is hearbreak-- not always the romantic kind, but the frienship kind as well. My problem is defined by no other words but love, and disappointment. In others, but also in myself. In this very life I live. </p> <p>An excerpt from a few days ago in my journal, also found on my xanga site: </p> <p>"S<font face="Garamond">o lately, I've been involved in Anne Marie's life. Mainly because of the fact that if I wasn't, there is an excellent chance we'd both be dead. </font></p> <p><font face="Garamond">You see, if we didn't have each other, I sometimes think we'd have nothing. Any normal person would look at us and say: we both have loving families, pets, friends, and congregations that would support us. And yet, none of it seems to matter when you're sitting alone, crying in the dark. None of it seems to really fix anything.</font></p> <p><font face="Garamond">We are both clinically depressed. Me more than her, but we both have it. We deal with it different ways; my cutting, and her anorexia. We think that no one knows, but that is a small lie. I can name two people for each of us that have an idea. Emma, and the Melhouses. God bless them both. But they really don't stop it; Emma went to the dean of my small, private lutheran high school. There are about 300 of us in the entire school--9-12 grade. Guess how long rumors take to spread. Most of my teachers know that there is someone in our class that is cutting, and most of them know it's me. At least, we think so. They either think it is me, or Sarah T, who's mother is very worried about that stuff for no reason but too worry. Her mother has talked to the dean about cutting before, so we think that maybe the teachers think it's her who's doing it, and not me. Which, I'm sorry Sarah, would be awful but wonderful for me.</font></p> <p><font face="Garamond">My family doesn't know. My mother may suspect, but in any case, has never confronted me about it. Anne's mother has multiple times commented on her weight loss. Both of our mother's believe they know what's going on.</font></p> <p><font face="Garamond">Ha.</font></p> <p><font face="Garamond">My arm is not the only place that tells, nor Anne's weight loss. No. There are other things, too. The unmentionables. </font></p> <p><font face="Garamond">And all through this, we lead a pretendingly happy life among our friends. Then again, that would be true if we knew which ones were really our friends, and which ones hated us {that's only an appliance to me-- Everyone pretty much likes Anne. Just compare our crush cans.} In any case, we are not happy people.</font></p> <p><font face="Garamond">"A chemical imbalance in the brain." That's us; that's me. The girl who wants to take drugs and alcohol and have as much as she can-- the one who wants to take her life. That's me. </font><font face="Garamond">I've never gotten drugs. I refuse to let myself drink at age 15. I would end up at a treatment center before I'm legally able to drink in the first place. It would be too easy, and it would be too fast. </font></p> <p><font face="Garamond">So I sit here, typing until my fingers go numb. It is a cold winter in Minnesota this year, and I refuse to cover up for the certain fact that it won't matter to anyone whether I really do or not. I think about everything that is happening-- how Anne thinks I've gone for what, 15 days? without cutting. How misguided that is. How I've lost more blood within the last 70 hours than every before. How much it hurts, but how good it feels. We are talking about suicide and anorexia and cutting and "chemical imbalances." We're talking about Anne and I.</font></p> <p><font face="Garamond">What we aren't talking about it the beautiful crimson red blood flowing in the shower. The ribs poking through the seemingly transparent skin. We aren't talking about the weight lost, or the blood gone. We're laughing, we're pretending to laugh when we are hurting more than we ever have before. And we both know it."</font></p> <p>And that's my life pretty much right now. Just thought I'd post something today. Something to make someone understand. Love you all, </p> <p>Alyssa Bg.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Living With Bipolar</h1> <p>Ruth — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 02:31:00 GMT</p> <p>My story begins a long time ago, when I was just a young girl. I was a happy go lucky girl and loved spending time with my family. I spent most of my time with Dad up on the tractor or riding horse. I loved going with him when he went out to work, even though most of the time I just got in the way! He used to always call me sunshine and it made me feel so good. He'd always sing 'You Are My Sunshine' every where he went.</p> <p>Time passed quickly from my younger years. I should tell you this though, I was a good kid. Sure I did my share of wrong things, but I wasn't excessively bad. I loved my family and would do anything for them.</p> <p>In 2006, my house was tore down and a new one was put up. I was against it the whole way. I didn't want the new house, I loved my old house more than ever, and all my memories were inside those walls. But despite all my protests, the house came down and a new one went up.</p> <p>My behavior changed from good to bad in a matter of seconds it seemed. I wasn't the happy go lucky girl that I used to be. I was an unhappy child who didn't have any respect. I didn't know what was going on, I knew something was wrong, but I just didn't know what. I felt different, but couldn't explain it. My mind took over my body and just made me feel like a rag doll being drug behind.</p> <p>To make a long story short, for I don't have a lot of time at the moment, I was sent to a mental health hospital and diagnosed within three days. A lot of my relatives have bipolar, so it wasn't as hard for me to get diagnosed. </p> <p>I live a happy life now. I'm on medication and I see my psych once every three months. I also see a councelor and they both help a lot. In having bipolar, I have learned that you have to open up to other people because if you keep it all bottled up inside, your just going to eat yourself away, from the inside out. And believe me, that's what will happen. I lost a lot of weight before I was diagnosed. Just days before my trip to the hospital, my eyes were already getting dull and my cheekbones were sharp.