Schizoaffective Disorder

One thing I have to do on a daily basis—especially as someone who’s a recovering perfectionist living with persistent depression, generalized anxiety, and PTSD, and who is also a creative introvert with an endless stream of ideas—is constantly shift my thoughts.

One uncomfortable interaction or moment of insecurity can send me into a spiral almost instantly. Shifting my thoughts helps me learn to trust myself and my intuition, even when my nervous system gets triggered.

Let’s practice shifting a negative thought together today.

Step 1: Identify one unhelpful, uncomfortable, anxious, or spiraling thought.

Step 2: Shift the thought by finding its opposite. This might look like recognizing your boundaries, focusing on what you can control, naming how you want to feel, or imagining a more realistic outcome.

Here’s my shifted thought:

1. Original thought: I’m different from everyone, I’m too much, and I don’t belong.

2. Shifted thought: I’m enough just the way I am. My family and friends love me for who I am, and I’ll continue to find people who resonate with me.

Share your shifted thoughts below! 💬

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

When I was in school even in college, there were boys being rude to me & I was bullied. All the men I liked throughout my life made comments about the way I look and they were very attractive men. I am diagnosed with Schizophrenia Bipolar. I stay home and don’t do much because I have had so many people be rude to me especially men. When I was younger my cousin put on pornography in front of me and yes I do watch porn. I used to pose as other girls online and men would be so nice to me and when I showed them a real picture of me; I get shrugged off or even blocked. I was in and out of mental hospitals, self harmed, suicidal thoughts, several different diagnoses. I do consider myself different and a child of special needs. I almost got attacked in school by men too for no reason like they wanted to beat me up. I am close to 30, a virgin and never had a good looking attractive man ask me out or give me the time of the day. It makes me feel bad about myself like I am not pretty or good enough because I have been called ugly so many times and no men that I ever liked pay interest in me. My nationality is Guyanese (West Indian). It sucks that I was made this way but hey I guess they say looks aren’t everything.

#MentalHealth #CheckInWithMe #Selfharm #BipolarDisorder #Depression #Anxiety #SchizoaffectiveDisorder #Schizophrenia #GeneralizedAnxietyDisorder #Disability #PTSD #ComplexPosttraumaticStressDisorder #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Psychosis #SchizophreniaSpectrumPsychoticDisorders #MajorDepressiveDisorder #Bipolar2 #BipolarDepression

That is me in the picture :/

When someone asks, “How are you?” our knee-jerk response is often, “I’m fine” or “I’m good,” even when that’s not the full truth. I know for me, there are times when I don’t feel well for weeks at a time, so when someone asks how I’m doing, I sometimes feel guilty being honest — even though I want to share how I’m really feeling.

Today, we want to know how you’re really feeling. Share with us in the comments below.

💌 Sending extra love and energy to the Mighties who need it right now.

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

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