I've talked about Alicia before. She's younger than me. She's a junior in college and I'm 27. Without social media our paths would have never crossed. Without peanut butter we would've never started talking. Without talking we would've never seen past the social media posts and learned that we are more alike than we could've … Continue reading Life of A Fit College Student Series: “It’s Your Turn Traditional Dozen – Mental Health and School Work”
This is my friend Ahmad. He pretty much started this series. What I mean is it was his words that set something off in me that made me think about the larger problem at hand. Yes, I am working through my own anxiety, my own PTSD, and I have no issue talking about it. But, … Continue reading It’s Your Turn Series: Post 11 “Life in My Days: 22 Years of Mental Illness and Counting”
There have been quite a few who have reached out to share their stories and how mental health has impacted them, their families and what they believe to be their ability to be a mother. We know that events trigger us to develop these disorders we've been talking about in this series, but I don't … Continue reading It’s Your Turn Series: Post 10 “A Fight Worth Fighting”
October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It was also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I'm sure there's a third cause out there that was also supposed to be highlighted and educate the public. I will not downplay that both of these causes are important. 1 in 8 women are impacted by breast cancer. 1 in 3 … Continue reading It’s Your Turn Series: Post 9 “Scarlet Letter”
When I emailed with Sarah, she told me that she had pushed aside her anxiety out of how I might sound to someone else. She's not the only one. There are so many people that have experienced various traumas, almost all of which are out their control, but yet they take on shame. We are … Continue reading It’s Your Turn Series: Post 8 “I Am Not What Happened To Me, I Am What I Choose To Become.”
Many of us have a hard time pinpointing the moment we realized we weren't feeling like ourselves. We struggle to determine the time in our lives when depression or anxiety started. I think we have an idea, but I think some of us dismiss our own behavior as typical. Below is Meredith's story. She even … Continue reading It’s Your Turn Series: Post 7 “It Really Came Out During My College Years”
I've received some stories where the writer has asked to be anonymous. Writing is an outlet for me and I think some of you have found it to be helpful as you've sent me your stories. Some of you have pointed out that knowing someone on the other end is reading it, even though it's … Continue reading It’s Your Turn Series: Post 6 “I Never Would Have Imagined That This Would Change My Life So Much”
When I was a kid, I used to look at the world with large open eyes. Before things were bad and even when they were bad, I never thought to myself "what's the next bad thing that will happen to me"?" Even when things are bad now, I think there's someone out there who has … Continue reading It’s Your Turn Series: Post 5 “I’ll Be There Someday…”
Mental health doesn't just impact the person who has the illness or disorder, whatever you want to call it. I know some words aren't as PC as others, but really, with name changes over the years - I feel like I can't keep up. Kristen is a mom and her story isn't about her own … Continue reading It’s Your Turn Series: Post 4 “It’s Not About Me – But It’s A Journey That I Am On With Him”
Being a mom isn't easy, from what I hear. I'm not a mom and I don't have plans to be one. That doesn't mean that I don't respect the women who choose or may not choose to be one. I think there are many great moms out there. People acknowledge that moms do a lot … Continue reading It’s Your Turn Series: Post 3 “I Want My Daughter To See Her Mom As Someone Who Is Strong On the Inside and Out”
