Addiction

Join the Conversation on
Addiction
45K people
0 stories
5.3K posts
About Addiction
Explore Our Newsletters
What's New in Addiction
All
Stories
Posts
Videos
Latest
Trending
Post
See full photo

Things to let go of

Which one of these is the most difficult for you to let go of? Which one has been easy? If one has been easy, can you share how you did it so someone else who finds it hard can learn from your experience? If this goes right, we will have methods for letting go of all of these by the end of the day. Can we do this as a team?

Also, I'm so grateful for all of you and would love to get to know you all better outside of The Mighty, so if you're on Instagram, feel free to reach out at:

www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

Speaking of thanks for all, I was hoping we could acknowledge everyone who comments below. I know it seems like a small gesture, but many people here have never opened up to anyone before and being open and honest with strangers can be quite scary. So, if we could show our gratitude by giving their comment a simple reply or heart, I’m sure they would really appreciate your team support. What do you say?

#MentalHealth #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #BorderlineP ersonalityDisorder #Addiction #dissociativedisorders #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Fibromyalgia #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #Cancer #RareDisease #Disability #Autism #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Suicide #MightyTogether #SchizophreniaSpectrumPsychoticDisorders

55 reactions 12 comments
Post
See full photo

When you are depressed or in pain what would be the most supportive thing a friend or loved one could say to you? What would be the most comforting?

I can get pretty bad social anxiety these days, and I always fear people will say “What have you been up to…?” I know they would mean well, but the honest answer would be that I've been busy going to doctors, PT & therapy appointments..and practicing self care… treating pain in four parts of my body, off & on for hours each day. But I really don't want our conversation to focus on discussing this…as I often feel a need to explain further, answer the inevitable questions and hear their concern, and often sympathy I’m definitely not looking for!

Even if people say positive things like “You look great!” I think… if they only knew how I feel INSIDE…(I have been dealing with numerous Invisible Illnesses)

Can you relate to these?

What would you like people to stop asking? What have people said that you felt was callous, unsympathetic or uncaring? What words have been the most hurtful?

When you are struggling, what can people say that would help the most? How can they let you know they’ve got your back? What if you could have someone say (or not say) anything you want to make you feel better…What would you want to hear?

Please share your responses to the question(s) that speak to you the most ….your experiences, and what you would (and wouldn't!) like to hear. I find that in hearing other members' responses to them they often could basically be telling my story and we are on similar journeys. I have found this opportunity to empathize with each other here helps me feel less alone!

——————————————————————————-

👍We just went soaring past 2,500 members!👍 It seems that I just posted about 2,222 so recently. I am humbled and grateful that you all have joined me here and are sharing this journey connecting with each other! It’s become more than I even imagined when I started this group a few years ago…let’s keep asking for support, offering it, and empathizing & being there for each other! 🤗🫶🩷🤝👏🤝🙌🤝🩷🫶🤗

#MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #Disability #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Selflove #Selfcare #BipolarDisorder #BipolarDepression #ADHD #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #COVID19 #Migraine #Headache #HIVAIDS #PeripheralNeuropathy #BackPain #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #CheckInWithMe #InsideTheMighty #MightyTogether #DistractMe #mighty #conqueryourmind

20 reactions 7 comments
Post
See full photo

Choose your focus

The thing about negativity is that if you look for it, you will find it. Fortunately, if you look for positivity, you will find that too. Which one will you focus on?

Also, I'm so grateful for all of you and would love to get to know you all better outside of The Mighty, so if you're on Instagram, feel free to reach out at:

www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

Speaking of thanks for all, I was hoping we could acknowledge everyone who comments below. I know it seems like a small gesture, but many people here have never opened up to anyone before and being open and honest with strangers can be quite scary. So, if we could show our gratitude by giving their comment a simple reply or heart, I’m sure they would really appreciate your team support. What do you say?

#MentalHealth #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Addiction #dissociativedisorders #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Fibromyalgia #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #Cancer #RareDisease #Disability #Autism #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Suicide #MightyTogether #SchizophreniaSpectrumPsychoticDisorders

34 reactions 11 comments
Post

Do Rotator Cuffs Have Brains?

Part 1 of 2 Almost exactly a year ago, I tore my rotator cuff in my right shoulder. I was playing in the ocean in Phuket, Thailand, and got knocked down by a rogue wave. It was a rough landing, just in the exactly wrong position.

