1 We see the individual first NOT the illness !

2 We recognize that Mental Illnesses are Medical Issues !

3 We recognize Mental Illness is Traumatic !

4 We aim for better coping skills !

5 We find faith in sharing experiences !

6 We REJECT stigma and DO NOT tolerate discrimination !

7 We won’t judge anyone elses pain as less than our own !

8 We forgive ourselves and reject guilt !

9 We embrace humor as healthy !

10 We accept we can’t solve all problems !

11 We expect a better future in a realistic way !

12 We will NEVER give up HOPE !

Did you know that more than 43 million adults in our country struggled with Mental Illness in the past year? Half of us will meet the criteria for a diagnosable Mental Health condition at some point in our lives; one quarter by the age of 14 yrs. old. 

When it comes to Mental Health conditions, silence is not golden. Silence breeds stigma, and stigma prevents people from seeking help. 

Together, we can fight stigma and encourage our family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors to seek help when they need it. Most Mental Illness begins in adolescence, yet it can take years for individuals to seek treatment. Stigma prevents people from seeking life-saving treatment and support. Mental Health Support Community hopes that you will join forces with us to inspire each other and to talk about Mental Illness, so that individuals won’t be afraid to seek the help they need.

“Each person holds so much power within themselves that needs to be let out. Sometimes they just need a little nudge, a little direction, a little support, a little coaching, and the greatest things can happen.”  -Pete Carroll-

Psychiatrist:

A Psychiatrist is a doctor who specializes in Emotional, Behavioral, or Mental Disorders..

Therapist/Psychologist:

Therapy helps you learn Self-Awareness and how to process your Emotions. There are many types of Therapy including Talk Therapy or Therapies where you learn specific Coping Skills such as DBT, CBT, and Mindfulness.

See a Mental Health Professional if you experience changes in your behavior, or if your loved ones notice it as well, a diagnosis is the first step to learning more about what you have, and how to treat it. Take notes about what symptoms you experience, and bring them with you to your appointment. Use this Mood Disorder Questionnaire as a starting point:  
International Bipolar Foundation
 

All types of Mood Disorders have been associated with Suicide. These include Bipolar Affective Disorder, Depressive Episode, Recurrent Depressive Didorder, and persistent Mood Disorders, (e.g. Cyclothymia, and Dysthymia), which form categories F31-F34 in ICD-10 (1). Suicide is therefore a significant risk in unrecognized Depression. Depression has a high prevalence in the general population and is not recognized by many as a Disease. It is estimated that 30% of patients seen by a Physician are suffering from Depresson. Roughly 60% of those who do seek treatment initially contact a General Practitioner. It is a special challenge for the Physician to work with both Physical Disease, and Psychological Disorders simultaneously. In many instances, Depression is masked and patients present only with the somatic complaints.

Depression is a real and debilitating condition that is often misunderstood by family and friends. Its meaning can range from a prolonged period of sadness to an actual mental illness with specific symptoms. Find and share experiences with others who are going through the same struggles.

• Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others’ experiences, and find support.What is Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain and behavior disorder characterized by severe shifts in a person’s mood and energy, making it difficult for the person to function. More than 5.7 million American adults or 2.6 percent of the population age 18 or older in any given year have bipolar disorder. The condition typically starts in late adolescence or early adulthood, although it can show up in children and in older adults. People often live with the disorder without having it properly diagnosed and treated.
• Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General Anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate an Anxiety Disorder.
• Borderline Personality Disorder BPD is an extremely difficult mental illness to deal with and I am hoping to be able to share experiences, advice and support to help people living with it.
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric disorder, more specifically, an anxiety disorder. OCD is manifested in a variety of forms, but is most commonly characterized by a subject’s obsessive (repetitive, distressing, intrusive) thoughts and related compulsions (tasks or rituals) which attempt to neutralize the obsessions.
• A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often disabling.
• Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder, often precipitated by the fear of having a panic attack in a setting from which there is no easy means of escape. As a result, sufferers of agoraphobia may avoid public and/or unfamiliar places. In severe cases, the sufferer may become confined to their home, experiencing difficulty traveling from this “safe place.”
• A phobia (from the Greek “fear”), is a strong, persistent fear of situations, objects, activities, or persons. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive, unreasonable desire to avoid the feared subject. When the fear is beyond one’s control, or if the fear is interfering with daily life, then a diagnosis under one of the anxiety disorders can be made.
• Eating disorders are marked by an obsessive need to control the intake and/or purging of food. This community is dedicated to those struggling on the road to recovery. Join to discuss your experience with others and find support. Get advice, ask questions, and meet others who are going through similar struggles.
• Dissociative identity disorder is a diagnosis described as the existence in an individual of two or more distinct identities or personalities, each with its own pattern of perceiving and interacting with the environment. At least two of these personalities are considered to routinely take control of the individual’s behavior, and there is also some associated memory loss, which is beyond normal forgetfulness. This memory loss is often referred to as “losing time”. These symptoms must occur independently of substance abuse or a general medical condition. Dissociative identity disorder was initially named multiple personality disorder, and, as referenced above, that name remains in the International Statistical Classification of Diseases. 
• Abuse is a general term for the treatment of someone that causes some kind of harm (to the abused person, to the abusers themselves, or to someone else) that is unlawful or wrongful. No one deserves abuse, period. Abuse can be emotional, physical, or sexual.
• PTSD / Find support with others who have gone through a traumatic experience. Whether you have chronic or acute PTSD, we are here for you.
• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD) are more common than you might think. It is a syndrome that exhibits symptoms such as hyperactivity, forgetfulness, mood shifts, poor impulse control, and distractibility. Join others who suffer from these conditions and share your experiences.
• Loneliness is an emotional state in which a person experiences a powerful feeling of emptiness and isolation. Loneliness is more than the feeling of wanting company or wanting to do something with another person. Loneliness is a feeling of being cut off, disconnected and alienated from other people. he lonely person may find it difficult or even impossible to have any form of meaningful human contact. Lonely people often experience a subjective sense of inner emptiness or hollowness, with feelings of separation or isolation from the world… Why Do People Get Lonely? People can experience loneliness for many reasons, and many life events are associated with it. The lack of friendship relations during childhood, adolescence, and etc….
• Schizophrenia is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental disorder characterized by impairments in the perception of reality and by significant social dysfunction. Untreated schizophrenia is typically characterized by demonstrating disorganized thinking and experiencing delusions or auditory hallucinations.

-Seasonal affective disorder, also known as S.A.D., winter depression or the winter blues is an affective, or mood, disorder. Most SAD sufferers experience normal mental health throughout most of the year, but experience depressive symptoms in the winter or summer. The condition in the summer is often referred to as Reverse Seasonal Affective Disorder. Seasonal mood variations are believed to be related to light. An argument for this view is the effectiveness of bright light therapy. SAD is measurably present at latitudes in the Arctic region, such as Finland where the rate of SAD is 9.5% Cloud cover may contribute to the negative effects of SAD. SAD can be a serious disorder and may require hospitalization.

Bipolar or Manic Depressive Disorder is a Mood Disorder that causes radical emotional changes and mood swings, from Manic highs to Depressive lows. The majority of Bipolar individuals experience alternating episodes of Mania and Depression from a minor state of life, to lifelong disability. The information here should not be used as a substitute for seeking Medical care for Diagnose or Treatment. We are strictly Volunteered based. The Group is being created for all to come via “Multiple” Mental Disorders they may be going through with Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar Disorder and other serious Brain Diseases are an extreme challenge for the individual and the entire family. 

Mental Health and Wellness disorders are illnesses that involve the body, mood, spirit, and thoughts! It affects how one eats, and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things! Sometimes referred to as Psychiatric or Psychologic Disorders, Mental Health Disorders are caused by complex interactions between Physical, Psychologic, Social, Cultural, and Hereditary influences. They involve disturbances in thinking, emotion, and/or behavior. Small disturbances in these aspects of life are common, but when such disturbances distress the person greatly, interfere with daily life, or both, they are considered Mental Illness or a Mental Health Disorder. The effects of Mental Illness may be long-lasting or temporary.

We believe that people become empowered to help themselves and others when they feel a part of something. Sharing in your journey with others will help take the focus off of yourself and in return I feel, and have heard others as well state that they felt much gratification that their story, and or struggles just may be for a reason, to help those struggling, and in reaching out to those whom don’t have a voice yet! We offer to help those individuals diagnosed by sharing coping mechanisms, in hopes to learn from each other’s struggles, and possibly be able to lend a helping hand in helping someone else…. Communicating, sharing, and connecting with others in a Community will have a positive effect on healing in your life…. 

