#bellletsactuallytalk

[xpellepx-blog]

i’m almost tempted to make a tumblr devoted to awareness of non-depression/anxiety mental illnesses

I think it’s outrageous and actually counterproductive that the mental health awareness only focuses on depression.  I’m not saying that depression and anxiety are fun, because they’re not.  But disorders like schizophrenia, schizoaffective, bipolar 1, OCD, and BPD that generally have worse prognoses(such as, but not limited to, social isolation, relationship problems, losing touch with reality, being a danger to themselves/others due to psychosis as opposed to just being dissatisfied with life and not wanting to live anymore).

I also find overall that when someone has depression, others will be like, “dont’ worry. things will get better” in a supportive way.  But when it comes to other disorders, people, not only dont know what to do, but will often give people bad labels and poor judgement due to symptoms of their illness.

It is not uncommon for people with BPD to be labelled socially as unstable and someone you want to avoid due to their mood swings, despite people not knowing they have BPD.  It is also common for schizophrenic spectrum people to get labelled as psycho and weird for their weird views, but also to be considered unempathetic, unfriendly and hateful due to their flat affect.

Seriously, I’m getting really tempted to start a new mental health awareness campaign called NotJustDepression but I honestly wouldn’t know where to start.

[lets-actually-talk-blog]

It’s hard to talk about mental illness, especially if you’re a Black woman whose ancestors have suffered in silence for centuries because we were told we had to be strong and not complain. It’s difficult for the Black community to end the stigma when the people speaking about this illness looks nothing like us. Mental illness does not see race, sex or economical status; yet, those who are marginalized are the ones whose voices and needs are not prioritized in such campaigns and dialogue. Making me feel like my depression isn’t important doesn’t help me heal. I am not invisible. 

My name is Gloria and my depression is political. 

On January 25th, please tweet #BellLetsActuallyTalk to indicate that everyone should be included in these conversations.

[gay-by-the-bay29]

sometimes I think about all the events I could’ve went to and friends I could’ve made if I didn’t have anxiety

[colleenbrownmusic]

Let’s Talk: Mental Illness and ‘Social Drinking’

Okay #Bellletstalk - this is an opportunity for some Real Talk!

Alcohol is a depressant, yet the centrepiece or backdrop of most social interactions. Our society has replaced physical interactions with virtual ones, yet we crave meaningful real-life connections. When most of these interactions involve alcohol to feel comfortable, where does that leave us? For me it's a regular dilemma: drinking alcohol = fun time with my friends now, but feeling shitty about myself tomorrow (even just one or two drinks can have this effect.) VERSUS making other people uncomfortable (or feeling judged) when I don't drink around them. I know I'm lucky that this is actually a choice for me.

For several years I have noticed when I enter a bar (not all bars, but some bars or parties, at times) feeling an OVERWHELMING ANXIETY- like my heart would explode out of my chest; shaking, incredible sadness. There were years when I couldn't go out socially in public - I just couldn't face the intensity of those environments, and those feelings. (These feelings are mitigated by having a Job and Purpose in those environments, but it doesn't remove them.)

More recently, I have taken up meditation and yoga. They're not cure-alls, but they have given me a way of Dealing.

They allow me to check in with myself and ask important questions, like:

Is this anxiety I'm feeling MINE? Did it begin with something in me (i.e. something I might need to address), or is it just something I crashed into when I had my antennae up, picking up other peoples' energy? Do I want to stay here, or would it be better for me if I leave?

ALSO:

Do I want this drink? Am I prepared to coddle myself emotionally tomorrow; and perhaps feel a little less patient, wrestling with my insecurities, and perhaps accomplishing less (Sometimes the answer is a resounding YES! But often it's not.) Note that when I am already feeling emotionally volatile and self-loathing these aspects will be MAGNIFIED by alcohol consumption.

ALSO:

Is this dystopian-future television show good for my well-being? If I continue to listen to the news every hour am I depleting my sense of optimism about the world and my belief in the goodness of other humans? Do I really need to check my phone/email again? Will it satisfy this craving? Will it fill this nagging emptiness?

I'm not advocating that everyone shut off our phones, TVs, computers, radios, never enter a bar again. I'm just saying that our society is biased towards short term solutions (like alcohol consumption and online connections) as a way of dealing with stress and our need for community. But it's often self-defeating. We all need to check in with ourselves on that front.

BIG LOVE TO ALL OF YOU, MY FELLOW HUMANS.

<3 CB