What Does Depression Do To A Person?

By Jim Ashley

That seems to be a topic that’s never discussed in-depth. For some people, depression causes some to take their own life by means of suicide. Why do people with mental health illnesses take their own lives? To them, they reached the conclusion that suicide was the solution to end all the mental and emotional pain they’ve been suffering for any period of time (whether weeks, months, or years). Suicide is not cowardly, but rather, a desperate act that was reached with a clouded thought process. If you know someone who is discussing suicide, take it seriously and immediately get them some help!

Welcome! Our New Contributor Sami!

Hello!

I’m Sami and I’m going to be here to talk about the more geeky side of mental health. I’m a medical neuroscience undergraduate and was inspired to take on this degree from my own experiences with mental illness. I’m very late to the university-game at the grand old age of 26, but I’m of the opinion it’s better late than never!

The Birth of a Son

Joe and I were together for nearly a year and a half before we had a separation. He had cold feet. He insisted he was to go to California and become a monk. It was traumatizing to me. It was a cold exchange of words from an otherwise warm man. My bipolar disorder/borderline was in full swing when he dropped me off to my apartment to say goodbye. I was alone, in a city, with nothing. I was frightened. I had no job, no money and had never been on my own before. I hated him.

Welcome! Our New Contributor Becca!

My husband and I always wanted a big family, so three years ago when we found out we were expecting

baby number seven, we were ecstatic. As the months went on, things began to change and I wasn’t as

excited about the pregnancy as I had been before. I was homeschooling our other children and life

began to feel like one big obstacle to overcome. Four months later I found myself in our local Emergency

Room beginning to speak to a social worker because I was feeling suicidal.

Chinese Food, Mustaches and Empty Toilet Paper Rolls

We live in a really small town in northern Michigan so grocery shopping is truly a full day event. The nearest supermarket is 30 minutes away, so we only shop every 1 ½ weeks or so. So yesterday, we decided to have lunch with the kids before we went on our long and tedious shopping trip.

Going off my Meds: Recipe for Disaster

I have always had my doubts. Is something really wrong with me? Maybe I am just a bitch? Maybe I over exaggerate? Maybe I am just lazy? Maybe I am just hyper? Most people with mental illness feel this way at one point in their lives. This type of denial is the dangerous and potentially deadly kind. A few months ago, I began binging and purging in a halfhearted attempt to lose weight. In hindsight I realize I was going through a pretty traumatic manic phase. 

Mass Shootings=Mental Illness?

In the wake of yet another mass school shooting in America, the country mourns. We are angry. Why is this happening in our country? What is going on? And yet, as I flip on my television…what do I see? It’s certainly not anything about gun control or raising children properly, but alas, mental illness. No one is disputing that our mental health system is a wreck. I know from firsthand experience that it is a travesty by any other word.