One of my recent password-protected posts has inspired me to go on an informative mission. I would really like for people to understand mental illnesses better. In an ideal world, there would be no stigma, shame, or trivialization. I strongly believe that such a world can exist, but we must work towards it. And you know, this is important. Because 26 percent of American adults has some sort of mental illness (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml). Guys, that’s a little more than one in four. One in four. Don’t act like mental illnesses are reserved for people who “seem” crazy. We are normal people. We are among you. (That sounds like a like from a horror film, sorry.)
Oh, and before I start, I just want to say that I didn’t come up with the idea to bombard you with a ton of links. I kinda took it from a friend who did this a few months ago…but I get a considerable amount of publicity on this blog, so I thought it would be helpful to put it here. I will also include additional information that I may find helpful.
Okay, now I can begin. All the information!
General Information
http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=about_mental_illness
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2008/06/13/10-myths-of-mental-illness/
http://www.cmha.ca/mental_health/myths-about-mental-illness/#.U8BASV5H1FI
Depression
I have included a link pertaining to child/adolescent depression because a lot of people pass it off as “oh (s)he is just moody” or some other bull. Children and teenagers can be depressed, and parents/caregivers absolutely need to be more aware of stuff like this.
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=depression
http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=education_statistics_depression
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=88551
If anyone tells you depression isn’t real, or if it’s “attention-seeking” or “not a serious problem”, I give you full permission to slap her/him. Just kidding. Slap them metaphorically. With information.
Anxiety (General Anxiety)
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad/index.shtml
http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad
http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder
Also it might be helpful to know that anxiety and depression have a huge comorbidity (basically occurring together) rate, up to 60 percent. If you want the source for that I can give it to you. I’m just trying to save some time.
OCD
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/ocd/
http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd
http://www.psychiatry.org/obsessive-compulsive-disorder
Do not, I repeat, do not use OCD as an adjective. Doing so has become so terribly widespread. Adjusting a crooked picture frame does not mean you have OCD. I have loved ones who have it, and it is honestly such a hard thing to live with.
Panic Disorder
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/panic-disorder/index.shtml
http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/About_Mental_Illness/By_Illness/Panic_Disorder.htm
http://www.psychiatry.org/panic-disorder
Stressing before a test =/= panic attack. ‘Kay?
PTSD
Trigger warnings for mentions of rape, sexual assault, violence
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd/index.shtml
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/ptsd/
http://www.ptsdalliance.org/about_what.html
Phobias
http://psychology.about.com/od/phobias/f/dis_phobiadef.htm
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/specific-phobia-symptoms/all/1/
Agoraphobia
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/agoraphobia-symptoms/
Social phobia (social anxiety)
http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder
Bipolar Disorder
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml
http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Mental_Illnesses/Bipolar1/Home_-_What_is_Bipolar_Disorder_.htm
http://www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=education_bipolar
Contrary to what a lot of people think, bipolar isn’t feeling happy one second and sad the next. Please do not use bipolar when describing the weather, your temperamental ex, or in any way not pertaining to the actual disorder.
Schizophrenia
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=schizophrenia9
http://www.medicinenet.com/schizophrenia/page2.htm
Schizophrenia is not having different personalities. Neither is bipolar.