</p> <p>Living life with bipolar isn't easy, but with the help from people around me who know how I feel, helps a lot. I'm here to help anyone, because it is my purpose in life to give back what has been given to me. I've truely been given that second chance, and I want you to have a second chance too.</p> <p>If you have any questions or comments you can email me at <a href="mailto:dodge-1998@hotmail.com">dodge-1998@hotmail.com</a>. I have more of my story to tell and I will through later blogs. </p> <p>God bless you all and take care. There are people out there that are willing to help, you just have to reach out to them.</p> </article> <article> <h1>Finding yor purpose!</h1> <p>sugarsugar41 — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 03:00:00 GMT</p> <span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"><br /></span><strong><span style="FONT-SIZE:13.5pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Finding your purpose </span></strong><b><span style="FONT-SIZE:13.5pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"><br /></span></b><em><span style="COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"><font size="3">by Lisa Mort</font></span></em><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:13.5pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Many of us desire to live a more purposeful life, but we may be confused about what our purpose should really be. When we step back and take an honest look at our life- we're not satisfied. We want to put our energy towards something that matters to us, but trying to find that something leaves us even more frustrated and disappointed. Maybe we're spending too much time doing things that aren't particularly important or maybe we find ourselves frequently being pulled off course by our feelings - feelings of fear, anxiety, or depression. We know we need to take action, but we procrastinate. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:13.5pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">At some point in our life we get so wrapped up in the day-to-day struggle, we forget our dreams. We loose our passion. Our desire to just make it through the day becomes our main objective. Or maybe we get so caught up in the competitive world, our only goal is stomping the competition no matter what the cost. Wherever you may fall into these scenarios, the fact is your are unsatisfied. The good news is, by the simple fact that your are even reading this, you are aware that you have to change this way of life. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:13.5pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Congratulations, with out even knowing it, you took a step in restoring the balance in your life. By allowing the awareness of your <i>want to change </i>to fill your thoughts, you have come that much closer to finding your purpose.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:13.5pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">The question still remains though- How do we find our purpose? I have read a countless number of books pertaining to this subject, attended inspirational and motivational seminars, and searched endlessly on the web for this answer. I discovered many suggestions, plans to follow, and programs to join. I can honestly say, by researching this subject, I acquired a significant amount of useful information. Each program and book had their own unique message to deliver.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:13.5pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">The one thing that I feel was never stressed enough was the fact that our inner self is controlled by the conditioned thinking society has spread among the masses. Think about it, when you were a kid, what had society deemed as a successful life? I remember hearing, attend school, get good grades, mind your elders, go to college, get a high paying job- a doctor or a lawyer were the main ones then-get married, raise a family, grow old, and retire. Not that this plan is wrong, it just isn't for everybody. For about 12 years of our childhood, this was the main message, to some degree or another, that was embed into our subconscious. Is it any wonder a couple of us got lost along the way? Forget it if you are a creative person, creative brains cannot function properly in this thinking process. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:13.5pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">When we live in this conditioned thinking state, our true desires become repressed. Especially if they do not meet the status quo. My challenge to you is for just 5 minutes; throw out everything that is expected from you, not only from others, but also what you expect from yourself. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:13.5pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">When your mind has settled, think about something you love to do. When you have it pictured in your mind, think of how it could also benefit others. If you are having a hard time with this exercise, take a brake and come back to it later. It took quite some time of conditioned thinking to get where you are today, so it may take some time to allow yourself to let go and bring it to the surface. </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:13.5pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Revisit this exercise until you can visualize what it is that you love. Your purpose in life hides tucked away in that picture in your mind. You will know when you find the answer because it will resonate through out your body.