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Free Write: How are you really?

I haven’t written much in a while, and as someone who needs to write to release, it has affected my health profoundly. With the addition of a job on top of other responsibilities, I’ve reached my capacity for what one person can hold.

I’ve experienced symptoms for much longer than before, and I can’t say I’ve been dealing with them very well. There’s complexity in navigating mental illness as a “high-functioning” person—between what I allow others to see and what they can literally see.

This year, I’ve felt myself revert to a previous version of myself in certain spaces, which has been challenging. The perfectionism, self-abandonment, and sense of loss from pursuing employment (as I once did for education) have been a lot to process and understand about myself.

💌 A message I need from myself today:

My worth is not defined by my productivity, and I don’t have to “perform well” to be seen and appreciated by those around me. I can prioritize myself and still care about the people around me. Putting myself first does not make me a bad person.

My experience with mental illness does not define who I am. I am a whole person deserving of love, acceptance, community, and care.

I am more than what I long for.

I am not difficult to be around, even if I’ve been in a silent crisis. It’s OK for me to need extra support. I am not a burden, even when others don’t know how to help or give me blank stares.

I am existing as a human being. I am enough as I am. My life is worth living. Positive experiences are ahead of me.

💛 Feel free to free-write below about how you’ve been lately.

#MentalHealth #Journaling #Depression #Anxiety #CheckInWithMe #Fibromyalgia #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #PTSD #BipolarDisorder #Disability #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #CheerMeOn #DistractMe #ThePencilCase

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Feel free to use the comments below to elaborate, share, and reflect about how you’re doing today. ✍️

Select all that apply
7 days left
🟩 Green: Open-minded, creative, reflective
🟣 Purple: Happy, excited, grateful
🔵 Blue: Calm, relaxed, confident
🔴 Red: Anxious, alert, concerned, worried
🟨 Yellow: Depressed, stuck, melancholy
⚫ Black: Angry, annoyed, frustrated
🟠 Orange: Stressed, overwhelmed
🟤 Brown: Tired, exhausted, drained
⬜ White: Not sure if I can put my mood into words.
🌈 Rainbow: Other (share in the comments!)
3 reactions
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What lesson is your health teaching you in this season of life?

Living with a health condition or disability can change us. Depending on what we’re experiencing, it often comes with valuable—and sometimes uncomfortable—lessons we carry forward. Different seasons of our lives bring different lessons.

Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks is currently learning that she has to speak up for herself when she needs something. She can’t do everything on her own, especially as her symptoms become more challenging to navigate.

What’s a lesson you’re learning?

#MightyMinute #CheckInWithMe #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Disability #RareDisease #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Autism #Parenting #PTSD #ADHD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #EatingDisorders #Depression #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie

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What signs or signals does your body give when you’ve reached a limit and need to slow down?

Paying attention to our body’s signs and signals is a great way to know if we’re approaching our limits. From our energy levels, to where we feel certain sensations or pain, to the types of thoughts we’re having — all are indicators that let us know it’s time to slow down.

Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks knows it’s time for her to slow down when she feels overwhelmed, is overly critical of her work, or she’s finding it difficult to get out of bed.

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RareDisease #Anxiety #Depression
#Autism #Parenting #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie

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Poll

Feel free to use the comments below to elaborate, share, and reflect about how you’re doing today. ✍️

Select all that apply
6 days left
🟪 Purple: Happy, excited, grateful
🟢 Green: Open-minded, creative, reflective
🔵 Blue: Calm, relaxed, confident
🟠 Orange: Stressed, overwhelmed
🟨 Yellow: Depressed, stuck, melancholy
⚫ Black: Angry, annoyed, frustrated
🟤 Brown: Tired, exhausted, drained
🔴 Red: Anxious, alert, concerned, worried
⬜ White: Not sure if I can put my mood into words.
🌈 Rainbow: Other (share in the comments!)
7 reactions2 comments
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A tale of self-acceptance in my journey here 😅:

It's just too hard... I mean, the world is cruel. Everyone is just so practical that expressing your genuine emotions is something so hated... Why would you do that... Why would you say so... Be practical and all.... If you show your emotions, you are weak... It’s almost like living a robotic life... You wake up and do your stuff and all.... It’s like you are just fulfilling your duties.... Or I would say, you are obligated to do so... And, the reasons... For your parents, for a secure future... That’s the purpose...

