I think I am somewhat of a fear junkie. It's not because I like it. Trust me on that. Rather, I am simply used to it. I have lived life from the baseline of fear for a long time. And no matter how many times I taste freedom, I always seem revert back to the … Continue reading When fear dominates
depression
Mannequin me
Picture this for a second. You are having a cancer screening. Fun start. You show up to the doctor’s office and sit down. As the doctor begins the screening, you pull out a life size mannequin of yourself. You present it to the doctor and say, “Here you go, proceed with the screening on mannequin … Continue reading Mannequin me
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What if it’s not OCD?
If you have OCD, this question is nothing new. Already, your theme is barking at the top of its lungs looks for a way to climb back into your mental frame. I have dealt with this question for a little less than a decade and I can tell you it was the hardest barrier to … Continue reading What if it’s not OCD?
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Taking your emotional temperature
A pandemic gives you a lot of time to think. A lot of time to feel. And a lot of time to think about what you feel. I am a big “feeler” if you will. I constantly want to be feeling good or at peace. I don’t necessarily think that is wrong. Peace is good. … Continue reading Taking your emotional temperature
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Be anxious for…
My friend showed me a paper that had spoken to him a few years ago. The topic was about four different types of mental strain. They were: 1. A sense of inadequacy 2. A sense of anxiety 3. A sense of fear 4. Comparison with others I have struggled with all of these at some … Continue reading Be anxious for…
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Why change is possible
I was talking to a close friend a few days ago and I asked him this question, “Do you ever feel like everybody else ‘gets it’ and you just don’t?” “All the time.” I was heartbroken to hear that answer. I care about this guy and love him dearly, so obviously I wanted him to … Continue reading Why change is possible
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Handling setbacks
Raise your hand if you have never failed anything. If you raised your hand, this blog isn't for you. For the rest of us, dealing with setbacks is one of the toughest aspects of mental health recovery. When things seem to be going well, a setback feels almost inevitable. It's like I am anticipating a … Continue reading Handling setbacks
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River in the wasteland
My mental health problems left me in the middle of a barren wasteland with no relief and no hope. Any thought of relief at the time was only a mirage, which would soon dissipate. I had no idea where I was or where I should go and I constantly felt defeated. It’s a strange realization … Continue reading River in the wasteland
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It’s time to be Honest
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to deduce that there is a stigma with mental health. I went to school (dropped out and went back) to study child and youth development, and I can figure it out. My question is why? When I was in the stranglehold of OCD, I never really felt shame in … Continue reading It’s time to be Honest
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You don’t have to be perfect
"Back to square one." That was the calling card of my OCD. Every time I felt some relief from a compulsion, every time I thought I had gained some ground in getting my life back, I would step on a mental land mine and it would blow me back to the beginning again. OCD is … Continue reading You don’t have to be perfect
Free to be Funk 