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"> </span><span style="FONT-SIZE:13.5pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;">Enjoy your journey! I know that finding your purpose will be more fulfilling and rewarding than you dreamed possible.</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"></span><span style="FONT-SIZE:13.5pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"><a href="http://thelifeofpurpose.com/" target="_blank"><font color="#0068cf">http://thelifeofpurpose.com/</font></a> has many articles on this subject and I highly recomend it!</span><span style="FONT-SIZE:9pt;COLOR:black;FONT-FAMILY:Arial;"></span><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></font> <p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Relevant Experiences</h1> <p>polarpaul — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 18:51:00 GMT</p> <p>I'll have to think about what some of my experiences were that would be relevant to people here. When I was first diagnosed with manic depression (a.k.a. bipolar disorder) in 1981, there was even more stigma and fewer treatment options. Nevertheless, there are new challenges today and although there is more coverage about mental health issues in the media, not all of it is helpful in my opinion.</p><p> Some of the speculation and nasty comments about Brittany Spears with respect to her current problems demonstrate how stigma continues to influence how the public perceives us.<br /> </p> </article> <article> <h1>urgh</h1> <p>lollybelle — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:54:00 GMT</p> im new to here.my info is on my page.its 2 in the morning.i didnt take my sleeping med or abilify, for the past 3 nights.i dont know why i haven't, i just haven't felt like it, or didn't really want to.i've been taking my antidepressant, which i guess is the most important to keep e going.urgh, life is feeling pretty crappy right now. </article> <article> <h1>poem I wrote</h1> <p>Chris — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 03:39:00 GMT</p> <p>im not a poem enthusiast, but i get into certain moods sometimes. i do find writing them to my liking.<br />i wrote this last year. it was focused on my experiences daily in school.<br /> </p><p>As I walk down the halls of death, I cannot tell, is this my last breath?<br /></p><p>Nervous fear builds inside, there is no one to confide<br /><br />Bound and hog tied on the floor, I plot to kill the wretched whores</p><p>Builds inside, about to explode, my mind beginning to corrode.</p><p>Standing up face to face, breaking bindings, grueling pace </p><p>This is what was meant to be. You shall see the true me</p><p>He's obscure, isolated. Paranoia, sanity faded</p><p>Only thing to fix his strife, the few comforts in his life</p><p>Emotions imprisoned in a cell, till the ringing of his bell</p><p>Beat the clock, beat the time. He will then be first in line.<br /> </p><p> </p> </article> <article> <h1>Cocoon -a poem-</h1> <p>Nightshadegloom — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 10:29:00 GMT</p> <p><span>An itch that cant be scratched<br />a desire for the unmatched<br />bodies merely unattached<br />the rough of the thatch<br /><br />It was unheard of<br />in my living day<br />this kind of love<br />causing us to stray<br /><br />These words for play<br />as they bring me a lie<br />and I kneel just to pray<br />and God sees me cry<br /><br />It really doesn't matter<br />how much I f---ing try<br />between life and death<br />I choose the latter<br /><br />I watch as the fat get fatter<br />as the world spins faster<br />as we lose our meaning and shape<br />all we have in each other is hate<br /><br />Some trust God or the hand of fate<br />twas when I did I was raped<br />there is no simple place nor time<br />when karma will not see your crime<br /><br />Words really mean nothing to me<br />no way to be set free<br />roots firm as a tree<br />no way I could maybe just see<br /><br />So is the itch gone unscratched<br />so is my desire unmatched<br />so is my life unattached<br />I feel so vivid<br />the rough of the thatch<br />it's got me driven<br />to let it hatch.<br /><br />RR®</span> <br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Blogger, Advocate, Consumer</h1> <p>Caitlin — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:56:00 GMT</p> <p><em>I love blogs. I think they're just so cool. I especially love mental health blogs. It's great that people are able to share their thoughts on mental health in such a reader-friendly format. <a class="" href="http://jenniferforbes.blogspot.com/">Mental Health Minutes</a> is one such blog, and Jennifer Forbes is one such stigma-buster. I recently e-mailed a few questions to her, and her responses were so beautiful and passionate that I decided to post them. Enjoy!</em></p> <p><em></em> </p> <p><strong>1. What mental illness(es) have you been diagnosed with?</strong></p> <p>-depression<br />-chronic anxiety (which I have self-diagnosed as Generalized Anxiety Disorder)<br />-panic attacks </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>2. When were you first diagnosed and how?</strong></p> <p>June 1997 (I was 15 years old) diagnosed with depressive symptoms; December 1997 "anxious all the time" is written in my doctor's notes; by October 1998, at the age of 16, my doctor wrote "multiple symptoms of depression" and offered me medication (SSRIs) which I turned down. </p> <p>Exactly one year later, at the age of 17 I was sexually assaulted at a party. I was forced into sexual intercourse, to be exact, by someone a couple of years older than me whom I knew from my work at a part-time job (but didn't know too well). The incident left me bruised both physically, mentally, and emotionally. I saw my doctor to had STD testing, but I did not seek at psychologically counselling at the time (which I should have). </p> <p>Although I was diagnosed at 15, I am quite certain I had anxiety throughout childhood. As I look back on childhood memories, I can remember times where I felt extreme panic that was perhaps abnormal for whatever circumstances were taking place. My mother told me recently that when I was as young as 5 or 6 years old, when I was in first grade, she noticed that I had some anxious behaviour. I would repeatedly ask my first grade teacher if I could be excused to go the the bathroom (I didn't have to actually go). I often had "tummy aches" for no real physical reason, etc. I remember being very worried as a child that people close to me would die, or that we would be hit by a natural disaster or war, etc. I really ruminated about these things, especially when I went to bed at night. So, I didn't sleep well growing up. