“In the dream, I fall into the sleepless sea With a swell of panic and pain My veins are aching for the distant reef In the crush of emotional waves Alright, get a hold of yourself And don’t fight it, it’s over your head It’s alright, the rumble in your ears It’s alright to feelContinue reading “Sleepless”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Snowed in at Wheeler Street
When I think about how bipolar disorder, especially in respect to mental health diagnoses is concerned and has been known to wreak havoc with relationships, we’ve been able to have a happy marriage; one filled with a myriad of life experiences that have served to strengthen our bond of love.
Everything is in its Right Place
“Everything…In its right place…”Radiohead (2000) In typical form, Thom Yorke from the British electronica, post-rock group Radiohead, has penned the lyrics to this particular song, Everything in its Right Place, in a cryptic fashion, allowing the listener to interpret them as they see fit. For me, the opening of the song is captivating – theContinue reading “Everything is in its Right Place”
Hand of God
I had my first episode in 1981, when I was a college freshman at General Motors Institute (which became Kettering University in 1998). It occurred during the mid-semester holiday break on Friday, February 13, 1981. This was actually the date that I lost complete touch with reality, was delusional, had auditory hallucinations, and attempted suicide.
More Than This
I’ve believed, since that time, that there is a guiding presence in my life. I can’t explain in logical terms how I have gotten to where I am today otherwise. There are just so many things that go beyond explanation.
Botanical Roots
One of the things I’ve learned is about the how vital good gut health is. Healthy gut microbiome has been noted not only in how it can contribute to better digestion, but it can also lead to better mental health, immune function, and longevity.
Hour of Need
Social isolation has been known to shorten life spans and contribute to such things as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Loneliness is a silent killer.
Life’s What You Make It
Life is full of stress, good stress and bad stress, otherwise known as eustress and distress. An example of eustress is when a professional athlete gets ready for competition. The surge of adrenaline helps them to perform. On the other hand, if someone is dealing with a challenging situation, such as repeated arguments with a spouse or increasing financial demands, they may experience a wide variety of negative effects. Regardless, long-term exposure to stress can cause a significant strain on the human system.
Always and Forever
I’ve always named my blog posts after songs, hence the name, Mental Health Verses. When it came time to write about this topic I thought about what which one would be most appropriate, and frankly, I couldn’t think of a single one. It was if I couldn’t think of a single song whose words could express how I’m feeling and that conveys the sentiments of this particular post.
The Couch
One thing to understand about going to therapy is that it requires the willingness to be open and vulnerable, which can be very hard to do, especially with someone who, at first, is a complete stranger. But as a behavioral health professional myself, I knew this going in to my first session with Jen,