pdxcrybabies

Instagram (where we are the most active): @pdxcrybabies Email/iMessage: [email protected] Facebook: PDXcrybabies Storenvy: pdxcrybabies Mental health peer support allies. Jordan is Mental Health First Aid certified. We (Jordan and Paige) are here for anyone to talk to (not just people of Portland!), but we want anyone who follows to be involved, because we want this to be a community. A safe space. We want to hear from YOU. This is a place to offer support, positivity, and skills to help anyone who is struggling with their mental health. And if you are in the Portland Metro Area, be on the lookout for our meet-ups! LINKS BELOW

[pdxcrybabies]

I finally picked out a new journal today! I have a total of 5 different journals at the moment, but my thoughts journals are my favorite. I have been keeping a journal since I was a little kid. My grandma bought me one for my birthday, and ever since then I've been hooked. It has been incredibly therapeutic for me, and it's neat to see how much I have grown and changed over the years. Not all of the content is interesting, a lot of it is me rambling in order to break the writer's block, but writing in it always gives me a sense of relief. Sometimes I dream about turning them into a biography, even though my life hasn't been terribly interesting, it would be neat. I encourage all of you to try out journaling! Whether it be a journal dedicated to a specific subject, or an "anything goes" kind of style, venting and expressing yourself using written word can be very helpful, calming, and fun. -Paige

[pdxcrybabies]

I was talking to my therapist this morning about self care, and how I   play video games to take care of myself sometimes. I love so many games, and so many different types, but my favourite games are the ones that are relaxing and low stress. I've been playing the Animal Crossing franchise since it first came out, and it's always been such a soothing thing for me. I even have an extension on Google Chrome that plays Animal Crossing music based on what time it is. Some other favourites are Stardew Valley, Starbound (anything by @chucklefishgames), The Sims, Solitaire, etc. It's easy to get lost in them because of how calming they can be. How many of you play games as a form of self care? What relaxing low stress games do you like to play? (Also, feel free to ask us for our handles/friend codes for various games and platforms!)

[pdxcrybabies]

@disapppointment shared some writing with us

[pdxcrybabies]

Repost from @breenware with one of our patches 💜 ・・・ My favorite patch. It's cute and reminds me that I have a fighting chance, and that you can suffer mental illnesses and be a bamf in the midst of it. It's from #pdxcrybabies, a Portland-based support group of people with depression. I am so grateful to live in a generation that is working towards visibility and ending the stigma surrounding mental illnesses. #BadassSadass #mentalhealthallies #endthestigma @pdxcrybabies

[pdxcrybabies]

Wise words from @neurotichermit -  Trigger warning: suicide. . . . . . . I've said this once and I'll say it a million times more. Please be safe and take care of yourself. There are people who love and adore you. People who love being around you. People who appreciate your presence. Don't make the choice to end your life and don't let it be an accident, either. You are not worthless and it is never too late to make a change. Suicide hotline: [phone]

[pdxcrybabies]

One of my biggest idols, the creator of DBT, Marsha Linehan publicly opened up about her struggles. This article totally didn't make me cry! I hope it can spread some hope to all of you beautiful people out there <3 Here's the article in you're interested: https://dialecticalbehavioraltherapy.wordpress.com/2017/04/04/ny-times-expert-on-mental-illness-reveals-her-own-fight/ -Paige

[pdxcrybabies]

We forget these things sometimes, and we need constant reminders. (Taken from the DBT skills workbook)

[pdxcrybabies]

I posted this on my personal account, and wanted to share it here as well. I know I mention it a lot, but I wanted to share again because it's important to me.

I have struggled with my mental health my entire life, starting when I was in a fire when I was a child. I experienced a lot of PTSD, and there are things related to that that I am still working on 20 years later. Depression and anxiety have been with me for the majority of my life. The medications, the therapists, the emotional rollercoaster I can never get off of, it's all so distracting. I haven't accomplished much at 27, because I have so many fears and things I have been trying to work through. At 20, I was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder in the psychiatric ward, after I hurt a lot of people and hurt myself. It has taken 7 years for me to fully understand what that means. I have finally begun to make progress. It hasn't been easy, but it's been so rewarding so far. 7 years ago, if you told me I'd be running a mental health peer support group, I'd laugh at you. I have done so much changing, and so much growing. I do feel happier, and healthier too. It has been a tough fucking battle, and I've gotten sick from drowning, and tired of swimming. I'm finally starting to be able to breathe again. Anyone who knew me a few years ago will tell you how much I have really changed, but for the first time, I actually feel like myself now. I want to be an example that anyone can bounce back from the darkest of places. I am not ashamed of the scars that cover my body. I am not ashamed of the things I have gone through. I am still here. I have battle scars that prove that I made it out alive. I survived it all, and I will keep surviving. You will too.