There’s a strong link between good mental health and good physical health, and vice versa. In the other direction, depression and other mental health issues can contribute to digestive disorders, trouble sleeping, lack of energy, heart disease, and other health issues. There are many ways to keep your mind and mood in optimal shape. Exercise, healthy eating, and stress reduction techniques like meditation or mindfulness can keep your brain — and your body — in tip-top shape. When mood and mental health slip, doing something about it as early as possible can keep the change from getting worse or becoming permanent. Treating conditions like depression and anxiety improve quality of life. Learning to manage stress makes for more satisfying and productive days.

If you have been diagnosed with any Mental Health Disorder we ‘welcome’ you to this Peer Support Community. We offer you to give and gain Peer Support through your journey of Symptoms, Triggers, Treatment, and Recovery.

We do “NOT” participate in our Support Group Community as Professionals! 

We are Advocates on The Road to Recovery!

We believe that traditionally in Society, Mental Health concerns have been stigmatized with people often expressing both prejudice and discrimination toward those with a Mental Disorder Diagnosis. Furthermore, people with Mental Health concerns often have nowhere to turn for Support. We offer a caring and Safe Environment.

Immediate Telephone Support:

YOU MUST BE 18 YEARS OR OLDER TO JOIN IN OUR SUPPORT GROUP COMMUNITY…

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Here are six strategies that educators and parents can use to teach and practice positive self-talk with kids and young adults:

1. Model positive self-talk. Practice using positive thinking skills aloud when talking about yourself and others. A simple way to start is with positive thoughts in the morning such as, “Today is going to be a great day” or “I’m ready for whatever the day brings me”. It’s helpful to highlight the positive, even in difficult situations or setbacks. After a bad grade on a test, you might talk with the child to say, “It’s one bad grade and you’ll be okay. You can learn from this can get better next time. The most important thing is that you try your best”. Similarly, give genuine compliments to others freely and encourage seeing the bright side of things. That type of optimism is often contagious.

2. Create a list of positive self-talk statements.Use this free list of 101 Positive Thinking Affirmations to help kids and young adults read through a list of positive self-talk statements. Kids can select from the list or come up with their own to create their own personalized list of ten favorite statements. Having a pre-made list can be helpful to start discussing exactly what positive self-talk sounds like.

Free list of 101 positive thinking affirmations

3. Discuss the benefits to positive self-talk. Be open about what self-talk is and how it helps. Kids, and especially teens, might be skeptical about why they should change their thinking at first. Many psychology and self-help resources online can be worth reading and discussing together. Also know that practicing self-talk out loud might seem silly at times, but you have to change your words before you can really change the silent thinking in your head.

4. Incorporate crafts as a way to remember positive self-talk. Creating simple crafts with positive self-talk can be a great way for kids and young adults to learn positive self-talk. Best of all, kids can keep their craft for times when they need extra support. They can use it to help them start the day on a positive note or when they are feeling anxious, stressed, sad, or angry. You can create crafts on your own or find sample crafts to use. The craft below is a Positive Self-Talk Flower Craft that is easy to make and small enough to bring anywhere.

Use crafts to teach and practice positive self-talk

5. Practice changing negative thoughts into more positives ones. You can do this with made-up examples or real-life situations. Using an example like, “I only did well on this test due to luck”, challenge kids and young adults to turn the statement into a more positive one. Also, when a kid or young adult brings up a negative thought, encourage him or her to change it to positive self-talk.

Use positive thinking task cards to reinforce positive self-talk

6. Talk about real life challenges and situations.Talk about the challenges kids and young adults are going through and how they feel about those situations. This can be done in small groups, 1:1, or even in larger groups. Ask questions like, “What can you learn from that situation?”, “What could the positive to that be?”, “What did you do right?” and “How could that help you for the future?”. Try to focus on the positive, what went right, and what can be learned instead of dwelling on the negative. Setbacks and failures are great times to use positive self-talk because they are the prime time for feeling down. Use these real-life situations to show how positive self-talk can help you get back up again when faced with a difficulty or disappointment.

Remember that you don’t need to be a counselor or psychologist to practice positive self-talk with kids and young adults. It’s true that anyone can teach and practice it. The ultimate goal is for kids and young adults to develop a stronger sense of self-confidence, allowing them to become more independent and reach their individual potentials along the way.