Dissociative Identity Disorder (previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder)
http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/About_Mental_Illness/By_Illness/Dissociative_Identity_Disorder.htm
http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/dissociative-identity-disorder-multiple-personality-disorder
Eating Disorders
http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/general-information
Anorexia
http://www.anad.org/get-information/about-eating-disorders/anorexia-nervosa/
http://www.everydayhealth.com/eating-disorders/all-about-anorexia-nervosa.aspx
Bulimia
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/bulimia-nervosa
http://www.nami.org/Content/ContentGroups/Helpline1/Bulimia.htm
Binge Eating Disorder
https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/binge-eating-disorder
http://www.anad.org/get-information/about-eating-disorders/binge-eating-disorder/
Substance Abuse Disorder
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-use-disorders
http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/alcohol-disorders.aspx
http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/Substance%20Use%20Disorder%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
http://www.mentalhealth.gov/what-to-look-for/substance-abuse/
Others
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/oppositional-defiant-disorder-symptoms/
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/conduct-disorder-symptoms/
http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/intermittent-explosive-disorder
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/somatisationsomatoform-disorders
http://www.nami.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Inform_Yourself/About_Mental_Illness/By_Illness/Schizoaffective_Disorder.htm
Personality Disorders
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/personality-disorder/pages/definition.aspx
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/hide-and-seek/201205/the-10-personality-disorders
Paranoid Personality Disorder
http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/paranoid-personality-disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/schizotypal-personality-disorder-symptoms/
Schizoid Personality Disorder
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/schizoid-personality-disorder-symptoms/
Antisocial Personality Disorder
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/antisocial-personality-disorder-symptoms/
Borderline Personality Disorder
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality-disorder/index.shtml
Histrionic Personality Disorder
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/histrionic-personality-disorder-symptoms/
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/narcissistic-personality-disorder-symptoms/
Avoidant Personality Disorder
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/avoidant-personality-disorder-symptoms/
Dependent Personality Disorder
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/dependent-personality-disorder-symptoms/
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (not OCD, by the way)
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/obsessive-compulsive-personality-disorder-symptoms/
Self-Injury Information
*Trigger warnings for mentions of different self-harm methods*
Self-injury is not done for attention, and it is generally not a suicidal behavior. It can be extremely addictive, not something you can simply quit on a whim. The path to recovery is long, but worthwhile.
*Also I want to brag a little about being over four months self-harm free! To anyone going through this, I know you can do it. I believe in you!*
http://www.selfinjury.bctr.cornell.edu/about-self-injury.html
http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/Facts_for_Families_Pages/Self_Injury_In_Adolescents_73.aspx
Suicide Facts and Statistics
If someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, you need to tell somebody, even if they made you swear to keep it secret. It would be better to tell an adult and have your friend be angry at you than to keep quiet and lose a friend forever. And if you are having suicidal thoughts, please find professional help! Please! I’m not kidding in the slightest. It’s so important.
*Trigger warning for mention of suicide methods (in context of statistics)*
http://www.thetrevorproject.org/pages/facts-about-suicide
http://www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=705D5DF4-055B-F1EC-3F66462866FCB4E6
https://www.afsp.org/understanding-suicide/facts-and-figures
Suicide Hotlines by Country
http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html
http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Suicide_hotlines
Personal Stories
I have not read or watched all of these, so there may be some triggering material in here.
http://www.mentalhealth.wa.gov.au/mental_illness_and_health/stories.aspx
http://www.mentalhealth.com/story/p52.html
http://www.youngminds.org.uk/for_children_young_people/real_stories
If you would like to hear about my life with bipolar disorder and my recovery from self-injury, I would be happy to discuss it with you.
Fun Resources
Mostly tumblr accounts made by people with mental illness, for people with mental illness. I have not looked at every meme on all these, but there may be some triggering material.
http://fuckyeahbipolarowl.tumblr.com
http://anxietycat.tumblr.com
http://borderlinescorpion.tumblr.com
http://clinicallydepressedpug.tumblr.com
Famous People with Mental Illnesses
If anyone tells you can’t be successful because of your illness, show them these.
http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2014/03/12/6-famous-people-with-depression-who-inspire-me/
http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-famous-people.shtml
http://www.mental-health-today.com/bp/famous_people.htm
http://schizophrenia.com/famous.htm#
If I’ve missed anything, please let me know! I would be glad to find more links.
Overall, just remember that mental illnesses are real and basically just like physical illnesses. There is nothing to be ashamed of. If you would like to share your story or experiences, I would be happy to listen! Just drop it by in the comment box.
Oh yes–and I would really appreciate if you could share this and get the word out! Everyone could use some more knowledge, including myself.
xx Abigail