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>3. How has treatment affected your life?</strong> </p> <p>I did not begin treatment until university. I moved to Ottawa about 3 hours away from where I attended high school, Belleville, where my parents still live. Because of this earlier incident, and having moved out only 2 weeks prior to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, I was very nervous being alone in my apartment, especially at night. I also had a roommate that year who had problems with depression, mood swings, and drug experimentation.I started by seeing a psychologist at the age of 20 to talk about the sexual abuse which occurred 3 years earlier and about being alone at night. My roommate at the time was unpredictable/unreliable - a couple of times she took off for a few days without telling me. I ended up moving out after two semesters (or 8 months). </p> <p>A year later (age 21) I still had problems with anxiety and depression even though I lived with new roommates. I spoke with my psychologist again to deal with some "everyday problems" that I just found too difficult. When you have an anxiety disorder, you tend to worry about everything all the time! I was also dating a "bad guy". He was not mean to me or anything, but he was involved with many illegal things and at the time, I guess I didn't think they were a big deal. It only lasted a couple of months, but it affected me later on. ! </p> <p>About 6 months after I stopped seeing this person and had not really heard from him I began to receive threating voicemails on my cell phone. I had to speak to the police about this, but there was nothing they could really do as he hadn't actually broken the law with what he was doing to me. He was just very intimidating and I was scared. At the time, I was living in yet another apartment (#3 since moving out from my parents). I worked a full-time job for 8 months, during university, and in the latter 4 months I had 2 evening classes (3 hours each) plus I was on the student council and I had a somewhat serious boyfriend. By December things fell apart, I had a horrible panic attack after breaking up with my boyfriend. The anxiety stayed with me through Christmas and into January. Soon it was full-blown 24/7 and I was shaking all the time, completely paranoid to go anywhere, and I fell into a deep, deep depression. This "episode" (I had to use that word) lasted at least 2 months at its most severe, with a minimum one month ramp up before and ramp down after, for a total of 4 months. During this time, I saw my doctor 3 times, and each time she told me I should take anti-depressants (SSRIs). Only on the 3rd visit did I finally give in. I came in crying uncontrollably and I told my doctor that I had suicidal thoughts (but I was never going to act on them). I felt like I had no other choice but to give the medication a try. It took over a month to work in full effect, but was it ever helpful! It just took some time getting used to. When I first started the medication, the side effects of the drug combined with my pre-existing condition, caused me to lose lots of weight, an unhealthy amount. I would bet that I had many symptoms of anorexia for about a month or more, although this was not diagnosed. In addition to the daily anti-depressant, I was also given another one to take at night only when needed to help me sleep. Additionally, I was prescribed an anti-anxiety medication to take when I felt a panic attack coming on. Furthermore, I saw my same psychologist regularly at this time and she was excellent. She helped me talk out my problems, but also explained the cycle of anxiety and how to better control my body's reaction, and to manage my thoughts to prevent them from turning into anxiety. It worked well many times, but some days I felt there was nothing I could do to stop the bad feelings and I would try everything. In the end, it is hope that kept me going. That, and knowing that my family and friends loved me. </p> <p>I stayed on the medication for about 14 months, until about my 23rd birthday. Thinking I was better, I asked my doctor if I could go off and she allowed me to by tapering down slowly. Boy, was I in for a surprise. I had the most unusual feelings and physical experiences during withdrawal of the medication. I experienced what felt like electric shocks or "zaps" in my head. They were sooo scary and happened to me at work and anywhere really. </p> <p>I managed to stay off the medication for a couple of months and then my sister underwent surgery for thyroid cancer - and only a couple weeks later - my family dog of 14 years had to be put down. I was a mess. I went on a road trip with my best friend and ended up experiencing strong anxiety symptoms. Fortunately, I had a few anti-anxiety pills which came in handy - but did not solve the problem. When I came home, I saw the doctor and went back on the daily anti-depressant again. It was a hard decision, but I knew I needed to be back on. </p> <p>That was just over 2 years ago. I am now 25. I have continued the medications, taking the daily anti-depressant and, occasionally, anti-anxiety medication. I rarely need anything to sleep and, in fact, I have been sleeping better this past year than anytime I can remember in my life! </p> <p>Today, I have very supportive partner/boyfriend and we bought a house together this summer. We also got a dog who is such a wonderful little guy to have around. I am also very close with my family and friends which keeps me going. