The Mighty's Mental Health Heroes

I am blessed to have people in my life that are there for me, sometimes just listening and asking what they can do for me, telling me that I’m not alone, letting me know they’ll be there for me, and they love me … but what can really help us feel better about ourselves is when they just say they’re proud of us. Wonderful people in our lives can regularly remind us about everything we’re going through and how amazingly well we are handling ourselves. They can acknowledge us for what we ARE doing even when we can only see and judge ourselves for the things we’re NOT doing. Sometimes they can be there just to listen to us, sometimes they can help us get our minds off all we’re going through by lightening up the conversation and not allow us to get caught in a loop of feeling sorry for ourselves.

But we definitely can’t do this alone, things can appear insurmountable or overwhelming but if we’re lucky we have people who believe in us and are there for us when we just need them to listen and let us get our fears out in the open and talk about our pain. People can help us if they just say they feel for us and wish they could make us feel better. What I don’t think they realize is that by simply being there to walk by our side they ARE making us feel better!

You can expand your network of support by getting up the courage and then tell people that are close to you (that don’t already know) what you are dealing with, sharing what is really happening and what you are going through and then tell them how they can help. I have found most people want to help and if they decline I try not to take it personally. It’s worth the risk to get crucial support

#ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #PeripheralNeuropathy #Migraine #Headache #COVID19 #Disability #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Depression #BipolarDisorder #Bipolar1Disorder #Bipolar2Disorder BipolarDepression #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #HIVAIDS #longtermsurvivor #Shingles #Bronchitis #Pneumonia #PTSD #Selflove #Selfcare #strength #MightyMinute #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #MentalHealthHero #MightyTogether

It’s not all about survival, there is a lot of living to do along the way. Although at times I feel like I am just treating one ailment after another, all day every day (which is true right now) I’ve decided why take all the time and energy it takes to survive everything unless I don’t enjoy how the time given to me by surviving is ripe for good times too.

Recently I have mostly been homebound except to go to health appointments… doctors, PT & OT, clinics, therapy etc. and then only with a walker and the benefit of handicapped parking spots. But I try to continue to celebrate the gifts I have in life, be thankful for the blessings I have that make life just a little more bearable and remind myself of what I’ve been through, how I’ve survived and what I’ve learned from these experiences. If I consider all this, then I must be a very wise man 😉 I may have dropped out of college but I have a Masters degree from the School of Hard Knocks … the diploma is not needed, I know I have accomplished it and need no reminder…I’m still alive after all!

Tough times have given me the chance to tap into my inner strength and I’ve also grown along the way. I don’t have to wait to celebrate the good times when I am experiencing some right now despite what I’m going through!

Thank you all for the love, support, thoughts and prayers, I certainly couldn’t have done this alone!

#Depression #Anxiety #MentalHealth #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Chronicpainwarrior #Disability #BipolarDisorder #BipolarDepression #Bipolar2Disorder #Bipolar1Disorder #Stigma #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #RareDisease #AspergersSyndrome #ADHD #Autism #Dementia #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #Cancer #TraumaticBrainInjury #BrainInjury #LossOfAParent #Grief #SuicideSurvivors #ChronicFatigue #DistractMe #HIVAIDS #longtermsurvivor #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #MightyQuestions #DownSyndrome #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #Deafness #neckpain #BackPain #CongestiveHeartFailure #Migraine #COVID19 #PeripheralNeuropathy #LymeDisease #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #Headache #Stroke #help #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Fibromyalgia #thankful #grateful #EatingDisorders #CocaineDependence #drugaddict #PTSD #EmotionalHealth #physicalhealth #PainAcceptance #Acceptance #relief #Happiness #Selflove #Selfcare #MightyMinute #MentalHealthHero
#TheMighty #InsideTheMighty #MightyTogether #DistractMe

We are currently looking for a new Co-Leader for the Multiple Health Challenges group. We have grown quite a bit and just passed 1,500 members. In the past co-leaders have been golden, really helpful for me when I got sick or burnt out and had to step away for a few days. I am looking for someone to welcome new members, comment or respond to most posts or other comments, make new posts to the group every once and a while, and preferably someone who has physical and emotional health challenges so they can best relate to and understand where other members are coming from when they post or comment.

It is important for the group to have two distinctly different voices to support people because people might relate more to one of us. What is a really good situation is if we both respond to the same posts, welcome new members from different perspectives and provide voices for people that are accessible and relatable. There is a commitment needed that you monitor activities on the group regularly and can respond pretty quickly.

