Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve debated back and forth with the idea of taking on blogging at Mental Health Notes. The advocate in me was leaping with joy at the opportunity to continue an effort that takes me back nearly twelve years – the other side of me struggled greatly with sharing deep, personal details from my own experiences as both a consumer, a wife, a mother, a daughter and a granddaughter of those who currently battle or have battled mental illness to varied degrees.
I’ve spent a great deal of time over the last couple of years …read more

I spent a pretty decent amount of time trying to think of a clever way to begin this post, but it’s apparent the only way to begin it is to just come right out with it:
Yesterday, I felt the weight of mental health stigma like never before.
Yesterday a local health and fitness center hosted its annual community health fair at which health-related organizations from all over the county set up booths with information about their services, freebies, and drawings for door prizes. My state’s NAMI Community Family Outreach Coordinator sets a booth up each year, and because this is the …read more

Grab Drug Advertisements by the Pills: Part Five
We’ve determined that most medications featured in drug advertisements are both the priciest and the newest drugs on the market, which unfortunately means you could end up emptying your pockets just to experience some pretty serious, unknown side effects.
However, there is good news. In addition to asking your doctor about cheaper prescription medications that have been around longer (and have better understood side effects), you could also ask your doctor about any lifestyle changes and alternative remedies that may provide similar management benefits and symptom relief.
For example, did you know that each of …read more

I Must Shave My Legs: The OCD Miniseries – Part 6
Once you’ve been properly diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, there are three main categories of treatment and management options for you: psychotherapy, medications, and self-care.
Psychotherapy
The Mayo Clinic gives a great, thorough definition of psychotherapy.
In short, psychotherapy is effective for both children and adults, and the form of psychotherapy called “cognitive behavior therapy” is generally used for treating and managing OCD. If your doctor suggests cognitive behavior therapy, you may engage in activities designed to help you retrain your current routines and thought patterns in order to squash compulsive behaviors, i.e. make …read more