 People in the LGBT+ community are 3 times more likely to experience a mental health condition than straight people. Even more seriously, LGBT+ youth are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide and self harm.
LGBT+ people are at an increased risk for psychological distress due to keeping their sexual orientation or identity a secret. There is still a lot of stigma related to being seen as "different" and it can cause people not to open up about their struggles. Mental health professionals may also bias their care (intentionally or unintentionally) against people in the LGBT+ community. Simply being an ally to an LGBT+ person can be a huge help. Knowing that they have a support system and people who will listen to them with empathy can help reduce mental heath concerns. Creating connections and nurturing a positive environment will help LGBT+ people feel safe and able to reach out when they need help. Additional resources:
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 Today I want to give a quick shoutout to comic artist Ruby Etc. Her comics are fun and silly and showcase human foibles, mental health, and a variety of whimsical things.  Self harm is a coping behavior that can be indicative of an underlying serious issue. It is generally not a suicide attempt, nor is it a "cry for attention", but a way to manage emotional distress or exert control over difficult feelings. The reasons behind self harm vary from person to person and can be related to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, poor body image, abuse, bullying, or other stressors.
If you think your child or loved one is self harming, it is important to keep lines of communication open without judgment. Let them know that you are available and that you love them. Do not punish them for self harming and do not trivialize their feelings. I highly recommend reading through these various articles for more specifics. It can be scary to know that your child or loved one is in pain, but the more you learn, the more you are able to help. Additional resources:
#shawleveryday2019 #amusedinfinityscarf Buy this cowl Amused Infinity Scarf pattern  Finding a good therapist who works for you can take time. It's important to find someone who fits your needs and who you feel comfortable with.
Things to consider when initially looking for a therapist:
When meeting with the therapist, you want to feel validated and challenged. That what you are experiencing is okay and that they can help you navigate the issues you are facing. A good therapist will be able to see the puzzle pieces you didn't even know existed and help ask questions you didn't even know needed to be asked. They will help you set goals for therapy and work with you to achieve those goals. A lot of what makes a good therapist is subjective, so trust your intuition and don't be afraid to try someone different if it's not quite working for you. Having a strong relationship with your therapist makes it more likely that you will benefit from therapy. If you don't like your therapist, then you will be less likely to go, and less likely to get better. Additional resources:
#shawleveryday2019 #3Dprinting #fabricofthyme Details about this cowl Fabric of Thyme STL file  Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is characterized by at least two distinct and enduring personality states. It used to be called multiple personality disorder, but we now know that it is more that there is a splintering or fracturing of personality rather than the addition or growth of additional personalities. It is very rare and is typically associated with a history of trauma.
DID reflects a failure to integrate various aspects of identity, memory, and consciousness into a single multidimensional self. It may feel like there are multiple people talking and living inside your head. These different identities, or alters, frequently have their own name, age, gender, voices, and personality traits. A person with DID may or may not be aware of the other personality states and memories of the times when an alter is dominant. Stress, or even a reminder of a trauma, can trigger a switch of alters. Treatment for DID can be difficult, and usually entails long term therapy and potentially medication to treat comorbid conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD. #shawleveryday2019 #wallacewrap Buy this wrap Details about this wrap Wallace wrap pattern  I talked on Day 35 about some movies and TV shows that portray mental illness fairly well, but today I want to showcase songs that talk about mental health. Nearly every genre of music has addressed in some way, so I've included a variety of songs with a variety of approaches. The big hitter in this category is Logic's 1-800-273-8255, where the title of the song is the number for the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
#shawleveryday2019 #celticmythsshawl Buy this shawl Details about this shawl Celtic Myths shawl pattern  We are in the home stretch of #shawleveryday2019 and I just want to remind you guys that I am raising money for Independence Center. You can donate directly via my campaign or purchase a shawl and I will donate half the sale price.
One of the types of services Independence Center provides is for education. Going back to school and/or finishing a degree is often a top desire for adults with mental illness. They maintain a classroom with books, instructional material, testing resources, and school supplies. They also have catalogs and resources for local colleges, technical universities, and educational assistance programs. They provide application assistance, standardized test preparation, tutoring, and more. The members are also encouraged to learn skills to teach and become peer mentors. #brightsidecowl Buy this cowl Details about this cowl Brightside cowl pattern  While Imposter Syndrome is not a mental illness or disorder in and of itself, it is often related to Social Anxiety Disorder and is an example of disordered thinking that can a symptom of a variety of other mental illnesses. Wil Wheaton talks about it in his keynote address at the 2016 Mensa gathering.
"The way it works is this part of my brain that’s supposed to be on my side but is really a dick about everything goes, “You know, you suck at everything and you don’t deserve to be here and nobody likes you because you suck. Boy do you suck. You are the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked.”" Even though there is plenty of evidence to the contrary - good job, loving relationships, nice house, great pets, etc - there is a constant feeling of being a fraud or that somehow you don't deserve success. Your brain is being irrational and it can be very hard to see reality. I really encourage you to read Wil's post, because he explains it so much better than I can. You can do a search for Imposter Syndrome to start at that section, but the whole thing is worth a read too. "Depression lies, and when it tells you these lies, you can look right back into its stupid face and say, “Shut up. Wil Wheaton told me that it’s okay to get help, and he pretended to live in outer space, so he outranks you.”" #shawleveryday2019 #sunshineandshadowsshawl #impostersyndrome Details about this shawl Sunshine and Shadows shawl pattern  I've written previously (Day 41) about what things NOT to say to someone experiencing a mental health issue. But what are good things that you should say?
There is a great post on Reddit that I have saved and reference from time to time, which has a lot of great ideas on how to be a good friend to someone with a mental illness.
Most importantly, remember that they are the same person you know and love before you learned they had a mental illness. Treat the person with empathy and compassion. Offering to listen is just as powerful as saying something. #shawleveryday2019 #litlashawl Details about this shawl Litla Shoulder Warmer/Shawlette pattern  Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that's triggered by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. The risk for developing PTSD after a traumatic event varies by type and is highest after a sexual assault, particularly rape. Men are more likely to experience a traumatic event, but women are more likely to experience the kind of high-impact traumatic event that can lead to PTSD, such as interpersonal violence and sexual assault.
There is a lot of research into risk factors and resilience factors in developing PTSD after a traumatic event. Childhood trauma, chronic adversity, and family stressors increase your risk of PTSD, along with having little or no social help after the event. People who seek out help and have positive coping strategies to deal with the traumatic event are at lower risk for developing PTSD. Symptoms of PTSD fall into 4 categories: re-experiencing symptoms (flashbacks, bad dreams, intrusive thoughts), avoidance symptoms (staying away from things associated with the event or avoiding talking about it), arousal and reactivity symptoms (constantly feeling "on edge", angry outbursts, being easily startled, trouble sleeping), and cognition and mood symptoms (negative thoughts, distorted thinking, losing interest in enjoyable activities). Children may experience additional symptoms such as wetting the bed, forgetting how to talk, and acting out the scary situation during play. Experiencing PTSD does not mean that you are weak or have poor character. It is a serious mental illness which can affect your ability to navigate daily life as well as your relationships with your loved ones. Treatment focuses mainly on talk therapy and sometimes medication. Additional resources:
#shawleveryday2019 #dohneshawl Details about this shawl Dohne shawl pattern |
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