Schizoaffective Disorder

Seeing a counselor, therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist is one of many paths you can take when seeking support for your mental health. For me, searching for a therapist was my first step—even before I fully understood what kind of help I needed or how long I’d need it. I remember going on the Psychology Today website and exploring different options. Since I was the first in my immediate family to seek this type of help, I didn’t really know what to look for or what to consider in a therapist.

Fast forward six years later: I’ve found one-on-one therapy to be really helpful, especially since the focus is entirely on me. Therapy has been the one place where I can be vulnerable and open up without worrying about taking care of everyone and everything else around me.

What about you? Have you tried therapy or counseling? What have been the pros and cons for you?

Feel free to share your insights, advice, tips, and experiences below!

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

Finding community, credible resources, and the right health care professionals to support your mental health can take time and patience—but when you find what genuinely resonates and supports you, it can be life-changing.

For me, discovering The Mighty back in 2016, right after I graduated college, and connecting with NAMI-NYC in 2019—the same year I found the courage to seek professional help for my symptoms—really changed my life. My blog and passion for creativity, along with being brave enough to talk openly with my family, have also helped me stay on the path that’s best for me.

Although I’ve had to grow a lot on my own and face some of my darkest moments to learn to love myself, knowing where to go and who to talk to when things felt overwhelming completely changed how I approached the hardest parts of my recovery.

What has had the most impact on you as you manage your mental health and symptoms?

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

💚 Happy World Mental Health Day! 💚
Let’s share the moments that have shaped our mental health journeys. This could be the time you decided to seek help, when you first noticed symptoms, an impactful conversation you had with someone, or even when you received a diagnosis.

An important moment for me was when I sat in the waiting room at my college counseling center. I had to fill out an intake form for the first time on my own, and while answering the questions, I realized I truly did need help. It was a scary realization, but I was brave and met with a counselor for the first time.

What moments or turning points have shaped your story?

⭐ If you'd like to join a virtual mental health support group, check out NAMI-NYC's calendar here: naminycmetro.org/calendar

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

Tell me three things in the comments below that you're thankful for! Can't wait to see!
#Addiction #Anorexia #MentalHealth #Anxiety #AnorexiaNervosa #Agoraphobia #ADHD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #PTSD #SchizoaffectiveDisorder #Schizophrenia #Lupus #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #CeliacDisease #Grief #SjogrensSyndrome #Cancers #SuicidalThoughts #Fibromyalgia #Selfharm

This is a very common thought for many of us. This graphic was really helpful to show what's underneath that thought.
#Addiction #AnorexiaNervosa #MentalHealth #Agoraphobia #Anxiety #AutismSpectrumDisorder #ADHD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #PTSD #Schizophrenia #SchizoaffectiveDisorder #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #Lupus #CeliacDisease #Grief #ChildLoss #AutonomicDysfunction #Cancers #SjogrensSyndrome #SocialAnxiety #SuicidalThoughts

One way I check in on my mental health is through bi-weekly checkpoints, and the beginning of each month is one of them. The first week often feels overwhelming, but taking time to reflect and write about the previous month helps me create a clearer path forward. I ask myself: What moments were meaningful to me? What had the biggest impact on me?

For me, September was challenging. I had to face the discomfort of letting go of things that didn’t turn out the way I thought they would. Moving forward, I’m focusing on what I can control rather than fixating on what I can’t. I’m also practicing acknowledging my feelings without letting negative emotions consume me.

✏️ My affirmation for October: I prioritize myself. I deserve the best love and care.

How was your mental health last month? How are you paving your path forward? What moments mattered most to you?

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