 A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that describes an intense, irrational fear of something, someone, or someplace that poses no or little actual danger. A phobia is more than just a general fear about something, it can cause major disruption to your daily life and ability to function normally.
There are 3 main types of phobias:
Common symptoms of phobias include:
Causes of phobias are unclear, but are often related to a traumatic experience. Phobias are also linked to the amygdala, which controls the "fight or flight" response." Treatment for phobics typically includes therapy and/or medication. #shawleveryday2019 #dinnerintheeiffeltowershawl Buy this shawl Details about this shawl Dinner in the Eiffel Tower Shawl pattern
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 Suicide can be a tough topic to talk about, but it's an extremely serious aspect of mental illness. It's a really hard thing to explain to people who haven't experienced suicidal thoughts. Phrases like "it's a permanent solution to a temporary problem" are profoundly unhelpful. When you are in the dark place where the building is on fire, it does not feel like a temporary problem. Jumping from the building at least has a chance of escaping, whereas continuing to exist in a boring, lonely, meaningless, void is just not worth it. Hyperbole and a Half explains it well in her comic post Depression Part Two. "It's a strange moment when you realize that you don't want to be alive anymore. If I had feelings, I'm sure I would have felt surprised. I have spent the vast majority of my life actively attempting to survive. Ever since my most distant single-celled ancestor squiggled into existence, there has been an unbroken chain of things that wanted to stick around. Yet there I was, casually wishing that I could stop existing in the same way you'd want to leave an empty room or mute an unbearably repetitive noise. " No, see, I don't necessarily want to KILL myself... I just want to become dead somehow. Someone who is having suicidal thoughts may seem fine on the outside, because they are trying very hard to appear normal. They may not want to feel like they are bothering someone with their issues. Here are some signs of suicidal thoughts that you can be aware of so you can reach out to someone who might be struggling.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 #shawleveryday2019
#withoutmoonlightshawl Buy this shawl Details about this shawl Without Moonlight shawl pattern P.S. I'm doing fine, I promise.  While mental health issues can happen at any age, teens are especially vulnerable. A lot of changes are going on in their life, and things can get very stressful very quickly. It is estimated that 20-25% of teens experience mental illness and suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for people ages 15-24. One of the first things you can do is be able to recognize signs of a potentially serious mental illness:
If you think a teen you know is experiencing mental health issues, here are additional ways you can help:
Additional resources:
#shawleveryday2019 #scallopedcowl Buy this cowl Details about this cowl Scalloped Cowl pattern  It's #MediaMonday, so I want share some documentaries about mental illness. These are ones I have seen and highly recommend:
I've not seen these, but they come up in a lot of lists and have good reviews. Have you seen them? If so, what did you think?
Do you have any other recommendations? I would love to hear what you are watching! #shawleveryday2019 #triptychcowl Buy this cowl Details about this cowl Triptych Cowl pattern  I definitely wore this cowl on day 55, but neglected to post about it until now. So today, you will get 2 posts so I can get back on track.
This past weekend, I went to Nashville for QuiltCon. There were so many beautiful quilts and so many things to buy, plus I had some time to hang out in my hotel room or hang out in town. On paper, it was a great trip. But in reality, I was miserable almost the whole time. Depression is a fucking asshole. It robs you of joy and turns everything into a major problem. Things like a sucky iron in the hotel room nearly left me in tears. I cried most days about something that wasn't going well, and I struggled to enjoy myself. I really wanted to have a good time, but it was like there was a voice following me, constantly telling me "this sucks," "you suck," "everything sucks," "everything will always suck." Instead of coming out of the vacation feeling rejuvenated, I feel exhausted and scared and unhappy. Luckily, I have appointments with my psychiatrist and therapist today and tomorrow, so I'm getting the help I need. I might need a dosage adjustment, and I could definitely use some useful strategies to deal with my negative thoughts. Things will get better. #shawleveryday2019 #hiberknittingcowl Buy this cowl Hiberknitting cowl pattern  Comorbidity is the presence of two or more disorders in the same person and it's fairly common in mental health. It's important to treat both disorders simultaneously because they are very interlinked.
Sometimes a high rate of comorbidity can indicate that our diagnostic tools and criteria are not refined enough. It can also help science and researchers help look for common genes that may be related to mental illness. #shawleveryday2019 #sunlightshawlforsadpeople The Sunlight Shawl For Sad People shawl pattern  I mentioned yesterday that taking my medication regularly and on time has really helped me a lot. And what helps with that is having a system and having support. Brian and I have a routine in the morning of asking each other if we've taken our pills and set our fantasy hockey lines. "Pills and lines?" "Lines and pills." We also have alarms set in the evenings for pills we take at night. Having both of us on board helps keep each other accountable and healthy. What sorts of systems do you have to help you stay on track?
#shawleveryday2019 #wonderwomanshawl Details about this shawl Wonder Woman shawl pattern  I've talked a couple times about depersonalization/derealization before, which is something I experience from time to time. For me, it feels sort of like a dream, but in a panicky sort of way. I know what's happening isn't real, but it feels very real. Being aware that it isn't real is almost just as unsettling as the feeling itself. I'm stuck in the experience and can't get out of it, even though I know my brain is just messing with me.
There are definitely triggers, which can help me prevent an episode, but if I can't stave it off, the best I can do is ride it out until it goes away in a few minutes. I feel exhausted afterwards and a little out of sorts. Luckily it doesn't happen very often, and so far it hasn't affected my life too negatively, but it's definitely something my doctor and I are keeping an eye on. Causes aren't well understood, but stress, depression, and anxiety are all factors (check, check and check!). There isn't a lot of direct treatment for depersonalization/derealization, but I've found that ensuring I take my medication regularly and on time has greatly reduced the frequency and intensity of my episodes. Learn more: #shawleveryday2019 #drycreekshawl Details about this shawl Dry Creek Shawl pattern  Today I want to give a quick shout out to the Depressed Cake Shop! It is a grassroots organization that facilitates pop-ups worldwide that sell customized baked goods as a way to get people talking about mental illness. The baked goods are most often gray to signify the gray cloud that can descend over a beautiful world when someone is struggling with mental health issues and have a pop of color to symbolize hope. Many of the cakes are designed and donated by bakers who had personal experience with depression, and they use their creations to express their struggles with and experiences of their illnesses. Where there is cake, there is hope. And there is always cake. #shawleveryday2019
#contentmentcowl #depressedcakeshop Buy this cowl Details about this cowl Contentment Cowl pattern  Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions marked by an unhealthy relationship with food. The three main types are anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder.
There are a lot of factors that increase the risk of developing an eating disorder, such as family history, having other mental illnesses such as anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder, stress, peer pressure, and/or emotional health issues such as low self-esteem or perfectionism. Statistically, teenage girls and women are more likely to have an eating disorder, but it can affect teenage boys and men as well. Women with an eating disorder are also more likely to die by suicide than women with any other mental illness. Treatment for an eating disorder uses a variety of techniques including therapy, medication, and nutritional counseling. A family-based approach called the Maudsley Method is especially effective for teenagers with an eating disorder. Telling someone with an eating disorder to "just eat" is about as helpful as telling someone who is drowning to "just float." Instead, reach out with compassion and without judgement. You can get more information about how to help from the National Eating Disorders Association. #shawleveryday2019 #22littleclouds Details about this shawl 22 Little Clouds shawl pattern |
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