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>4. What made you decide to start a mental health blog?</strong></p> <p>I want to share my experience and opinions with others who have gone through the same thing, or know someone who is/has, as well as others who don't know a lot about mental illness. I want to inform people and influence positive change. </p> <p>Deciding to start the blog was easy once I "came out of the mental illness closet", I like to say. Only a month or so before the blog, I engaged in the 2006 Canadian campaign for Mental Illness Awareness Week. My picture and story are featured on the MIAW website.</p> <p>I find myself really busy at times and I wish I could spend more time on the blog. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>5. How do you keep up with the latest mental health news?</strong></p> <p>Through following the news, hearing word-of-mouth (friends send me links, and from receiving Google Alerts as to what's being posted on other sites. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>6. How did you promote your blog?<br /></strong>Link exchanges with other bloggers, business cards, blog search engines/catalogs, etc. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>7. Do you consider yourself an advocate, consumer, or both? Why?</strong></p> <p>Definitely an advocate. </p> <p>I struggle with words like "consumer", "survivor", etc. Oftentimes, consumer is used to describe those who use the Mental Health System which usually means (I think) having been in the care of a mental health facility. I have never been admitted to a hospital for my mental illness, but I guess I am a consumer of sorts, since I do "consume medication" and have a diagnosis. Again, I just don't like the term. Some people also use the word survivor. It's better, but still a little weird. It sort of sounds like "having a close call with death" and surviving, which I guess is the case for many people with mental illness who experience suicidal ideation. However, I find it to be another strange term. A third term I hear is "recoverer" which is better still, but also a bit ambiguous. Yes, I have recovered from mental illness, but I do take medication for it, medication that if I stopped, I would very likely get sick again! Even though I have recovered, in a sense, I still have some bad days/times so I can't say that recovery is a black and white thing. </p> <p>My favourite term is "living with mental illness" or "having lived with mental illness". It's a little long, and so not as snappy as one-word terms, but I find it to be the best one. To fully answer your question, "I am a mental health advocate who has lived with mental illness". This doesn't mean I don't still live with it, but so far, this is the best description I have come up with. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>8. What caused you to "step out of the silence" and reach out?</strong></p> <p>The MIAW campaign. I was interested in doing it and my partner encouraged me to go ahead with it. Stepping out of the silence, for me, means taking control of my mental illness and not letting it control me. Reaching out, for me, is teaching others how to do the same thing and, by helping others, it also helps me with my own recovery. </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>9. How has having a mental illness affected your outlook on life?</strong></p> <p>This is an excellent question and one that is hard to answer since I have never tried to put it into words. </p> <p>In the past, mental illness sucked the life out of me. I was so sick that I did not want to die, but at the same time, I did not want to live with mental illness. Fortunately, I kept hope alive and found the help I needed. Mental illness changed me. But, ironically, in many ways it changed me for the better. I do not take life for granted. My outlook on life is that I now have a specific purpose - to help others. I like to do whatever I can to help others with mental illness so that they can become healthy again. </p> <p>I don't think my mental illness with every "be cured" or go away 100%. That's okay, because it challenges me to take care of myself and to help others.<br /></p> </article> <article> <h1>Student Assistance Counselors: A Resource for Students</h1> <p>Caitlin — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 23:51:00 GMT</p> <p><em>I first met Mrs. Northey at the NJOCF meeting I attended. When I found out she was involved in High School Student Assistance, I knew I needed to find out more about her job. Student Assistance Counselors (aka: School Social Workers, School Psychologists, Child Study Teams, and a bunch of other similar names) are often the first means of intervention in school settings. So few students know about them, however, that they are often not until a mental health issue seriously impacts school performance. <strong>Every school has this resource. Use it!</strong></em></p> <p>Student Assistance Counselors are a valuable resource in schools. Often times students don’t really know who we are or what we do. Every school district by law has to provide Student Assistance Counselors. Theses professionals all offer some of the same services however some also offer additional services. First of all: What is a Student Assistance Counselor? </p> <p>Otherwise knows as SAC’s we are professionals who offer prevention, intervention and referral services to students for alcohol, tobacco and other drug issues. However most of us offer a significant number of additional services. Most of the time we are trained mental health professionals who have experience with many social, psychological and family issues, including treatment of persons with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), eating disorders, phobias, depression and anxiety disorders. All the services we provide are completely confidential. Students usually meet with the SAC during the school day. Sometimes the SAC, with the student’s permission, will call upon other resources to help the student.