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Over the past six months, I made progress in a way I didn’t realize that I would

So tonight, I finally made the decision to walk away from someone I once considered a close friend. They basically started an argument over my so-called “anxious communication style”—which honestly isn’t even an issue for me anymore—while acting like I had no right to call out the toxic things they’ve done. This is someone who has literally stolen my medication, crossed countless boundaries, and made everything about what I could give them—whether it was money, time, or emotional support—without giving anything real back.

For years, I kept trying to have adult conversations, to make things work, but it was always one-sided. Meanwhile, they’re out here doing drugs while working in a mental health facility, and I just kept letting it slide. But I’ve realized that if I want to grow, to heal, and to build a better life, I need to surround myself with people who respect me and bring out the best in me. So I let the friendship go they started to use my mental health challenges against me, and I was like I’m not gonna tolerate that this time and it felt good. #MentalHealth #Addiction #ADHD #AddictionRecovery #Neurodiversity #Addiction #Autism #Depression #ADHDInGirls #MightyTogether

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What’s one boundary you’ve set (or are working on setting) to protect your mental health?

A long time ago, I reached a turning point in my mental health journey. It wasn’t easy, but it was one of the most empowering things I’ve ever done: I stopped letting other people’s opinions, judgments, or unsolicited advice define who I am or how I heal. Living with mental health challenges, ADHD, or being neurodivergent already comes with enough struggles—I realized I didn’t need to carry the added weight of voices that didn’t understand my path.

I made a choice to take back my story and refuse to let the stigma around mental health shape my identity or dictate what healing “should” look like. I’ve learned to set boundaries with people who make me feel small, misunderstood, or pressured to “move on” before I’m ready. I’ve come to recognize the difference between advice that uplifts me—things like “I’m here for you,” “Take your time,” or “I’m listening”—and advice that leaves me feeling dismissed, rushed, or unheard.

Every day, I remind myself: this is my journey, my pace, my life. No one else gets to rewrite that for me

#MentalHealth #Addiction #ADHD #AddictionRecovery #Neurodiversity #MightyTogether #Addiction #Autism #Depression #ADHDInGirls #Anxiety
Why Getting Support is Half The Battle

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Why Getting Support is Half The Battle

I can tell you both from personal experience in my own mental health journey and as someone who has worked in the mental health field there is a lot of advice that is helpful, but there is also a lot of advice that does more to overwhelm you, cause self-doubt, or lead you to question your progress.
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Breaking Cycles: Why I Keep Choosing to Heal

I didn't choose to heal; it chose me.

I remember the moment I cut the cord from my parents, and it was scary and liberating. Not knowing how they would initially react, I was pleasantly surprised and heartbroken at their lack of outreach and misunderstanding. It's like they were waiting for this moment to happen. The longer I went without speaking to them, I began to realize the cold, hard truth that they didn't care at all.

Free from their grip, I began to spiral down a dark hole inside my mind of forgotten memories. I've lost count of how many times I've wanted to give up on that darkness. How many times I've told myself it's too hard, too painful, too much. But somehow I'm still here. Still trying to fulfill my purpose in this life.

I come from a lineage of people who survived by numbing, by silencing, by pretending nothing happened. So I came to this world to break all cycles, the ultimate generational curse breaker. It's literally in my birth chart. I felt a strong purpose since I was seven years old. I'm a firm believer that we choose our parents and the hardships we endure. I will clarify that we didn't sign up for exactly what happened; free will is truly a scary concept. I'm here to break the cycles of abuse, neglect, trauma, addiction, honestly, all of it.

All of the abuse I've been through, the neglect, the sexual abuse, emotional and verbal abuse has affected me in various ways. I'm emotionally intelligent, but my emotions explode because I was never taught how to regulate. I'm learning now. I stopped giving my body to random men well over ten years ago. Always searching for something that wasn't there or trying to fill the void of pain and loneliness. Teaching myself to be kind, not just to myself, but to others as well. Creating strong, healthy boundaries, learning to say no. The most challenging of them all: addiction.

I didn't start smoking cigarettes until the day after my 18th birthday, being peer pressured into it. I continued to smoke cigarettes until I was 31 years old and quit cold turkey. I started drinking the summer after high school, under peer pressure, to fit in with my friends, and I found an outlet. A way to cope with things that I didn't remember. I felt lost but found. There was smoking of cannabis during this time. I preferred smoking over drinking, but this was before it was legal in my state to purchase cannabis. I drank heavily for the next 8 years, always searching for someone to connect with on a physical level, but nothing beyond that. When I said the healing journey chose me, this is what I mean; in September 2015, I was at a wedding with some friends, and I had been drinking. Later in the evening, I got a migraine. My first ever, and that was the turning point in my life.

It was a glamorous journey. I struggled to be sober. I struggled with staying home on the weekends, not being able to be at the bar with friends. Who were not friends, just people that happened to be drinking at the same watering hole. It honestly wasn't until after the New Year that I started to make real changes. I saw a doctor, I went on depression meds, and started practicing Yoga once per week. I spent the next few years physcially detoxing from all the crap I put in my body. I changed my diet, tried to sleep more, exercise, etc. I felt like I was walking up an icy mountain, not really making any progress but still trying. Mainly because I was still living with my parents at this time. Still under their abusive manipulation. I had no idea what I had just started.

