When Mental Health Struggles Spread Through the Family

When Mental Health Struggles Spread Through the Family

ByMikeM Reading Time: 2 minutes

The parents trying to navigate the maze of mental healthcare while also trying to work to help pay for the care that winds up not being covered and be there for their other children as well. It’s a lot. All of that stress isn’t good for anyone’s health, mental and physical. Imagine trying to support a child with getting mental healthcare while also needing your own care, or dealing with illnesses.

It’s a mess. I don’t envy parents who find themselves in this position. If you know any parents in this boat, maybe see what they need. Find some way to take a little stress off. Provide a meal or two, run some errands for them, etc. They need it more than they will probably ever admit.

APA Foundation Launches Mental Healthcare Works Resource

APA Foundation Launches Mental Healthcare Works Resource

ByMikeM Reading Time: 1 minute

You can access the launch page here – https://mentalhealthcareworks.org

Taking a quick look around it appears there are some stories, links to resources for finding help, and some advice on talking to your physician or helping a friend take the first steps toward getting help. I’m sure there will be additions to the site now that it is life, so I might suggest bookmarking it for future reference, especially so you have it handy when someone you know is looking for help.

An example of the path to healing being long

An example of the path to healing being long

ByMikeM Reading Time: 2 minutes

I probably still loop back through some of these stages at various times, but it’s not part of my daily life anymore. Take this list as a sign to take your time and give yourself grace for how long it takes while celebrating the small victories along the way, but also know that it’s worth the time and effort. If I can find the peace and calmness that I have now, imperfect as it is, you can too.

Sharing – Peer-on-Peer Abuse: What can be done when kids hurt kids?

Sharing – Peer-on-Peer Abuse: What can be done when kids hurt kids?

ByMikeM Reading Time: 2 minutes

There’s no real difference. I should know. I was sexually abused by an older minor. There was no creepy old man, only an older and bigger kid who threatened me. Someone in my own family. Mall parking lots, school, and our neighborhood park weren’t the places where I was not safe, my family was.

And I had no way to tell anyone, because I wasn’t taught about that being child abuse. Only strange men in white vans giving out candy abused children. Whatever was happening in my family wasn’t to be discussed with anyone. It wasn’t, and it went on for years.

Maybe we should do better with understanding the ways kids abuse other kids, and talking openly about it. The link below can help.

Sharing – Being calm is not our default mode

Sharing – Being calm is not our default mode

ByMikeM Reading Time: 2 minutes

I’ve seen many mentions recently about anxiety being a normal response to our current world. This is also a contradiction to what much of the self-help and positivity industry would tell us. Spend any time on social media and you’ll see plenty of messages about gratitude, finding joy and purpose, and the silver lining in any situation.

What you won’t hear is that there are situations that SHOULD make you angry, anxious, and sad. But there are.

I Started Healing When I Convinced Myself I was Safe Now, What About People Who Aren’t Safe?

I Started Healing When I Convinced Myself I was Safe Now, What About People Who Aren’t Safe?

ByMikeM Reading Time: 2 minutes

Casey calls out those of us who would say “love is love” and support our LGBTQ friends and family members without standing up and doing what we can to actually make this world safer for them. I’ll go one further. If we want to call ourselves mental health advocates and advocates for trauma survivors we need to do what we can to push for a world that is safe for everyone. We can’t heal when we don’t feel safe, and for too many people in this world, they have no reason to feel safe.

We need to advocate for a world that is safe for them too.