</p> <p>Being a teen is difficult enough. If you are a teen with a mental illness you do not need to struggle alone. </p> <p>For help with any issue or concern contact your school SAC<br /></p> <p><em>Ms. Northey, LCSW, CADC, SAC is a Student Assistance Coordinator for the Franklin Township Public Schools. She is Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor. In addition to working with all age students in Public Education, she held positions at Rutgers University where she counseled college students and has worked within the psychiatry departments at a number of hospitals throughout New Jersey. Ms. Northey has extensive experience in treating persons afflicted with eating disorders, anxiety, depression, substance abuse as well as other mental illnesses.<br />She currently has a private practice in Somerset, NJ</em></p> </article> <article> <h1>Are Kids and Teens Overdiagnosed and Overmedicated?</h1> <p>Caitlin — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 01:00:00 GMT</p> <p><em>I can't really think of a better introduction to Dr. Hubsher than that he gave me my life back. He is my psychiatrist and the founder of the center where I go for treatment. I posed this controversial question to him after hearing too many people (teachers, parents, op-ed writers, etc.) claim that all kids and teens with ADD, anxiety, depression, bipolar, or other mental disorders are simply slaves to a pharmaceutical nation. This was Dr. Hubsher's response:</em></p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Are kids and teens overdiagnosed and overmedicated?</strong></p> <p>This is a really good and important question. It certainly seems that a lot more kids and teens are being diagnosed with mental or psychiatric conditions than ever before. And we certainly hear about more kids and teens being medicated for these conditions than ever before. But the real question is, ‘Why?’</p> <p>First of all, I think parents are more aware of these conditions than ever before. For example, everyone’s heard of ‘ADD’! And nowadays, lots of people have heard of bipolar disorder in kids and teens. The result is that more parents are recognizing that behaviors they see in their children may indicate a problem exists. Therefore, more kids and teens are being seen by mental health professionals than ever before. </p> <p>One of the areas in which it seems more and more kids and teens are being diagnosed is ADHD (That’s the latest name for what used to be called “ADD”, even if the child is not hyperactive; I know, it doesn’t makes any sense!). The problem here is that many people incorrectly believe that if someone cannot pay attention or are easily distracted, ‘they are ADD’. Unfortunately, too many professionals make the same mistake. The reality is that anything that interferes with concentration can cause someone to appear ‘ADD’. For instance, if someone is depressed and can’t stop thinking about the upsetting things going on in their life, that person will not be able to pay attention very well to whatever is going on in class. The same holds true for someone with OCD, excessive anxiety or anything that pre-occupies their mind. Yet, unfortunately many of these people get diagnosed ‘ADHD’.</p> <p>Another diagnosis that is appearing more and more frequently is childhood bipolar disorder. It used to be that only adults or older teenagers could develop bipolar disorder. But over the last few years researchers have determined that younger teenagers and even children can develop bipolar disorder. Unfortunately with this diagnosis, there is a lot of disagreement among professionals in the field as to what bipolar disorder in children and teens looks like. One group believes that it looks the same as in adults, with high ‘highs’ and low ‘lows’. However, there is another group that believes that any child or teenager who is unusually moody or irritable is ‘bipolar’. Now the thing is that with that last definition, lots of people can be diagnosed with bipolar disorder! My view is that everyone has mood swings, but that sometimes these mood swings can become excessive, disruptive and can cause problems. Whether we ‘label’ that ‘bipolar disorder’ or something else doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that help is available and can dramatically stabilize these mood swings so that the child or adolescent can function again and feel ‘level’.</p> <p>At my Center, we are very careful to make the correct diagnosis if we are going to make a diagnosis at all! The reason for this is that if a child or teenager we see does not receive an accurate diagnosis, then the treatment we give will be all wrong and won’t help! Now, that brings us to the question about whether kids and teens are being ‘overmedicated’.</p> <p>Treatment for most kids and teens we see generally involves some form of therapy or counseling. It might be to help the child or teenager deal with uncomfortable or upsetting feelings, or to better deal with family or social issues. However, we have come a long way in the treatment of mental or </p> <p>psychiatric conditions. We have learned that when someone’s feelings, for instance, feel out of control, like with depression or anxiety, the chemical balance in the brain has been knocked off. We now have medications that can return that chemical balance, and when that happens, the person feels better again. In many cases, the combination of therapy and medication is more effective than either one alone. The development of medications for these conditions has been a major advance in helping people with these conditions. People with debilitating depression, anxiety, OCD and other conditions who previously could not get better and could not function, now can live normal, happy lives. That is truly wonderful! But medications are not ‘magic pills’! They do not solve problems. They do not repair relationships. It is up to each individual to do that!