I did quit drinking. My mom was an alcoholic, so that's an easy no for me. She killed herself three years ago. That's another story, for another time. I did, however, utilize the fact that at the beginning of 2020, marijuana became legal in my state. It was a godsend. Marijuana helped me cope and process over the next 5 years, and now here I am present moment, writing this out and struggling to let go of my edibles. My body is rejecting them, just like my body was rejecting alcohol. I crave the numbness, the release, but my heart says no. It's an internal battle that I keep to myself, wishing to be sober, but the bridge to get there is burning, itchy cravings that are the hardest part to get through.

I'm at the end of my numbing journey. I now know that I don't need it anymore. It's the in-between the old and the new, learning to cope with new techniques. I now choose healing not because it's easy, but because I'm tired of pain being the only legacy I carry forward. I refuse to be like either of my parents. I won't let my story end the same way. I also know deep in my soul that I am meant to help bring great change. It may feel like to end is all around, but I have hope that this is the downfall that we all need. Whether that's on your own personal journey or in the current state of our world. The old must be exposed before the new can be accepted.

Even if you're the first in your family to choose healing, even if no one claps for you, your choice matters. You matter. And you're not alone.

#MentalHealth #change #CPTSD #healingjourney #soberiety #choices #TraumaRecovery #AddictionRecovery

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Hotline/ text lines

Anyone know any free hotlines or text lines for mental health or addiction support? I’m not in a crisis but just looking for some advice / guidance. #MentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #Hotline

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How's everyones summer going so far this summer I decided to try plant a few things. Whats something everyone would like to do this summer. #ADHD #ADHDInGirls #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #Neurodiversity #Anxiety #MentalHealth #Depression

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The Fundamental Five - eat well & enough , hydrate enough , exercise (PT for awhile 4 me) , holistic practice (yoga, meditation+)sleep well / enough

For me this has actually been a lifelong lesson. Amazing how 8 words of advice have been so hard for me to put into practice at times. Sadly in my life sometimes its taken for my body (and/or mind) to scream so loud that its been deafening enough for me to pay attention, yet I have found that even this can ebb & flow.

These days I'm pretty proud of how I’ve been taking care of myself. Its been basically 3+ years of very serious physical and mental struggles and I've learned that in the big picture no one else can take care of me and only I can deeply feel it when I don't.So I guess you could say I’ve been falling in love with myself!

*I've been eating much better (lots fruits, veggies & nuts especially...yet I love my milk and chocolate!)

*I’m exercising &/or doing home PT religiously. My spinal injuries have been part of that screaming voice quite a bit although its getting quieter, and as I told my first PT “I’m only going to get out of this what I put into it!” I've been at the gym regularly which is so empowering (plus its a really social place with great staff & members and I find it soooo mentally uplifting when I leave…knowing I'm taking care of myself)

*I actually was counting ounces of water I drank for a long while however now I'm doing great with that and carry bottles everywhere

*My holistic practice dropped off...then I found Box Breathing which I did before bed for awhile and I'm trying to get back to that, however I’ve found just stopping to breath and ground even for short moments throughout the day really makes a difference

*My spiritual practice is earth based and simple and so my church is nature and I pray to Great Spirit…my level of gratitude and reverence are stronger than ever!

*Now sleep...I will have to plead the fifth if I want to make other people happy about when I sleep, when I turns screens off, how much sleep I get etc…my stretch now is getting ENOUGH sleep and I'm exploring what my body can best function off with less meds. I've been very surprised how much less, yet in doing so I have maxxed myself out a lot recently! (its 6:00 am now, the birds are chirping as my music is lower. As a musician and deejay in college I never stopped being nocturnal. When I worked at the beach I always saw sunrises!!!... Then I went to sleep😉

Bottom line…

Life is a beautiful blessing, its a glorious day today, I got to see Mom & family for four days and that was good for my soul….and I'm going to keep smiling

Listen to your favorite music for a bit today
Go outside and wiggle your bare feet in the dirt
Eat a scrumptious piece of fruit or rich chocolate
HUG A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE…  or many…all day long!
(or a tree if you get out there and don't want to take your shoes off!

#MentalHealth #BipolarDisorder #BipolarDepression #Bipolar1 #Bipolar2 #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #Disability #Selfcare #COVID19 #AddictionRecovery #Addiction #Arthritis #Headache #Migraine #Anxiety #Eczema #InsideTheMighty #Trauma #ADHD #Cancer #RareDisease #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #BrainInjury #BackPain

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Gratitude changes everything #AddictionRecovery #PostTraumaticStressDisorder #Divorce #NarcissisticPersonalityDisorder #MentalHealth

Feeling a lot of gratitude lately for my life, my addiction recovery, my mental health, getting through 26 years with a narcissist, post divorce, and just feeling blessed! Gratitude changes everything!

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How has your perspective on recovery changed over time?

As I recover from persistent depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and perfectionism, I’ve found that my perspective has changed numerous times—shaping how I interact with myself, recognize my limits, consistently ask for help, prioritize my health, grow my empathy for myself and others, build community, and even foster my creativity.

Even though the process has been challenging and uncomfortable, I’m learning that it’s OK to make mistakes and express emotions like frustration, anger, and annoyance—without seeing them as negative or believing they make me a bad person. I’m still figuring out where I feel at home in the world and how to explore love more freely, but I’m willing to keep going because I know I deserve it.

What about you? How has your perspective on recovery changed?

#CheckInWithMe #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Depression #Anxiety #MentalHealth #Recovery #EatingDisorder #EatingDisorderRecovery #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #SubstanceRelatedDisorders #PTSD #ComplexPosttraumaticStressDisorder #Selfharm

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