After the initial stunning pain, I just assumed that it was a bad sprain. But by the time we were visiting Chiang Mei a week later, I was in such intense pain that we went to a Thai hospital emergency room. We were there a mere hour and a half, which included a consultation with an English doctor, x-rays and a visit to the pharmacy. There I was prescribed hospital-strength Tylenol that I swear had an extra Thai kick to them. “You’re going to need a doctor in the states,” my doctor said as we left. “You definitely tore something.”

Well, four months and two orthopedic surgeons later (the first one said, “just deal with it, we see this all the time in women your age,” and prescribed medication to which I was allergic), I had surgery. It was a three-to-four-month recovery period, but I felt good enough – and bored enough – that I was eager to get back to work, so I returned in November after two-and-a-half months and a heavy regimen of physical therapy and yoga.

I was greeted with open arms, concern and support. I’ll always be grateful for that.

Here’s my question: what if I had told my employer in August that I was suffering from anxiety and depression, and I was having panic attacks on the drive home from the office? Or that my stomach was cramping up so bad from stress that I had lost 27 pounds and had early signs of ulcers and couldn’t work? Both instances would have been medical leaves approved by a psychiatrist, a trained M.D. Would I have been welcomed back so sweetly?

I can honestly say the answer is no because both those experiences happened to me before, at previous jobs. I had alerted my bosses that I would be leaving the jobs and gave plenty of notice. But my mental health had other ideas, and I had to leave early. To this day neither of those bosses have said boo to me – even when I called to apologize for having to leave my position early! Crickets.

That is an issue – our work society’s view on mental health. If it’s a physical problem, like my rotator cuff surgery, everything was fine. But a few years ago, when I was going through a lot of loss and stress in my life and my mental health issues needed attention, I was treated like a pariah.

Both bosses professed to support me and were dear friends of mine. I quite honestly don’t know what I did wrong. I was ill, and I want to clean up my side of the street. We have a policy in place in my current office that if someone isn’t feeling physically well, they should stay home. It’s a good one, since we share germs like pencils.

But what about working America at large? Why can’t mental health be seen in the same light as physical health? Why can’t we get past that barrier? Being ghosted by my ex-bosses doesn’t faze me that much anymore – I’ve put it behind me, and only bring it up here as a living, breathing example of the ignorance and hypocrisy of our society. How many Naomi Judds, tWitches and Taylor Hawkinses do we need to shine the light on the fact that mental health and addiction issues aren’t like eating mushrooms in “The Last of Us”? It’s not contagious. You can’t catch it by small droplets from your spit or a gritty deli counter. But they can be just as disastrous.

Mental health issues, and mental illnesses, need to be normalized in our human psyche, if possible. All they women I know over 50 take an antidepressant, or, as a nurse friend of mine calls it, “Vitamin P,” for Prozac. That staves off depression. Isn’t that an indication that mental issues are extremely prevalent in “normal” society?

And no, sorry non-Boomers – it’s not just women of a certain age. Mental health issues are all around us, especially in our teens, tweens and young kids. Heck, they survived the worst thing that happened to the worldwide collective in a century and *seemed* to have bounced back. Some school districts are doing a better job of monitoring their kids, and I salute them.

Meanwhile, my daughter is getting married in three weeks – that’s another story. Despite being the MOB, my fiercely independent daughter has not called on me for a lot of help. In fact, the only thing she said to me was, “I’m not going to let you do anything until you get your own stress under control.” The next day I temporarily cut back my hours at work. My family will always come first. And I have been stressed, ever since I came back to work early. My shoulder may have healed, but did the rest of my body? My current employer understood the stress I was under and was kind enough to work with me.

As a mom, I still feel all my daughters “feels,” and, of

Post

The Fog That Lingers: A Journey Through the Haze of and Substance Use

In the world of mental health and substance use, there exists a phenomenon often whispered about but rarely addressed head-on: brain fog. It's a term that doesn't quite capture the full extent of its impact, yet for those who have waded through its murky waters, it's a reality that's both profound and debilitating.

Imagine waking up each day to a world that's out of focus. Your thoughts, once sharp and coherent, now feel like they're being filtered through a dense mist. This is the world of someone who has battled long-term mental health challenges and substance use. It's a world where the simple act of existing becomes a daily struggle.

Sarah, a 35-year-old woman, knows this world all too well. For years, she grappled with anxiety and depression, finding temporary solace in substances that promised quick relief but delivered long-term consequences. Over time, the clarity of her thoughts diminished. She describes her experience as "living in a dream where everything feels slightly unreal and disconnected."

This brain fog, as Sarah and many others experience, isn't just about forgetfulness or a lack of concentration. It's a comprehensive cognitive disturbance that affects memory, understanding, and even the sense of self. It's like trying to navigate through life with a GPS that's constantly recalibrating, never quite sure #of the destination.