</p> <p>So, are we overmedicating kids and teens? Well, it depends on the circumstance or situation. If medications are being prescribed as a ‘solution to life’s problems’, I would say that this is absolutely an inappropriate and unreasonable overuse of medication. There are certainly situations in which this is happening. For example, the teenager who is prescribed Ritalin or Adderall in order to get higher scores on SAT’s is clearly being inappropriately medicated. The child who is given anti-depressant medication instead of therapy or counseling to deal with social or family problems is certainly being inappropriately medicated.</p> <p>Medications like anti-depressants or ‘mood stabilizers’ save kids’ and teens’ lives every day. They allow them to function and feel good again, allow them to no longer feel tortured by feelings of extreme sadness, hopelessness and negativity or by emotionally exhausting mood swings. However, these medications must be respected. In the wrong hands or prescribed to the wrong kids, they can be dangerous! That is why it is so important that psychiatric medications be prescribed by a psychiatrist, and medications for children and teenagers be prescribed by a child & adolescent psychiatrist. Treating psychiatric conditions is not like treating the common cold. It requires an expertise by the doctor prescribing. At my Center, I ‘specialize’ in helping children and adolescents with these problems. That is what you should be looking for where you live, a ‘specialist’ treating these conditions to help you. I shouldn’t be treating bronchitis, and doctors who do not specialize in treating these conditions shouldn’t be doing so, either. It is way too important!</p> <p>We are fortunate that we live in an age where help is available for kids and teens like never before! It is important that we make sure that kids and teens are not overdiagnosed and not overmedicated. But to tell you the truth, I worry even more about the kids and teens who are suffering because they have not been diagnosed or can be successfully treated with the aid of medication, but are not because they do not seek help. If you are here on Caitlin’s website, you know help is available. Tell people. Tell your parents, tell your friends. Don’t stay silent! Go get help. It can change your life! It can give you back your life!<br /></p> <p> </p> <p><em>Merritt Hubsher, MD is the medical director of ADHD, Mood & Behavior Center. He is a Board Certified Child, Adolescent and Adult psychiatrist, and specializes in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD, ADHD) as well as all child and adolescent emotional, behavioral, social and academic disorders. He possesses an expertise in treatment of childhood mood disorders, such as Childhood Depression, Childhood Bipolar Disorder and Anxiety and OCD Disorders, behavior disorders such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder, as well as Pervasive Developmental Disorders, such as Asperger's Disorder and Autism, and Eating Disorders. Check out the ADHD Mood & Behavior Center of New Jersey's website at <a href="http://www.adhdmoodbehaviorcenter.com/">www.adhdmoodbehaviorcenter.com</a></em></p> </article> <article> <h1>Encouragement From Author Liz Swados</h1> <p>Caitlin — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:07:00 GMT</p> <p><em>I was reading my mother's last issue of Oprah Magazine (yes, I do read Oprah) and came across a section devoted completely to mental health. I was especially touched by one article by an author who suffers from bipolar disorder. I loved her choice of words that she used to express her pain and triumph. I contacted her and she responded with this: </em></p> <p>I encourage all young people who are feeling extremes in moods and oversensitivity to day to day events to look deeply into themselves and try to sort out what is real and what is not. The time that you're living in historically, psychologically and socially is confusing and insane enough. It's extra hard to add on to that the sensitivity of one's personal journey. Some people can make it through these years of adjustment with problems that are appropriate for your age. But there are those of you who feel isolation, loneliness, strange bursts of energy, odd interpretations of people's actions, wishes to run, fly, break away, wishes to crawl into a corner, all of the extremes of what could be more than just sensitivity.</p> <p>There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for help if you feel that your moods are going over the edge and it is important to seek out assistance because if you don't catch it now, as you get older it's going to get worse and it's going to be harder for you to pull yourself out of whatever state of mind you're in. In fact I think it is a really brave thing to confront oneself with a mental illness and to carry through with some kind of treatment, however mild or severe is necessary. There's nothing to be ashamed of if your moods control you and you can't seem to get ahold on your life. There's nothing to be ashamed of if it seems as if you can't get out of a small dark square room that is keeping you from joining the lives of others. </p> <p>There's nothing to be ashamed of if your energy seems to have been completely depleted and you don't want to go on with the usual things of life. There's nothing to be ashamed of if you feel alone and unloved. These are symptoms and they are curable. The day for hiding emotional illness is over and you should feel free to come out as quickly as possible and seek the help that you need. Furthermore, if the first person that you approach is not right for you go to a second person, or if need be a third. Remember you have an illness and you wouldn't let yourself be treated wrongfully by a doctor for a physical ailment. This is the same. You should trust the person you find and begin a relationship that can heal you.