Why subscribe to Mental Wellness?
My newsletter is a platform dedicated to both myself and to you, my readers.
WHY IT’S FOR ME
It is for myself because I have often felt broken and unlovable and a failure at living life well. I have been through a lot. I am medically and mentally complicated. I have a connective tissue disorder that causes my body parts to move in ways they should not, and I live in chronic, debilitating pain. It literally affects everything I do. I have also been diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Anxiety, and PTSD, which means that my brain also lies to me, hijacks the real me, and consistently screws me over.
In 2024, I was in and out of the hospital for 6 months. I went through a terrible divorce too, and I nearly died in September. I have been in extensive therapy - dozens of therapists and psychiatrists, inpatient and residential treatment, partial hospitalization programs and intensive outpatient programs, and last year was finally a turning point for me. I’ve been through every sort of therapy there is, minus electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and ketamine (or other psycotropic) infusions. I have saved all of the information that has been given to me and taken copious notes, which now are the basis for my blog posts. By writing about the things I’ve learned about mental health, I review things that I may have forgotten and I make them more solid realities in my day to day. Writing is also the best way that I process through life.
Despite feeling massively broken, the reality is, I’m an educator, a paralegal, and a writer. I’ve been a professional dancer and a world traveler. I’ve earned multiple degrees and published a book. I am a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a friend, a cousin, and a granddaughter. I am perfectly imperfect and I am working on understanding myself and why I behave the way that I do. I am intentionally practicing being kind to myself and learning to love and accept me for who I am. And I am fighting to not only live, but live a life worth living.
WHY IT’S FOR YOU
My weekly blogs are also for other people who have
survived trauma, as a child and/or as an adult
feel like they have tried everything and nothing has worked
feel like a burden
suffer through shame and guilt or low self-esteem
hate themselves but don’t want to
recognize they need or want therapy, but can’t afford it
feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to find help or how to get it
have someone in their life that is suffering with depression or suicidal ideation and don’t know how to help them
want to learn more about the different types of therapy out there
want to learn more about how the brain works
want to feel like they are not alone
need practical ways to survive deep depression, panic attacks or paralyzing anxiety, PTSD triggers, and chronic pain
MY PROMISE TO YOU
I will always share what has happened to me, what I am struggling with, and what I really think. I will be vulnerable and real with you. I will not go off into political or religious tangents. And when I share what I have learned with you, I will always cite my sources so that you can go back and fact-check what I have said and learn additional things along the way.
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