Offering your own posts provides more content for the group…and when posts pose a question they keep things moving forward. I can assist and support by offering to look at your new posts for feedback and editing before you post if you would like it, comment on your posts to get the responses going to best support your efforts, help finding memes or images, and support you if we are dealing with someone struggling …. Like sounding suicidal or being manic…and I will check in to make sure you are happy and comfortable!

I look at potential leaders' history of posts and/or comments that have helped and supported others in the past. Willingness to be honest and open about your own health challenges is crucial to best support people. A co-leader works together with me for some new posts and drafting new questions and is concerned about the well being of all members and can empathize with their paths.

You will get access to the Community Leaders group and your name will have a “Group Leader” tab next to it up top on your comments and responses so I think people pay attention especially to your activity and wisdom shared from personal experience. Would you consider joining me on this journey? Let’s have a DM chat to discuss this! Thanks for considering taking on this role!

#Depression #Anxiety #MentalHealth #ChronicPain #Chronicpainwarrior #Disability #BipolarDisorder #BipolarDepression #Bipolar2Disorder #Bipolar1Disorder
#Stigma #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Autism #Dementia #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #Cancer #TraumaticBrainInjury #BrainInjury #LossOfAParent #Grief #SuicideSurvivors #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #DistractMe #HIVAIDS #longtermsurvivor #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #MightyQuestions #DownSyndrome #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #Deafness #neckpain #BackPain #CongestiveHeartFailure #Migraine #COVID19 #PeripheralNeuropathy #LymeDisease #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #Headache #Stroke #help #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Disability #thankful #grateful #EatingDisorders #CocaineDependence #drugaddict #alcoholic #PTSD #EmotionalHealth #physicalhealth PainAcceptance #Acceptance #relief #Selflove #MightyMinute #MentalHealthHero #TheMighty #RareDisease #MightyTogether

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Being gentle with ourselves can be really tough especially when we reflect back and judge ourselves. It is so easy to be mad at ourselves for not knowing things when we were younger. But it has to be that way. If we already knew everything, there would be no room for us to grow in this life. Please share something helpful or useful you have learned along the way. We can learn so much from each other!

Thanks to you all. Thanks for how you have been working to support each other!

Speaking of thanks for all, I was hoping we could acknowledge everyone who comments below in this post and others. 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 or new post a simple ❤️or reply I’m sure they would really appreciate your support.

#MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #PTSD #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #Selflove #Selfcare #BipolarDisorder #Bipolar2Disorder #Bipolar1Disorder #BipolarDepression #ADHD #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #RareDisease #COVID19 #Migraine #Headache #HIVAIDS #longtermsurvivor #PeripheralNeuropathy #Neuropathy #BackPain #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #Fibromyalgia #Chronicpainwarrior #MentalHealthHero #Stigma #Grief #LossOfAParent #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #thankful #grateful #relief #Happiness #Acceptance #PainAcceptance #strength #CheckInWithMe #TheMighty #MightyTogether #MightyMinute #DistractMe

Ever gotten something you wanted, and it didn't give you the happiness you were expecting? Or you got something you didn't want, and you loved it? We assume we know what is good for us but life has a way of surprising us all the time. Does anyone have a story where this sort of unexpected result happened?

#MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #PTSD #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #Selfcare #Selflove #BipolarDisorder #Bipolar2Disorder #Bipolar1Disorder #BipolarDepression #ADHD #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #RareDisease #COVID19 #Migraine #Headache #HIVAIDS #longtermsurvivor #Neuropathy #PeripheralNeuropathy #BackPain #EssentialTremors #Bronchitis #Pneumonia #CPTSD #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #Fibromyalgia #Cancer #Diabetes #Chronicpainwarrior #MentalHealthHero #Stigma #Grief #LossOfAParent #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #thankful #grateful #relief #Happiness #Acceptance #PainAcceptance #strength #CheckInWithMe #TheMighty #MightyTogether #MightyMinute

I believe in our society there are awful expectations and perceptions for how men should carry themselves and act. I believe that this is not helpful at all, but actually harmful and it can leave permanent scars. Do you cry? Do you let yourself show emotions? Do you talk about your feelings? Do you believe it’s ok to not be ok?

When my father died and we scattered his ashes, and then later when we had a ritual ceremony when we planted a tree in his honor, I found that I couldn’t cry (in public.) I consider myself very in touch with my emotions, spiritual, and connected with other’s energy and experiences… and different than my father, my grandfather, his father and so on, but yet at these moments I found a part of me holding back tears…not intentionally in the moment, but it just happened.