But, when the question shifts from why you are doing this.... You just simply don’t have a proper answer... Are you doing it for yourself.......

This is the vital question... Not gonna lie, before my depression journey began, I was exactly like that... Yeah, that's my own story...
I wasn’t living for myself... I was just pretending to be picture-perfect... Oh, I can't disappoint my parents, teachers, and everyone else....

The ideal robotic version.... I was pretending... I wasn’t like that... From my very childhood, I have been someone who was behind every mess... The menace... Yeah... Loud and vocal, who would laugh hysterically.... The loud one... Someone who always hated perfection... For me, perfection is just too much... If everyone becomes the same, what's the point... Someone has to be the odd one... That was my ideology of life.... A person with her own liberty.......

And then, everything went wrong.... I stopped being myself... I became what everyone wanted.... The pressure was so scary that even missing a one-mark question would make me cry for hours... Feeling guilty and calling my mother.... Well, I would share a story to explain how scary it was...
The toxic parenting.... Now, I can point it out: I was severely sick, so I missed three exams... Even in that condition, I sat for my physics exam and I scored 96 out of 100....
And, when I told my father, he said you need to get more.........

I was pleasing everyone except myself... I lost myself..... I wasn’t like that..... And, that's how the depression just went on.......
But, now, if you ask me, I would say I am doing it for myself... Just for myself... My interests... Something that would attract me......

So, I chose the subject I loved... I didn’t listen to anyone.... I prioritized myself... And, now I can say I am doing it all for myself...
And, I am not pretending... It’s just me... Who laughs randomly, who listens to her heart.... And, doing random things... I shake hands to understand things... I try to be physically present... I use the methods I prefer and I just really don’t care how it looks to others...
Well, at the same time, I know I can't bother anyone....

So, for me, as long as I am not bothering anyone, I just don't really care....
It’s not easy to say that... But, I am trying....
Because the judgments are brutal and I do struggle..... Well, I would still say, I will always choose myself........ Yeah...

And, that's how I realized that it’s actually me....... Authentically....
Someone who is odd but exceptional.........
And, I am proud to be the odd one... It’s like finding myself once again....

And, I am trying and I am really optimistic about it... Being able to share this here is like a blessing.... This is the place that gave me the liberty to be myself..... And, I am doing so....
And, I am just beyond grateful for everyone here ❤️......
#Depression #MentalHealth #Anxiety #CheckInWithMe #MightyTogether #self
acceptance #CheerMeOn

(edited)
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Poll

Feel free to use the comments below to elaborate, share, and reflect about your weekend and how you’re doing today. ✍️

Select all that apply
5 days left
🟦 Blue: Calm, relaxed, confident
🟣 Purple: Happy, excited, grateful
🟢 Green: Open-minded, creative, reflective
🟤 Brown: Tired, exhausted, drained
🟨 Yellow: Depressed, stuck, melancholy
🔴 Red: Anxious, alert, concerned, worried
⚫ Black: Angry, annoyed, frustrated
🟠 Orange: Stressed, overwhelmed
⬜ White: Not sure if I can put my mood into words.
🌈 Rainbow: Other (share in the comments!)
6 reactions
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Supporting Loved Ones Living with Suicidal Thoughts Virtual Support Group! 2nd Monday of the month, 12:30-2 PM ET

About 12.2 million adults have thoughts of suicide. This group is for their loved ones. Share your experiences and listen to others who are close to someone with suicidal ideation. This group offers support in a welcoming, non-judgmental environment and is facilitated by family members of people with mental health needs.

💻If you'd like more information or would like to join, you can find the link here. Virtual groups are every 2nd Monday of the month, 12:30-2 PM Eastern Standard Time. Closed captioning is available:
naminycmetro.org/programs/supporting-loved-ones-living-with-...

If you have any questions, feel free to comment below!

#Parenting #GeneralParenting
#Caregiving #BipolarDepression #BipolarDisorder #PTSD #ComplexPosttraumaticStressDisorder #Schizophrenia #ADHD #ChronicIllness #SchizoaffectiveDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Anxiety #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #Depression #MentalHealth #Selfcare #EatingDisorders #CheckInWithMe

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