mental health awareness

I’ve learned many languages in my life, but the hardest one to speak has been connection.This poem is for anyone still trying to find their way to fluency in belonging.

The Language I Haven’t Mastered

By Jo Diaz

There are languages made of words,

and others made of nearness.

I’ve learned to translate books,

but not people

not the soft grammar of belonging,

not the pauses that mean I see you.

I practice kindness like a foreign tongue,

phrases under my breath,

intonations rehearsed in the mirror

until they almost sound like me.

I carry a library of gestures in my chest:

how long to hold an eye,

how wide to shape a smile,

how to time a nod so it lands softly,

not too soon, not too late

a choreography invisible to everyone

but the trembling pulse behind my ribs.

Each moment out there

is a tightrope between reaching and retreat,

between the comfort of silence

and the ache of wanting to be seen.

I offer a smile into the static of the world

a small, bright signal

that might or might not find a receiver.

Sometimes it vanishes midair,

and I tell myself that’s okay.

That I am still real

even when no one reflects me back.

So I breathe,

rewrite the line,

and float forward again

a quiet satellite in a noisy sky,

learning that orbiting kindly

is its own form of fluency.

And maybe, somewhere beyond the glare,

there are others who drift like me

who speak in pauses and soft misfires,

who send their light in uncertain directions

but still hope

to find each other in the dark,

and make the spinning

a little less lonely.

#Autism #ADHD , #Loneliness #Connection #MentalHealthAwareness #Poetry “If you orbit like me, I hope this finds you."

My husband and I went to Saint Martin for our honeymoon. It was amazing. I have a core memory from that vacation long ago that I often now use as, what I think, is a perfect metaphor for the extreme treatment resistant depression that I struggle with.
Every afternoon we would go swimming in the beautiful blue ocean. Now, while my husband is a very strong swimmer...I am not....at all! Time and time again, I would find myself swept up towards the shore by the strong waves. All I could really do was sit there while the relentless waves crashed upon me one right after another. Every time I tried to stand up, another wave would come and knock me right back down. I could not get my footing to save my life! And every time, my amazing new hubby would come over, hold out his hand, and help me stand again. We always enjoyed a good laugh about it back then.
Well, here we are, 23 years later, and I once again find myself constantly being knocked off my feet, unable to stand by myself...only this time, the waves are dark, scary, stormy waves. And they're 1000 times bigger than before. And they're crashing so fast that even though my still amazing hubby is trying with all his might to help me up, even he is no match for these waves. It's like they've come for my life and they're not leaving until they get it. Of course, these waves are...depression. #Depression #MentalHealth #depressionawareness #MentalHealthAwareness #mentalhealthmatters #MightyTogether

I just finished reading Know My Name by Chanel Miller, and I’m still sitting with everything it stirred up. This memoir is a powerful, unflinching account of Miller’s experience as the victim in the high-profile Stanford sexual assault case, and her journey of reclaiming her identity, voice, and sense of self in a world that so often tries to silence survivors.

What struck me most is how Miller goes beyond the courtroom and headlines. She explores trauma, healing, anger, art, and resilience in ways that are deeply human and relatable, especially for anyone who has ever felt unseen or unheard. Her writing is sharp, poetic, and quietly devastating.

If you've ever felt like your story was dismissed or erased, this book might help you feel a little more understood, and a little less alone. Has anyone else here read it? I'd love to hear your thoughts or how it resonated with you.

#TraumaRecovery #SurvivorsOfSexualAssault #MentalHealthAwareness #BooksThatHeal #KnowMyName #TheMighty

#MentalHealthAwareness

📖 Off the Spectrum: Why the Science of Autism Has Failed Women and Girls by Gina Rippon explores how autism research has historically focused on boys and overlooked how autism presents in girls and women.

The book explains why many individuals have been missed, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed—especially when camouflaging or masking behaviors are involved. This pressure to fit in and hide struggles often leads to emotional challenges that can take years to understand.

Key topics include late diagnosis, the female protective effect, and how conditions such as anxiety, sensory sensitivities, and eating disorders are often linked to autism in girls but frequently overlooked. Rippon calls for important changes in research, diagnosis, education, and support to ensure future generations receive better recognition and care.

If you’ve felt that autism diagnosis criteria didn’t fully reflect your experiences or those of people you know, this book offers valuable insights.

#OffTheSpectrum #AutismInGirls #LateDiagnosis #womenandautism #Neurodiversity #Camouflaging #MentalHealthAwareness #InvisibleDisability #TheMighty

There’s something so calming about water lilies—quiet, floating reminders to stay grounded even in deep water. I took this photo on a peaceful day, and I come back to it when I need to breathe. 🌿🌸#chronicillnesslife #MentalHealthAwareness #findingpeace #DepressionRecovery #beautyintheeveryday #onemomentatatime #Photography