Sleep is simply part of being human - we all need it to repair our bodies and our minds; but most people will struggle to either fall or stay asleep at some point in their lives - myself included. But before we get into what you can do about this, I think it's important to … Continue reading What to Do When You Can’t Sleep
Perhaps the most important lesson I've learned so far in my journey towards mental health is the importance of playing the long game. The long game I'm referring to is the awareness of how my present actions will impact both my future relationships and personal growth, and the ability to make real time behavior modifications … Continue reading Learning to Play the Long Game
I've been in DBT group therapy for 6 weeks now and I've learned a lot of skills, but lately I'm most actively working on accumulating positive emotions. But first, what are positive emotions? Of course there's happiness and joy, but you should also consider emotions like gratitude, serenity, interest, hope, pride, amusement, inspiration, awe, love, altruism, … Continue reading Accumulating Positive Emotions
In order to discuss where I am today, we have to back track a bit to my psychiatric evaluation. Psychiatric Evaluation I met with my psychiatrist 1 week after my breakdown, on June 19th. She reviewed the notes from my time in the ER and follow up psychotherapy appointment, then asked specific symptom based questions … Continue reading Where I am One Month Post Breakdown
I tried out the new Instagram story feature where followers can ask you questions and was asked, "What's one thing that helps with your mental health?" My answer: using a mood chart. Mood Charts A mood chart is basically a spreadsheet where I keep track of my mental health and the different factors that influence it. … Continue reading Mood Charts
On the morning of June 12th, the only words that came to mind to describe what I was experiencing were "nervous breakdown." I'd heard it many times before and seen it referenced in pop culture, so when it felt like I was losing complete control of my mind, I thought "yes, this must be a … Continue reading What a Nervous Breakdown Really Is
So you're probably wondering why I had a mental breakdown. These are the events that took place over several years and combined to create the perfect storm for a breakdown, because they don't just happen in a day. Physical Distress Food and I are not friends. For over 8 years, food has made me nauseous … Continue reading Thoughts Behind the Breakdown
The time in-between the ER and my follow up appointment at the mental health center was...tense. Going Home Driving home from the hospital I called my mom (she was out of town), and explained what had happened. Despite understandable worry, she was very supportive and grateful I was finally getting help. (After all, she had … Continue reading The In-Between
That's a WordPress stock photo. It's the default image for this blog post, yet it fits perfectly, so here it stays. Anyway, let's get started with the story. The Beginning It all started years ago. I've had Persistent Depressive Disorder (Dysthymia) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) since I was a teenager. But in my early … Continue reading The Beauty in the Breakdown
Mary Margarett 