Content notice: suicide. This piece was originally published at The Body Is Not An Apology. Far and away, the most frequently asked question I receive as a writer with bipolar and anxiety is, “How did you get to a place where you could be this open about your struggles?” It’s usually followed with a question [...]
Tag: disability
You Are Not a Burden, and 4 Other Things I Wish I’d Known About Mental Illness
Illustration by Jessica Krcmarik. This might as well be part two, because quite a while back, I wrote a pretty exhaustive list of things that newly-diagnosed folks with bipolar might want to know. This might just be an ongoing series where readers have the privilege of learning from my mistakes, because I’ve made more than [...]
Fat by Choice: Happy (and Healthy!) At the Intersections of Size and Mental Health
Almost two years ago now, I began taking a medication with the hope that I could finally manage the aggressive symptoms that came with mental illness. I was experiencing despondent, suicidal lows; I felt panicked, paranoid, and inexplicably angry. But by far the worst part of what was happening was the feeling that I wasn’t [...]
A Guide to Self-Care for People with Anxiety
[The image features a metal case, presumably a first aid kit, with the words "SELF CARE" on top.] Holy anxiety, batman. If there's one thing readers want to hear more about, it's my experiences with anxiety -- namely, how I cope with it. It seems like a lot of us are still trying to [...]
Coming Out Again: Why More Queer Folks with Mental Illnesses Need to Speak Out
Illustration by Jessica Krcmarik. Many of us in the LGBTQIA+ community know all too well what it’s like to be queer with a mental illness. I know this because when I tell you that I have a mental illness, more than half of you say, “Me too.” We have these conversations on the regular – [...]
I Take “Crazy Pills” and I Am Not Ashamed
[The illustration features a place mat with an array of breakfast foods and coffee. A pair of arms rests on the mat. One hand is holding a spoon; the other hand is clutching onto a pill bottle.] I remember the first "crazy pill" that I ever took. I was on vacation in Tennessee, sitting on [...]
If It’s Not Accessible, Who Is It For?
Since going viral last October, the invitations to speak at conferences and other events have slowly but surely started trickling in. At first, it was thrilling. I’ve always wanted to travel and talk about my experiences, because I still believe that face-to-face interaction does something that my words on the screen simply can’t. I wanted [...]
8 Tips on Respectfully Talking Pleasure, Sex, and Bodies With Your Trans Lover
Content warning: slurs This piece is one I wrote originally for Everyday Feminism, cross-posted with permission. Because I feel conversations about sex and consent are so important, especially when they pertain to less visible identities, I'm sharing it here as well. I hope this is useful information for readers, regardless of their gender identity or [...]
The “Self-Help” Genre Has a Big Problem with Depression
Self-help articles are great. In this day and age, the internet is one of the largest sources of self-help content -- and as someone who loves to uplift others and be uplifted, this is a genre that I have a strong affinity for. But I’ve noticed this really unfortunate trend as of late – namely, [...]
For the Last Time: Mental Illnesses Are Not Adjectives
Ugh. So let's talk about this mess: It’s been said before, and it should be common knowledge by now, but apparently it isn’t. So here’s a fun fact: Mental illnesses are not adjectives. I’m angry. I'm angry because this isn’t the first time I’ve seen “bipolar” used in such a frivolous, insensitive way, and I’m [...]
