NAMI - YOU ARE NOT ALONE The video or short story you tell can be the difference that lets someone know that they are not alone. POSTS ASK ME ANYTHING SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO, PICTURE OR STORY! SUBMISSION GUIDELINES ARCHIVE My name is Katie K. and I am a young adult student living in North Carolina. I have been diagnosed with everything under the sun and put on every medication you can think of. However, I always knew I was “different.” Most kids were interested in soccer or cheerleading. I was focused on germs and my thoughts. Other children were outside their head and I was stuck inside mine. As I reached puberty my obsessions grew worse but I didn’t have a name for them. I knew they were beginning to affect my every day life and also those around me. That is when I went to my pediatrician. I was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and put on medication. After later researching OCD it was no surprise I was diagnosed with it. I would always feel as though my mind was against me. I would wonder if my mind was ever going to be on my side again? Along with the obsessions came the compulsions. Along with the compulsions, the depression and anxiety. Then the self harm. It was a never ending cycle of doom. Obviously my medication wasn’t working so I switched from a pediatrician to a pediatric psychiatrist. She changed my med cocktail and gave me some reassurance that these mental disorders could be treated. She also suggested I see a therapist and try attending a support group. I thought she was crazy but I wanted to get better so I was willing to try anything. I found NAMI and quickly became a member. After trying her suggestions, and some trial and error, my OCD was in remission. I worked hard in therapy and opened myself up to the process. I de-stigmatized the idea of support groups and actually learned a lot as well as met others who “got it.” Also, I stuck with the medicine and gave it a chance to work. Which for me was about a month. After all that progress, I was in pretty good shape. Not to say that I did not still struggle with behavioral health issues or would not need my meds, therapy and peer support, but I achieved something. My extremely hard work paid off. And it was extremely hard. I had to learn to say no to my compulsions and use my many new coping skills, I had to learn to set boundaries, I had to learn to take my medication regularly even when I felt fine, I had to learn to delve deep into my mind during therapy, I had to learn to trust others, and most importantly I had to learn to trust myself. At times I was struggling so badly that I did not want to live. I could not find a reason to. Today, I have hope. I have faith. Over the years I have continued to struggle and have even been admitted to several residential and outpatient treatment centers. At my lowest, I have even resorted to substance use. However, through determination and faith I have never stopped fighting, Now, I use many of NAMI’s resources to supplement my mental health and substance use recovery and I am actually looking into attending a training to help others who were where I was. My journey will not always be easy but it will be worth it. I am no longer ashamed of who I am. mental illness mental health inspiration hope coping treatment medication therapy recovery depression anxiety borderline personality disorder posttraumatic stress disorder obsessive compulsive disorder self-harm substance abuse eating disorders panic attacks NAMI Support Faith stigma 4 notes I AM BEING RAILROADED Long story short, the Pasco County Sheriffs Office, which has been involved with evidence and witness tampering in the past, is still involved with not only that, but RICO Act violations, which has been alleged in the past as well. They did not learn from their past “mistakes” and are now doing it to me. I can prove it, but I was not permitted to tell my side of the story. Up to my current situation, I have always admired police. I have submitted my evidence to the proper federal authorities. In the meantime, I have a Calendar Call at court tomorrow. I had to fire my lawyer for being incompetent, for ignoring exculpatory evidence, not even lifting a finger to help find a witness who will tell the truth. I can only submit the documents that the lawyer neglected to do. I am alone with this, and every day is agony and despair because of these liars. I bounce back occasionally, but I bounce a shorter distance with each recovery. Don’t know if I will survive this, so just an FYI: Be careful who and what you support and call a “hero”. There is nothing heroic about collusion tampering with evidence in order to get a man incarcerated. mental illness mental health treatment therapy schizophrenia bipolar disorder depression anxiety posttraumatic stress disorder attention deficit disorder schizoaffective disorder suicide self-harm panic attacks Support THRIVING SURVIVOR I’ve had bi-poplar my whole life but was never diagnose until 2008. In 2010 I tried to hurt myself & 2010 my life changed. I’ve always followed my Drs as they taught me listen to me & I’ve Never missed a day of my meds, exercise 5 days eat plant base visit with my Drs & helping others in need is very important to me! For me I need a few things to keep me healthy It