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Dubious of Disclosure: Delving into my Depression

Disclosing depression may seem easy. After all, scarcely a day goes by when this celebrity or that one “comes out” as living with depression, or anxiety (two of the socially “acceptable” mental health diagnoses) but, for many people, talking openly about their mental health challenges, whatever those are, isn’t easy; it can be excruciating, and the very thought of being out in the open as someone living with mental illness can be incredibly, well, anxiety-provoking. Miriam Beigelman doesn’t take coming forward lightly, and she talks about this in her brave essay.

From Hiding To Helping – Schizophrenia Advocate; Rebecca Chamaa | RDID; 206

by Rebecca Chamaa

A Recovery Diaries In Depth podcast interview with writer and schizophrenia advocate Rebecca Chamaa about living with schizophrenia.

Bipolar Schizoaffective Disorder: from National Rugby to Inpatient Hospitalization

by Amelia Gordon

Amelia Gordon was going to be a professional athlete until bipolar schizophrenia tried to take away her achievements and her agency.

Mental Illness Comic Uses Humor to Destigmatize Bipolar Disorder

by John F. O'Donnell

John F. O’Donnell didn’t set out to be a “mental illness comic” but, as a stand-up comedian with bipolar, he’s making it work, and making them laugh.

I Have OCD; and I Can Never Forget That

by Tyler Mendelsohn

For Tyler Mendelsohn, every day comes with the reminder that “I have OCD”, but every day is also unexplainable and magical.

Ketamine Addiction & My Journey Out of the Hole of Depression

by Daniel Gaughan

Daniel Gaughan tried to climb out of the hole of depression via an addiction to ketamine, and he almost lost himself.

Transforming Struggles into Strengths: Overcoming Anxiety and Finding Purpose

by Erin Ullman

Erin Ullman is a therapist with anxiety and she’s helping others, both as a mental health clinician and as an advocate.

Activism and Intentional Living Helped Me Manage My Eco-Anxiety

by Julia Tannenbaum

Julia Tannenbaum advocates for a better, cleaner, lovelier world while managing her eco-anxiety that threatened to derail her activism.

My Grande Mis-Comparison Between Mental Episodes and Abuse

by Ashley Marie Berry

Ashley Marie Berry endured trauma in an abusive relationship, on top of pre-existing mental health challenges and emerged hopeful.

A Creative Mind, Body, and Voice Navigates Bipolar Disorder

by Casey Calhoun

Musician, dancer, and artist Casey Calhoun has long struggled with bipolar disorder, and she writes here about her unique recovery process.

A Double-Edged Sword: Facing the Grief of Miscarriage with Bipolar Disorder

by Erika Nichols-Frazer

Erika Nichols-Frazer writes about recovering from a miscarriage while living with bipolar disorder.

Be Informed, Not Afraid: Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) Could Save Your Life

by Brian Marshall

Despite the many decades that have passed since “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”, many negative myths still persist about ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) for persistent, suicidal depression; Brian Marshall’s essay aims to bust those myths.

I Don’t Like My Butt! My Eating Disorder Recovery

by Theresa Corbley Siller

Theresa waged war on the butt she didn’t like, and the eating disorder that ensued could have cost her life.

Unpacking Emotional Baggage and Helpful Coping Mechanisms

by Shaquiea Sykes

DEI professional Shaquiea Sykes gets tired carrying around all the emotional baggage of depression; in her essay, she talks about setting it down.

Depression for a “Good Indian Boy”? Impossible

by Abhishek Pandeyar

Depression in India is still stigmatized, particularly for a “good Indian boy”, for whom little else is more important than academic and professional achievement.

Integration; My Final Stage of Healing from Dissociative Identity Disorder

by Shirley Davis

Shirley Davis is never alone; there are alters living within her, other beings and voices, the result of her dissociative identity disorder.

Alcoholism and Mental Health: The Tipping Point

by Sonia Kahlon

Sonia Kahlon used alcohol to cope with her stresses and professional life, but she recognized how it sought to destroy her mental health.

Highs and Lows; Navigating Life with CPTSD

by Martha Githui

This is the story of Martha Githui, who was diagnosed in 2020 with complex PTSD (CPTSD), which is often the result of repeated, prolonged exposure to traumatic incidents/situations.

The Non-Linear Nature of Eating Disorder Recovery

by Erin Jamieson

Erin Jamieson became “good” at counting calories, throwing herself headlong into her eating disorder and then, thankfully, into her eating disorder recovery.

Corporal Punishment as a Barrier to Intimacy, Letting go of Shame

by Jacques Damhuis

Corporal punishment is falling out of fashion, thankfully, for Jacques Damhuis writes beautifully about its long-lasting, damaging impact.