</p> <p>Finally, I want to tell you that despite how you may feel you are not alone. There are so many young people who are suffering from one form of disability to another and you keep yourself isolated out of shame or ignorance. Be comforted in that you are among a large population of young people who are simply growing up toward adulthood in an especially rocky and precarious way.</p> <p> </p> <p><em>Elizabeth Swados is the author of three novels, two non-fiction books, and nine children's books. A renowned musician, director, and composer, she has received five Tony-award nominations and three Obie awards for her theatrical productions both on and off Broadway. She lives in New York City.</em></p> </article> <article> <h1>Laughter As Medicine</h1> <p>Caitlin — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 21:51:00 GMT</p> <p><em>While perusing the web, I stumbled across this amazing program in Canada that uses laughter to fight mental illness and stigma. I just thought it was too ingenius not to investigate. I contacted its founder, David Granirer, and asked him to send some more information: </em></p> <p><strong>When Mental Health Is A Laughing Matter: Stand Up For Mental Health Uses Comedy to Fight Mental Illness and Public Stigma</strong></p> <p>Eufemia Fantetti grew up surrounded by mental illness. Her mother had paranoid schizophrenia and her father had clinical depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.</p> <p>As a teenager she herself began to experience depression, an illness that’s had a huge effect on her life. She says, "I have spent most of my life feeling like there was a dark cloud of despair that permeated my presence. I felt like I would depress and discourage everyone."</p> <p>But today Eufemia is discovering that she can also make people laugh thanks to Stand Up For Mental Health, a program that teaches stand-up comedy to people with mental illness as a way of building confidence and fighting public stigma.</p> <p>Founded by counsellor and comic David Granirer, Stand Up For Mental Health has a class in Vancouver in partnership with the Burnaby mental Wealth Society, in Chilliwack through the Mood Disorders Association of B.C. Chilliwack branch, and is also offered through the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario in Toronto. </p> <p>Granirer, who also suffers from depression, got the idea for Stand Up For Mental Health from watching students in his Langara College Stand-Up Comedy Clinic course in Vancouver. “Though Comedy Clinic isn’t intended as therapy, I’ve had students overcome depressions and phobias, not to mention increasing their self-esteem. There’s something incredibly healing about telling an audience exactly who you are and having them laugh and cheer. It knocks out your shame. You think ‘Hey, I’m not so bad after all.”</p> <p>Research also reveals the psychological benefits of humor. A study by the U.S. Army found that cadets who used coping humor in basic training were less likely to quit than those who didn’t. Another study on Israeli children who’d spent time in bomb shelters found fewer lingering psychological effects among those who’d been billeted with peers who had a viable sense of humor. Granirer adds, “Using humor in the face of adversity that makes us stronger and more resilient.”</p> <p>Stand Up For Mental Health graduate Norm Conrad bears this out. Upon graduating from high school in 1985, Norm was hospitalized with psychosis and told he’d probably never get out. Though eventually released, Norm was hospitalized several more times.</p> <p>Today, thanks to Stand Up For Mental Health, Conrad is a changed man. His sense of humor is apparent. Referring to his hospital stays he says, “Dad always told me, ‘If you want to accomplish great things in your life, you have to be committed.’”</p> <p>Stand Up For Mental Health has helped Conrad cope by finding humour in his struggles to regain mental health. “My Doctor told me I could never take Prozac as I might go off and kill someone. Is that really what I’d do if I cheered up?”</p> <p>On a more serious note he says, “Succeeding at stand-up comedy has been great for my self-esteem and confidence. It’s been a life-saver.”</p> <p>Another student, Jacquie Johnston states, “Doing this program has improved my self-esteem and confidence. Getting positive feedback from the instructor, the other comics, and the media really helped change the way I feel about myself.”</p> <p>Jacquie continues, “Before the course I had stigma even about admitting I might have a mental illness, but now I’m honoured to belong to this amazing group of people. I am fully open to and pursuing a diagnosis and treatment. In fact I could see myself becoming an advocate. I’m no longer ashamed to talk about it and am actively promoting the course to my friends etc.”</p> <p>And Stand Up For Mental Health continues to expand. Granirer now runs Stand Up For Mental Health trainings in cities across the country, partnering with various mental health organizations. “I take their clients, turn them into stand up comics and we perform at public events, conferences, and fundraisers. It’s incredibly empowering and a great way of fighting public stigma. Most so-called normal people would never want to do stand up. Seeing people with mental illness do it forces the audience to re-evaluate their biases against people who are mentally ill.”<br /> <br />Granirer continues, “The media often portrays them as down and out. We give them a chance to show their funny, courageous and engaging sides. Rather than have the public pity people with mental illness, we want people to admire them for their strength and resilience.”</p> <p><em></em> </p> <p><em>For more information go to </em><a href="http://www.standupformentalhealth.com/"><em>http://www.standupformentalhealth.com</em></a></p> </article> </main></body></html>