By Andrea Watson March 8, 2021 If this title rubs you the wrong way then you may not want to read this blog post. But I encourage you to do so anyway, because it’s something that’s actually already happening. Now before you flip out, I suggest you do some research. Either that, or just readContinue reading “On Using Psychoactive Substances to Treat Mental Illness”
Tag Archives: mental illness
Growing up Neglected
By Andrea Watson February 24th, 2021 Many of us, especially from my generation, know what it is like to grow up neglected. Today I’m talking specifically about emotional neglect. Even though it is often seen as the same thing, emotional neglect is different than other types of neglect and abuse, because it is often doneContinue reading “Growing up Neglected”
Psychosis
By Andrea Watson, February 13, 2021 We’ve all heard the word “psychotic” used in everyday language before. It’s a word that doesn’t get tossed around too often, but often enough that it is misunderstood. To be fair, many things in the world of psychology are misunderstood. Psychosis is a symptom of an underlying disorder. TheContinue reading “Psychosis”
What is OCD?
Why saying “I’m a little OCD” is 100% wrong You may not like me after this. I’m going to get a little bit rough here. Have you ever been with someone and suddenly they reach over and “fix” something and then they look at you and say “Sorry, I’m just a little OCD about it.”?Continue reading “What is OCD?”
Beyond the Edge
If you read my blog then you know I have a mental illness. My twenties were the roughest part of my life. I went through a divorce, losing my children, psychosis, giving up babies for adoption, and the emergence of a serious mental illness. It was hell. I attempted suicide several times. This is the story of the last time I ever tried to kill myself, and the road I had to take to come back from it. This is not a cry for help. This is not a plea for sympathy. This is not an attempt to seek recognition or attention of any kind other than to move the reader into an awareness of what types of things might go through the mind of a suicidal individual. It is an attempt to connect with those who suffer, and hopefully guide them away from the edge. This is not my normal sort of blog post. This is a stand-alone work that speaks for itself. It does not represent who I am or where I’m at today, only what I have endured in the past-truly a different life. I have moved on.
When Life Gives You Mangoes
Life can be just like Alice in Wonderland sometimes. For those of us with mental illness, it can be hard to find our way out of the hellish dreamscape and back to reality. So what can you do to help a person who is juggling mangoes? If you are part of a support system for someone who goes through this, it is important to know them and what they need. It differs for different people. But generally, there are some things you can do. For me, I need to be watched closely. Not in a patronizing way, but be on the lookout for self-harm or suicidal statements or actions. Second, let me know firmly that I am in need of help and it would be irresponsible and inappropriate for me to not get my meds straightened out right away.
Helping a Friend With Depression
My son watches a lot of YouTube videos. He was watching one the other day and I heard the host say that depression is the act of being depressed. That had to be one of the stupidest damn things I’ve ever heard. Depression is not something you do, it is something you live with involuntarily. Not an act, a state. But this stupid comment got me thinking about myself and some of my beloved people. How do you help someone who lives with depression? What can you do for someone who literally can’t escape the darkness? This post puts forth some ideas.
I’m Not Stupid-Just Crazy
I will never truly know if what I experience is reality or not. I will always hold skewed and misguided beliefs about the world and about myself (did you know I am not human, but rather an angel of destruction sent here to wipe out humanity?) Yeah. I truly believe this, and I know it is not normal. Now this sounds like a bunch of negative affirmations, doesn’t it? But I would challenge that thought. After 30+ years of dealing with my own bullshit, I can tell you that these are simple truths, not self-fulfilling prophecies. I have an education-I am not fooling myself or you here. I’m not stupid, just crazy.
Fantastic to Follow
Hello my wonderful readers, and welcome to another list of my top favorites! As I was blog hopping today I came across a post detailing a list of the author’s 5 favorite blogs to follow, and I got inspired. It occurred to me that I have yet to write a post like this and I owe it to you to do so. Most of this information you can find on my “About” page, but as nobody has ever gone there, I am assuming you haven’t seen it yet. So I will outline it all for you here. Let’s take a walk together to explore some of my very most favorite blogs, shall we?
Life All Day 