Tag: support

Posted in Career/Job, Uncategorized

How to Create a Stigma Free Workplace

Posted on by Rose

Advised to keep my issues to myself. This was to refrain from being judged and labeled.

My work performance in some areas had been suffering a bit. I shared with my superiors that I was having issues both Mentally and Physical and that I was willing to accept any suggestions closing my email with thank you for your support and understanding. 

Well I never received an answer to that email. So out of sight out of mind just to continue on like I always did hobbling along the best I could hoping for things to get better.

I have moved on, but the conversation and experience has stayed with me. 

I learned despite how much we say as a people and not just in the work place when we say we are here to support and help do we really mean it or do we just want to appear nice.  

We as coworkers can still be supportive while still remaining professional.

A-Guide-for-Coworkers-PrintableDownload
NAMI_Tips-for-Caring-Conversations-manager-guideDownload
Posted in medication, Mental health, recovery, Uncategorized

By a Different Name. “A Medication cheat sheet for Generic and Brand Medications”

Posted on by Rose

Wanted to pass this information along we often hear these different names tossed around and may not realize which medication it is.

Sertraline- Zoloft

Venlafaxine- Effector

Citalopram- Celexa

Mirtzapine- Remeron

Fluoxetine -Prozac

Duloxetine- Cymbalta

Seroquel- Quetiapine

Lamictal- Lamotrigine

Lexapro- Escritolopram

Wellbutrin- Ativan

Klonopin- Clonazepam

Posted in coping skills, insomnia, Mental health, recovery, Uncategorized

The Uninvited Guest

Posted on by Rose

Symptoms they don’t talk about are a lot of times the minor ones that can go unnoticed or even ones that don’t appear to be a symptom at all. There is the nail biting, the foot tapping, or maybe even head scratching, but those are just habits not symptoms of anything. Well with such habits being that minor it can be difficult to even recognize your own symptoms or even recognize  the onset of an anxiety attack.

In all of my years dealing with mental illness it was a friend who lives nearly 10,000 miles away to help me recognize my actions as symptoms and that I was having an attack. I wasn’t hyperventilating, or sweating excessively, or nauseated. No, I was up in my mothers apartment at 3 in the morning cooking and cleaning. I don’t mean just your standard tidying up. I was full on sweeping, moping, and scrubbing. I was making food as if preparing for a dinner party. By the time my attack was over I had managed to make tacos, chicken, deviled eggs and apple sauce from scratch. As I reflect on this incident I can feel the budding tension in my chest rise. (So apparently just thinking about attacks brings on attacks too noted. )

So this observation that had been pointed out made me pause and think, this can’t be a panic attack. I just cant sleep so might as well get some tasks done, that will tire me out. Then once I’m tired I’ll have to pass out. But that’s just it. I am so restless that I have decided to do these tasks to force my body and mind to shut down. In a way this is just my mind and body’s way of distracting me and avoiding the real issue of what has me up. In all my distractions I was not able to even fathom there was a problem till it was brought to my attention. Sometimes it takes a person from the outside to put your actions into perspective so you can clearly see the problems you’re not ready to face because you’re up at 3 in the morning preparing for a dinner party.  It’s also pretty eye opening on how the mind or body will come up with actions to cope or protect itself or cry for help. I can see why you wouldn’t talk about a symptom if you don’t even know there is one.

Posted in Mental health, recovery, therapy, Uncategorized

Cheers to Therapy

Posted on by Rose

“I start therapy tomorrow.”

Woo-hoo, alright…….,(raise glass)

And now a toast; not for a new job, new home or new relationship, but to Mental Health.

On most occasions it was something many were drinking to escape from , but to drink too in celebration definitely a new concept.


And to even have the strength to admit to others publicly not easy. Mental Health for so long always came with fear and judgement.

Now with this one moment a forward step for the stigma books. This is proof that we as a people
have come a great distance in how mental health is perceived. If this isn’t proof that Mental
health narrative isn’t changing I don’t know what is.

The road is still tough but at least the
scenery is changing.
And that’s something to toast too. Cheers!

A drink to stigma
Posted in Uncategorized

Yes it hurt’s ,but it’s ok

Posted on by Rose

I have depression. Yes I can see that is a pretty abrasive opening, especially for my first ever blog post, my apologies. Hello there, and nice to meet you, some people, not most call me Rose, and meeting me you most likely wouldn’t be able to tell that I suffer from such a …….,how do I say, damaging, rollercoasting, tornado of an illness.

I will say I manage it day by day with some days feeling like I have a pretty tight lid on it  and at other moments it overwhelming. Despite the lows, the meds, and treacherous thoughts I am still here. It is very scary sometimes falling into those dark places ,not knowing how long or if I  will be able to crawl my self out, but somehow everyday I manage too and you know what…….

so can you. As unbelievable that may sound I want and need you to know its true.

Now you probably already have noticed that this site is named for the green ribbon. You may or may not know that it is the chosen ribbon color to represent mental Illness. Now those two words MENTAL ILLNESS!! OMG!!STFD!!, and any other emoji you come up with is saddled with a very large stigma of being labeled as hmmmm…….

crazy…………………….20161111_154324-2 Yes, very frightening stuff, but it doesn’t have to be. The human brain is a very complex organ and takes a bit of time and patience to fully understand. It seems kind of impossible to not have some road bumps along the way. And that just what it is, a bump, a small infraction in our life long journey. And weather you suffer or know someone who suffers from such an illness, I ask that you walk side by side with them in this journey of life as they battle this illness. And if you got a minute to spare I say drop in to walk with me too. I look forward to it.

Sometimes we are not always able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but when you travel through that dark place with others it is not so lonely.