The DBT Skill That Helped With Relationships
Relationships have never been my strong suit. In fact, I can’t think of a single friendship or romantic connection that came easily. I constantly fear…
How I Told My Daughter About Mental Illness
Over the past two years, I have been admitted to my local psychiatric hospital four times, attended an intensive outpatient program for four months, plowed…
6 Lessons From My Inpatient Hospitalization
I first walked through the doors of my local psychiatric hospital over two years ago. I felt so terrified that I could barely speak. Somehow…
4 Ways My Fear Of Abandonment Drains Me
I don’t know when it started or when it will end, but I fear abandonment so much that I think about it every day. Sometimes…
How An IOP Program Helped Me Find Myself
The first time I walked into the doors at my local psychiatric hospital to start their Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), I was absolutely terrified… so terrified…
10 Occurrences When You Fear Abandonment
No matter how long you’ve been friends with someone or how committed your partner seems, you can’t shake that fear that eventually everyone will leave….
How You Can Help Prevent Suicide
I have a very serious confession to make: I have tried to die by suicide. I have made 3 attempts; my first being at age…
The Mixed Feelings Of Giving Up Self-Harm
Each year, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 7 men engage in self-harm. For me, self-harm has been one of the main ways of…
Why I’m So Open About My BPD
“Shouldn’t you be less open about borderline personality disorder? People will think you’re nuts.” I vividly remember my sister-in-law condemning me shortly after my formal…
Inpatient Hospitalization From The Other Side
I’ve received treatment for mental illness since early high school. People jokingly call me the “hospitalization pro” because of the number of times I’ve been…