You Are Not Alone | If you or a loved one is struggling with mental illness, there is HOPE
"Get over it." This is one of the most frustrating responses I get during a bout of depression. Telling someone to "get over it" is like telling someone with broken legs to run a marathon. It defies common sense as depression affects the brain's ability to think clearly in the first place. Others recommend going... Continue Reading →
People have compared mental health treatment plans to emergency kits, toolboxes, lunchboxes and so on. These action plans are known as WRAPs (Wellness Recovery Action Plan). It doesn’t matter what you call it, but it’s important to create your own toolkit of strategies to use to stay well. It takes time to learn which tools... Continue Reading →
I describe myself as a "pessimist from birth." Seriously, I can't remember a time when I didn't have worst case scenarios and "all or nothing" thinking. It's as natural to me as breathing. I berated myself if I missed a point on a test. If I got a 99%, I focused on the 1% I... Continue Reading →
At the last DBSA meeting, a peer shared the following advice given to him by a therapist when he was a young boy struggling with PTSD: We all have skeletons in our closets. When we leave home, those skeletons stay in the closet. You leave them behind. But when you come home, they are still... Continue Reading →
I must admit the first time I learned about self-affirmations, I thought the idea was ridiculous. I remember thinking I can write or say "I am beautiful" or "I am worthy" but that doesn't mean I'll ever believe it. Undeterred, my therapist challenged me to just write down a few affirmations in a journal each day,... Continue Reading →
Depression feeds on negativity and grows stronger with each negative thought. When depressed, it is easy to fall into that vicious cycle of bad thoughts. Practicing gratitude stops that pattern and changes brain chemistry by releasing serotonin and dopamine. However, it can be difficult to find anything positive when depression sets in. Start with writing... Continue Reading →
This is another thing that took me years to figure out. Years ago, I joined a moms' meet up group. Even though I had little in common with the majority of the members (except for the fact that we were, of course, moms), I attended the events and tried to connect with everyone. Needless to... Continue Reading →
Working My Recovery Every. Single. Day. Even though it’s been several years since I have had a depressive “episode” (that’s the term doctors have given it, though I associate “episodes” with sitcoms like The Office or Seinfeld—rather ironic, right?), that doesn’t mean I am out of the woods. There is no cure for mental illness and... Continue Reading →
C. L. Dunbar Health 
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