Individuals can overcome their individual challenges and barriers and achieve recovery. They must be able to choose their own path, and decide how and when they will access resources, including treatment services. These personal stories about achieving and living in recovery are powerful reminders of what is possible for those living with mental illness and substance use disorders.
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September 9, 2014
by Marti Wormuth, MA
If you've looked at the news lately, you've likely noticed that there is a lot going on in the world of mental health. It can be hard to understand, especially if it's not something that you're used to seeing, but in recent years it has become obvious that mental health issues are more prevalent in the United States than in any other country on the planet. Why is this the case? What is so different about the United States that it seems to be "that much worse" when it comes to mental health struggles?
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There are many causes for mental illness, including biological, social, and emotional factors. Being a single mother can be incredibly stressful, and stress can contribute to the development of mental illness, or aggravate existing mental health problems. In one study, single mothers were found to have more incidences of moderate to severe mental disability than women who had partners to help with parenting. Financial hardship and lack of social support were two factors thought to contribute to the increased incidence of mental illness Crosier, Butterworth, & Rodgers, 2007).
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August 23, 2014
by Cathy England, MA
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) was formerly known as multiple personality disorder, and remains to this day as one of the most controversial and misunderstood disorders in the Diagnostic Manual. It is a difficult diagnosis to make, and often is more difficult to treat. It has been the topic of many Hollywood productions which gives laypeople an idea that they understand what it is, but as is often the case in movies and media, there is some sensationalism that occurs. It is not a common diagnosis and is only one of the classified dissociative disorders.
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August 10, 2014
by Christie Hunter
The Paralympic games are both a welcome reminder of the amazing potential of physically challenged athletes as well as the innate human ability to transcend our physical boundaries. These athletes prove time and again that mind does take precedence over matter in the end. The brain is unlike any other organ in the human body. There are trillions of neurons whizzing by at near light speeds in billions of synaptic nerves in the brain flooding us with the information about the outside world.
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July 31, 2014
by Cathy England, MA
For individuals with mental illness, dealing with all of the associated problems is difficult. Having to face the judgment from themselves and from others can often compound the problem. Mental illness is still something that people do not generally want to talk about in positive and productive ways. The silence is often born of the worry about the stigma attached to it.
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May 5, 2014
by Christie Hunter
Everyone wants to live in a world with limitless vacation days. In reality, only one segment of the population achieves such a lifestyle: retirees. Once the threshold of retirement is crossed, 40 years of full-time employment seems worth the hard work. However, the romanticism that surrounds this milestone is tempered by physical aches, pains and other conditions that come with age.
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There are many myths and false assumptions about mental illness that are repeated every day and can still be a huge detriment to people who need help with their mental health.
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