Once Blessed; Still Strong: My Life with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

by Jamaal Zarti

On Christmas, a young man with obsessive compulsive disorder reflects on his mental health, his life, and what is yet to come.

Shiny Rocks; OCD is Always in My Pocket, Even all Grown Up

by Megan R. Fisher

Megan Fisher wonders whether or not there is room in her life, and in people’s minds, for the child she was, with OCD, and the adult she is, with OCD.

For this African American Man; there is Light, Even with Bipolar Schizophrenia

by Derrick McQueen

Men in the Black community are viewed as weak if they seek mental health treatment, but Derrick McQueen, a Black man with bipolar schizophrenia, didn’t let stigma stop him from getting help.

Learning to Prioritize Mental Health and Self-Care through a Traumatic Experience

by Andrea Turrentine

This mental health recovery story focuses on Andrea’s journey after an incident of unwanted touch in a public place. Andrea felt anger, confused, uncertain how to go on. Through mental health care and re-prioritizing her needs, read how Andrea learned to heal from her trauma.

Knock, Knock. Who’s There? OCD.

by Megan R. Fisher

Megan Fisher tried in vain to conceal her OCD behaviors from those closest to her, and therapy wasn’t the magic cure-all, until she found hope and help, compassion and change.

Recovering from Depression; a Taboo Illness in Indian Society

by Aakanksha Shukla

Depression in India, for women in particular, is still a taboo topic, with women being blamed and shamed for what they experience, as Aakanksha Shukla writes.

Dusk to Darkness; Navigating and Emerging from a World of Self-Harm

by Zoe Judd

Australian Zoe Judd writes with vivid brilliance about her recovery from self-harm behaviors.

Not All a Child Needs: Overcoming Suicidality and Depression in Pakistan

by Hira Raza

Hira Raza shares how culture and parental pressure can impact a child’s mental health, leading to an eating disorder and depression in Pakistan.

The Madness Line – Navigating Between the Audience and Stage

by Sabrina Chap

You’re more powerful than you know. And, once you learn how to wield your powers, trust me. They’ll applaud.

Playing Hide and Seek with a Demon: My Struggle with Anxiety

by Florence Mukangenzi

I don’t know when it started. It was not as though I suddenly woke up with a raging heartbeat and butterflies in my stomach, wishing I could run away from myself. It came in tiny bits of worry.

Episode 18 – Libby Parker; Changing the LGBTQ+ Mental Health Landscape

by Bud Clayman & Laura Farrell

Mx. Libby Parker, MSS, LSW is an outpatient therapist and manager of Einstein Health Network’s PRIDE Program, which coordinates and supports various services designed to meet the unique needs of LGBTQ+ identified patients.

Episode 12 – From Nigeria to the U.S. — A Journey with Anxiety and Depression

by Bud Clayman & Laura Farrell

Adesola Ogunleye, a Nigerian American immigrant who lives with depression and anxiety, is interviewed on this episode of OC87 Recovery Diaries on the Radio.

Episode 11 – An Interview with Gabriel Nathan: Editor in Chief

by Bud Clayman & Laura Farrell

“When you make a choice to put yourself out there, you’re empowering yourself — and you’re empowering others.” – Gabriel Nathan

My Experience Inside a Psychiatric Hospital

by Mike Hedrick

Say the words “psychiatric hospital” to the average person and the hair on the back of their neck might stand straight up.

Episode 3 – An Interview with Documentary Filmmaker Glenn Holsten

by Bud Clayman & Laura Farrell

Glenn Holsten discusses the making of his mental health documentary film, Hollywood Beauty Salon.

When to Pull Back When You’re Living With Mental Illness

by Mike Hedrick

Pulling back and regaining stability is complicated but it will help exponentially help in the long journey of living with mental illness.

The Family and Schizophrenia

by Mike Hedrick

Family is the most important thing for a person with mental illness. We need support and validation that we are not alone in the world

A Nurse at an Inpatient Mental Health Hospital Tells Her Story

by Gabriel Nathan

We shine the spotlight on the individuals who help folks along on that road of recovery including mental health professionals, like Christa Godillot, RN.

New Editor In Chief

by Bud Clayman

It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Gabriel Nathan as editor in chief of OC87 Recovery Diaries.

Mental Health & Law Enforcement: There Is Definitely An Answer

by Gabriel Nathan

Jeff Shannon is veteran police officer and a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist. He specializes in mental health-related calls within the police department.

Dr. Otto Wahl on Busting Stigma Around Mental Illness

by Glenn Holsten

Dr. Otto Wahl has some intriguing thoughts about a new direction for study to tackle stigma within the mental health field itself.

Suffering in Silence: Men’s Mental Health in America Today

by Gabriel Nathan

I joke about men’s mental health because, sometimes, I don’t know what else to do. Of course, the stigma against men’s mental health is not funny.