[pdxcrybabies]

Words to live by. With depression and anxiety I often feel that the works is passing me by. I lock myself inside and cry about how shitty everything is. I waste so much time WISHING things were better, instead of actually doing something about it. For once in my life I am dedicated to forming concrete goals, and taking steps to be successful even when things get tough. There will still be days where I just need to rest and shut down, but i must continue striving instead of complaining. -Paige

[pdxcrybabies]

I found an awesome site used to track mental illnesses and treatments! It's really cool because not only can you keep track of what treatments you're doing, your illnesses, and connect with other people, but the site also collects all the data from contributors for mental illness studies and treatments! Hopefully leading to better treatments and more awareness of what mental illnesses actually are, and how people struggle with them. It's pretty cool to see what treatments have helped people with their disorders, it even tracks symptoms severity, dosages, and other specific information regarding medical or therapeutic treatment. I recommend checking it out! Feel free to follow me on there too if you'd like! -Paige

[pdxcrybabies]

If you know a teen who is struggling or needs somewhere to go, please have them look into Marrow and the other resources listed.

from @marrowpdx -  CW: discussion of suicide . . . . We're incredibly saddened to hear of the teen who took their own life on the St Johns bridge on Sunday. If you're going through something, or if suicidal feelings are just something you cope with - please know that you are not broken, and you are not alone. • You're strong. And it's okay not to always feel that way. This world can be a tough place, especially if your own body, and/or mind, and/or experiences are fighting against you. We at Marrow are ALWAYS here for you. If you need a nonjudgemental adult to talk to, a couch to curl up on, a bathroom to cry in, art supplies to work something out with - whatever you need (even if there's a class going on, we can carve out a little space for you in the shop or back area, or you can email us - [email protected]). • Here are some resources that our teens have found useful. If you find that you need help, please reach out to them. No judgement, they literally exist just to be there for you. <3 If you're in crisis: National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE Multnomah County Crisis Line: 503-988-4888 If you just need to talk: @OR_YouthLine @pdxcrybabies

[pdxcrybabies]

Mental illness runs hard in my family. Although it can cause a lot of problems, we are very family oriented and always support eachother. All of my adult family members are living long lives with varying successes. I have asked my dad to share his story, and I hope it can inspire all of you, and give you hope for a long happy life. I'm Dave, Paige's Dad. I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in my early thirties. Last year at 51 I was diagnosed as bipolar. As long as I can remember, almost every day, I wanted to just die or commit suicide. I had severe crazy highs and terrible lows. The highs I was very reckless, the lows I felt better off dead. For 20 years I took various different meds. I would find one that would keep it manageable for a few years and then quit working. Now I'm on three different meds and for the most part feeling more balanced than ever. I have a good job, a great wife and three awesome adult kids. The key to feeling better for me was to keep trying. You have to really want to feel better. If you stay with it, even though the illness is telling you to curl up and give in to hopelessness. Seek out people you love that will listen. You really are not alone, you only think you are because the mental issues are feeding on your misery. This creates an ever growing spiral of disparity.  Just remember that it takes time.  I hope I have been  able to help by sharing. Stay strong, the more help you seek, the easier it is to cope. Smile.

[pdxcrybabies]

I don't know how relevant this is, but I figured I'd share anyway. I used to try to be perfect. I'd get embarrassed easily. I was afraid to be myself. Over time, I stopped caring. Be weird. Be silly. Be gross. Be YOU. Laugh at yourself before anyone else has the chance to. One of my dear friends @mightymikemcgee taught me that. I've learned to embrace my weirdness, and I'm okay with keeping my "flaws" out in the open. I hope that you can learn to do the same. People are going to judge you, no matter what. Not everyone is going to like you. Forget about those people. Fuck em'. Being a human being is weird and embarrassing, so try not to worry about little things like food in your teeth, or anything else that's 100% normal and happens to all of us. Guess what, everyone farts, everyone has boogers, and everyone has things that they hide. Just roll with it.

[pdxcrybabies]

A while back, @thecemeterygates sent me this from @thecreepingmuseum. We admire @carloscollective so much for what he's doing for this community. There are so many wonderful human beings in this world. Please don't hesitate to contact either of us (me, Paige, even Carlos!) if you are ever feeling down, or just feeling chatty. We are all in this weird "being a person" thing together, why not help each other out?

[pdxcrybabies]

Even though we're both a bit socially awkward and weird, we always enjoy meeting and getting to know some of you. So thank you to those of you who come to our little meet-ups!

[pdxcrybabies]

Like our bio says, we are PDX based, but not PDX exclusive! We have local meet-ups here in Portland, and we would love to offer something for those of you who aren't local too! We would love to utilise the Instagram and Facebook live feature, would anyone be interested in watching if we did like a "live" meet-up? We don't broadcast our local ones to preserve the privacy of others. If we held occasional live meet-ups, would anyone local be willing to be a part of it too? What would you like to see? Should we make an event for a live broadcast, or just do it whenever? Please give us some feedback so we can be as helpful as possible! We want those of you outside of Portland to be just as much a part of this group as our locals! (If you can't make it to meet-ups, we have some stickers and patches for sale, link in our bio!)

[pdxcrybabies]

@Regrann from @lord_birthday

Sometimes you just need a good laugh. @lord_birthday 's posts always put a smile on my face.