#MHMon: Masks Off

"Masking" is the process by which people with mental health issues or disabilities hide their symptoms in order to blend in with society. This can include something like a person with depression forcing a smile, a hearing impaired person pretending to understand parts of a conversation when they can't read someone's lips or the person…

#MHMon: My CSP Care Kit

Content warning: the following discusses Compulsive Skin Picking. While the details are minimal, if you are squeamish you might want to move along. This post also includes mentions of self harm. CSP is an easy acronym for something that has several really long names. Sometimes called dermatillomania, excoriation disorder, or simply Compulsive Skin Picking, CSP…

Ramble: Mental Health Discussions with Family

I had a long talk with my mom over the weekend about mental health. Up to that point, I hadn't told her I was taking medication for my anxiety and depression. I spoke before about how hard it was for me to get help. There was the stigma mental health discussions carried, the fear of…

#MHMon: 2018, Year of the Squirrel

Hang on to your hats, this is going to be a long one. Last month I said that one of my main goals for 2018 is getting my mental health under control. I've struggled with anxiety and depression for most of my life, but it became a survival mechanism for me to hide it. Drawing…

#MHMon: Screw it!

Some of the best things in my life have come from frustration. No, really. In 2008, after three years without something fluffy to keep me warm at night, I adopted Hermes. The furry monster is my baby, and I wouldn't trade him for anything. 2012 wasn't a good year for me. At all. I lost…

#MHMon Guest Post: The Bug-Out Bag

This post was shared with permission by the author from http://succulentdiva.com as part of a series on mental health and creativity. Many thanks to Elizabeth Brown-Shook! If you would like to read the entire post it can be found here.  5 Things I Keep in My Extreme Stress Kit by Elizabeth Brown-Shook Being a stay-at-home…

#MHMon Guestpost: Manic Pixie Nothing

If you've just wandered in off the internet, #MHMon (Mental Health Monday) is a recurring feature to talk about staying creative while dealing with mental illness. If you would like more information, or to know how you can participate, check the MHMon tab above.  This month's submission is courtesy of M.K. Anderson.  I’m open about…

Mental Health and the Evie Cappelli series

The representation of mental health issues (specifically anxiety and depression) are a huge part of the Evie Cappelli series. The very first scene is Evie preparing to leave an in-patient facility, three months after a failed suicide attempt. Throughout the entire series, she struggles not only with the outside influences trying to destroy her, but…

#MHMon: Staying Motivated Through Rejection

We have all been there. You think you're a shoe in for the job, but you don't even get a call back. You send out the best query letter of your life, but the agent just sends back a form rejection. You get a book deal, only to have the publisher back out. The common…

#MHMon 9 Things to NEVER Say to Someone with Mental Illness (and what to say instead)

Since this is our first official Mental Health Monday, I thought I'd start of pretty light. The following is a list of things you really, really shouldn't say to a loved one if they suffer from mental illness or mental health issues. "It's all in your head." "Everyone faces challenges. Just deal with it." "You should…