didn’t come easy nothing in life really does! mental health inspiration hope medication therapy recovery 1 note *TRIGGER WARNING* SURVIVING AND THRIVING Hi- I never thought I’d be here. Full of fear, stigma and judgements. I feel my prior diagnosis has been misunderstood by many, but it also makes me the wonderful, intelligent, sensitive woman I am today. I was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder at age 24. I’ve had a second opinion at age 34. I’ve had different parts of me, some substance abusers, some self harm, some suicidal. I’ve been highly functioning at times in society; however, once we feel abandoned, it triggers the most suffering parts within us. I often feel alone and like nobody understands. My story is I’m a true survivor.,I just want to post my story for relational purposes through hope, love, and support. mental illness mental health hope recovery anxiety posttraumatic stress disorder self-harm substance abuse abuse Support stigma 2 notes FEMALE MOTHER MENTAL HEALTH THRIVER I am a post partum thriver after having birthed seven children over the span of 20 years and experienced depleted nutrition during 14 of those years while feeding my children by breast-milk from my sleep depraved mind. I found a supplement to increase my daily micronutrient intake that I was deficient in my food consumption and have been thriving for seven years now without using SSRI’s. I am grateful that NAMI exists for me and my children from my first behavioral hospital visit in Idaho in 2010. I love the work that National Alliance on Mental illness performs for individual mothers like me who need to know they’re never alone in the daily struggle of feeling healthy and happy with raising children. coping therapy depression posttraumatic stress disorder NAMI Support stigma MY MOTHER It was never about how dirty the house was or how many newspapers you had saved overtime or the amount of magnets you had on both fridges. It was the draining effect of what your mental illness would bring. What mom was I going to see today? Will she be nice and funny? Will she be mean and hurtful? Will she be sad and kept to herself? Everyday was different. Each had a little twist to them. From bipolar to manic to depression the things that are forbidden to be talked about. Yet they take so much away from people. I never hated you I just hated your illness. I hated that you became mean in a blink of an eye or you get sad within seconds and I did love when you were funny because we could crack jokes but all it took was for one little thing and you’d switch. I never wanted this for you. All I wanted was my mom. Your illness took over and it was so hard to love you. When you knew how to take the wound you opened and twist and dig it deeper. I know one day ill look back and be thankful for all the lessons learned and maybe help others one day, but for now I just want to help you. mental illness mental health medication schizophrenia bipolar disorder 4 notes HOPELESS TO HOPEFUL After years of substance use, abuse, and binging I have drug free and clean for almost 16 months. I had stopped many times but relapsed many times also. Today my life differs from what it used to be. I know I have a mental condition which has improved with medications and psychotherapy. I cope with life differently by talking to my real friends, family members, and professionals. I want to share my experience with you to let you know there is help for recovery and healing. You just have to ask for help when you need it I have experienced dark days in my lifetime and I know dealing with a mental illness can be stressful and draining. It is important to trust someone to ask for help. mental illness mental health inspiration hope coping treatment medication therapy recovery depression schizoaffective disorder substance abuse Faith 3 notes EMOTIONAL SUPPORT HOTLINE I started, “Let’s Talk Augusta”, which is an Emotional Support Hotline for Georgia. I am passing out cards in the community as well as posing signs on the roadside for people to call this hotline if they need someone to talk to. I was able to purchase materials through donations. mental illness mental health inspiration hope coping treatment therapy bipolar disorder depression anxiety posttraumatic stress disorder self-harm substance abuse panic attacks NAMI minoritymentalhealth Support Faith stigma 4 notes SUPPORT GROUP I would like to find a on line support group bipolar disorder 2 notes NO SHAME I could not believe this was my story but here I was a single mom with two kids battling postpartum depression and postpartum OCD. Not uncommon by any means yet, I felt so alone and invisible and clueless and anxious and scared. What was going on why were these thoughts running through my head and how could I make them stop. My answer was my faith, though I did not get healed for some time after I know that healing is possible. My story has taken a turn for the better and those two beautiful babies I had then are now smart strong healthy teenagers. My story is my own and I know there is no shame in it, waste nothing and use your story too just keep on going. Hold on the light is coming and relief and happiness can be yours! mental illness mental health inspiration hope depression anxiety obsessive compulsive disorder Faith 3 notes