But what causes this fog? Research suggests that prolonged substance use and mental health struggles can lead to changes in the brain, particularly in areas responsible for memory, attention, and decision-making. The brain, in its attempt to cope with the constant stress and chemical alterations, adapts in ways that aren't always beneficial in the long term.

For Sarah, the journey out of th#e fog wasn't quick or easy. It involved therapy, medication, and a steadfast commitment to understanding and addressing her mental health and substance use issues. Gradually, the haze began to lift, revealing a world that was brighter and more tangible.

Recovery, however, isn't a linear process. There are days when the fog rolls back in, obscuring the progress made. But with each day, Sarah learns to navigate these challenges a little better, to recognize the signs of the fog's return and to use the tools she's acquired to disperse it.

The story of brain fog in the context of mental health and substance use is a reminder of the complex interplay between our psychological well-being and our cognitive functions. It highlights the need for holistic approaches in treatment, ones that acknowledge not just the physical symptoms but also the cognitive and emotional landscapes that are so intricately intertwined.

For those walking through this fog, remember: you're not alone, and the haze does lift. With support, understanding, and a commitment to healing, the world can become clear once again.

#Depression #MentalHealth #DepressiveDisorders #BipolarDepression #PersistentDepressiveDisorder #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #SubstanceUseDisorders #Addiction

(edited)
1 reaction
Post
See full photo

A Poem or Song I’ve Written Called “Self Medication” #MightyPoets

Do I need a shrink or an exorcist?
All these wounds are self imposed
Lines up your arm like a list
Scars on your body that turn and twist

Numb to pain, numb to feeling, the depression is gripping tight around you
Numb to pain, numb to feeling, the depression is blowing kisses that never miss you

Blood, panic, scars, addiction
People can think it’s all fiction
Blood, panic, scars, addiction
People can say it’s all fiction
Blood, panic, scars, addiction
It’s our calm to the storms in our heads affliction

Blood, panic, scars, addiction
People can think it’s fiction
Blood, panic, scars, addiction
People can say it’s fiction
Blood, panic, scars, addiction
It’s our calm to the storms in our heads affliction

Do I need a shrink or an exorcist?
When wounds are self imposed
Grimace face and clenching fist
Trickling blood pressure released

Blood, panic, scars, addiction
People can think it’s all fiction
Blood, panic, scars, addiction
People can say it’s all fiction
Blood, panic, scars, addiction
It’s our calm to the storms in our heads affliction Blood, panic, scars, addiction

People can think it’s all fiction
Blood, panic, scars, addiction
People can say it’s all fiction
Blood, panic, scars, ybaddiction
It’s our calm to the storms in our heads affliction
#BipolarDisorder #MightyTogether

21 reactions 6 comments
Post
See full photo

A story about Now

What do you guys think about this? Too simple? Or perfectly simple?

Also, I'm so grateful for all of you and would love to get to know you all better outside of The Mighty, so if you're on Instagram, feel free to reach out at:

www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

Speaking of thanks for all, I was hoping we could acknowledge everyone who comments below. I know it seems like a small gesture, but many people here have never opened up to anyone before and being open and honest with strangers can be quite scary. So, if we could show our gratitude by giving their comment a simple reply or heart, I’m sure they would really appreciate your team support. What do you say?

#MentalHealth #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Addiction #dissociativedisorders #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Fibromyalgia #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #Cancer #RareDisease #Disability #Autism #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Suicide #MightyTogether #SchizophreniaSpectrumPsychoticDisorders

90 reactions 24 comments
Post

I'm new here!

Hi, my name is periwinklegrizzly83. I'm here because I’m in love with a man who I was certain is a covert narcissist. Gaslighting, lying, stealing, unstable relationships, drug addiction, massive mood swings, anger, cheating etc.while he those traits. For sure I found out he has been diagnosed with personality disorder.I have cried so mch: I’m often very confused by his words never matching his actions.He can be so sweet and then disappear for days getting high and being around other women. He’ll look at me like I’m disgusting and a total stranger. It’s completely heartbreaking and has after my life so negatively. Emotionally, physically, financially. I’ve lost 30 lbs…. And I’m small anyway. I’ve given him over $25,000 in the last 6 months, he can’t hold down a job. I’ve missed work and now he has disappeared again. I love him but I want out. Then I real about the abandonment issues he has and I don’t want to be the final straw. I’m in therapy but I had been treating this like narcissism………. I thing it’s personality disorder. Now what?… I need help

#MightyTogether

2 reactions