Later in therapy I talked about, and tried to work through, these scenarios. He reminded me that when I left my parent’s house, having just seen my Dad in his last days, or after he died, that I usually broke down in tears on the road home and often had to pull over, just so I could actually see…and he reminded me that when I was watching sports by myself after he died I turned to high five him after our teams scored like we always did, but he wasn’t there and I broke down in tears; and that many times sporadically out of nowhere I broke down in tears…in private moments, alone (where no one could see) We discussed that in some ways this was ok…that I was just a private person.

But I couldn’t accept this, I delved deeper. I talked to my Aunt (his sister) and I realized I had never seen my Dad cry, and she explained that my family lineage on his side was very patriarchal, stoic and strong, and that she never saw her father cry too. I learned from her that it just wasn’t acceptable for these men to show emotions. She said this might explain why I didn’t cry…that is just what men in my family didn’t do for decades. This deeply saddened me and I felt ashamed that I was like this too, didn’t show emotions and was stoic and strong.

But I didn’t see it as being strong. I saw it as a sign of weakness…a sign that they were unable to connect with their emotions and in holding back became more hardened and became so unemotional that they weren’t actually strong in my judgement. So for now I can’t let myself cry, can’t make myself cry, but… I can say it’s ok to have the feelings that come up for me. It might be that I am so conditioned that I can’t do this in public, but I am ok that these are more private emotions…for now … but I hope over time this will shift.

However I do talk about my feelings, I do make myself vulnerable at times and I do ask for help when I go to therapy, work with my Life Coach, and go to my Men’s Group. In these spaces I do go deep exploring my nature, my make up, what makes me tick…challenging myself with difficult questions. I also do challenge & support others and hopefully help them get in touch with their emotions too. I may not cry in public but I do know for sure that I have done more “work” on myself than other men in my family, and mostly not been afraid to see what comes up! It’s ok to not be ok. It’s ok to cry.

#MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #Selfcare #Selflove #PTSD #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Disability #RareDisease #BipolarDisorder #BipolarDepression #Bipolar1Disorder #Bipolar2Disorder #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #TheMighty #MightyTogether #MentalHealthHero #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #COVID19 #Migraine

We love reading your posts, seeing your smiling faces and hearing your stories. Good or bad, what we share with each other is vital to making a difference as this community was designed to find others who are living with multiple health challenges like we all do. These combined together can make our lives unmanageable, and Moshe started the group to create a community so we can empathize and support each other. It started with a modest goal of finding 20-30 people who walk similar paths of the same or different physical and/or mental problems. But now we are excited to have had all of you join us and feel very blessed that so many of you have found us here!!! We’re honored to now be a part of a group that is growing rapidly, and having new people post and follow our posts.

Over this time we have made over 100 posts ourselves with memes and images, sharing our stories: what we’ve been through, how we have struggled, what we have learned, and what has helped us along the way. Some of our posts have new writing pieces that are pretty deep and we try to be as open and honest as we can be. Other posts simply have a few sentences reflecting on the meme or the image. And we’ve offered a number of questions which have encouraged great discussions. We would be honored if you were to scroll down and find the posts, which all have an image or meme.

Many current and new members have also shared their stories, struggles, frustration, worry, fear, and lessons learned & successes. We all try to acknowledge, relate, empathize and support each other. It takes courage to share with strangers but we are non-judging, accepting and supportive of each other. We would love to see more posts from all of you so we can get to know each other, and/or please respond to each other's posts with a ❤️or a comment. When you create a new post sharing your picture or adding an image at the top attracts more attention, and then hashtags at the end reach other groups with members who share similar challenges like you do!

We look forward to learning more about you all. We commit to respond to as many posts as we can, always ❤️new ones and try to be there for you. And we will keep making new posts to share and also post questions for you all to engage in conversations.

Sending blessings for great health & healing, peace & serenity and connection & support.

Moshe @maxtempo
Chris @chrislynn1
Neeta @littleredrose

(This collage of pictures shows only Moshe & Chris - Neeta is shy😉)

**Before posting this one of us had all memes and images disappear, but the other said they are all there. If you too can’t see the images please comment or DM one of us as soon as you can! Thanx…**

#MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #Disability #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #BipolarDisorder #Bipolar2Disorder #Bipolar1Disorder #BipolarDepression #Chronicpainwarrior #Stigma #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Autism #Dementia #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #Cancer #Grief #LossOfAParent #Suicide #ChronicFatigue #HIVAIDS #longtermsurvivor #BackPain #COVID19 #Migraine #Headache #PeripheralNeuropathy #PTSD #Selflove #Selfcare #Diabetes #Stroke #CheckInWithMe #TheMighty #MightyMinute #MightyTogether #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #strength #Fibromyalgia #relief #Acceptance #PainAcceptance #SocialAnxiety #Happiness #strength #relief #MentalHealthHero