Alright, so I get to have a contest (actually I have more then one and – if you can find them all – you can enter them all) for a free book because I have a piece in it!
If you read the post just below this one, you will know just about all you need to about the book.
Yes, I am giving away one copy of Mental Wellness: Real Stories from Survivors and all you have to do to be eligible is comment on this post and tell me your own story regarding mental health. It can be about you, or a family member, a friend or even a third hand tale about the person who used to live above you in the apartment. Please don’t use a name if it’s not you and PLEASE – be respectful. I WILL delete offensive posts and you will Not be eligible to win.
So that’s all you have to do to enter – if you are not a signed up member of Word Press – well why not!! It doesn’t cost you anything and you can be a part of, and comment on, many wonderful blogs.
Even if you have decided to purchase a copy (and if you have I commend you) enter to win – you probably know someone who would appreciate the book, even if it’s just your family doctors office.
The winner will be chosen randomly during the first week of February (2012) and announced on this blog.
Now go tell everyone about this contest and PLEASE feel free to link to this and re-post. I want so many entries that my eyes demand a vacation a raise and a spa day at Visine Land.
Hi,
Where do I submit? Just in the comment box here or somewhere else?
Right here indeed. Just post a comment in here that tells about your experience with Mental Health and your entered to win – simple as that.
Feel free to tell your friends about it or link to the contest on your blog !
Hi,
I have battled depression, anxiety and PTSD all in my life time. The depression started when I was still in grade school and stuck with me all through my teenage years into early adulthood. I tried killing myself several times during that period and cut myself. A psychologist once suggested I might be bi-polar but I never followed that up. Sometime I still wonder about that. The last time I contemplated killing myself, I was in the middle of trying to survive PTSD. I was living on my own, I barely slept and when I did I had nightmares. I was constantly paranoid and believed a lot of crazy things even though I knew better (for three months I was convinced I had a tapeworm in my brain.)
The last time I was going to kill myself, I ran myself a hot bath and was going to slit my wrists, I texted one person good bye because at the time I believed I was in love with him and since he was so far away wanted him to at least know instead of never hearing from me or about me ever again. He texted me back telling me that the world can’t lose someone like me, I was too unique. The world would be a much sadder place if I was gone. He made me cry because of how alone I felt up until that point, isolated and unhappy. Every day I was battling bouts of panic attacks and was constantly trying to just function on a normal level like everyone else. I felt that the world was out to get me, that a lot of people in my life were hostile towards me and that I was constantly trying to protect myself from them.
I turned to Buddhism to try to battle my panic attacks, and it worked…eventually. It took years to work past the panic attacks. Eventually they downgraded to anxiety attacks and even those disappeared. The depression has never really gone away, although I’ve become really good at preventing most depressive episodes before my thoughts get out of control. Even now during the best time of my life do I still have periods of depression that I can’t seem to prevent or get out of, it will probably be something I battle for the rest of my life.
Thank you for your openness and honesty Terri-Lynne. There are so many ways our brains can work against us and so many ways that we can take back some control. I’m glad to hear the way you chose is working.
I am so very proud of you becauce you just put yourself out there say what you want and take ownership of yourself , you are the reason I am finally going to get some help for myself ….I apperciate that so I’m real glad your my CUZ …..THANK-YOU
I’m glad I was able to help and as for pride in someone – your constant chin up attitude towards fighting off the cancer is inspiring. Your ability to smile while getting chemo is inspirational all on it’s own!
[...] visiting. For example one such site which I have only just started visiting today is that of “Creativity From Chaos”. As a writer with mental health issues myself I like to support other writers who have similar [...]
I grew up in an emotionally abusive household. I was constantly told that I was worthless, that I was slut, a bitch, and any other number of adjectives my dad felt like using. This lead to me developing anxiety and stress disorders as well as depression. No matter how awesome my life would be going there was always a voice in my head that said I was worthless, that no matter what i did I wouldn’t amount to anything. When I was nice I considered killing myself because I thought I was the reason my parents fought, that why bother growing up, if my dad didn’t love me who would. I eventually called kids help phone who told me that it wasn’t my fault, they helped me a lot that day. As I grew older, I sought medication, therapy and learned skills to cope with my disorders. Getting out of a stressful marriage helped me and I was just starting to feel “like myself” again when my sister was murdered 6 months ago. Since then I have battled anxiety attacks, extreme stress, and alot of my childhood issues came back, the feeling of being alone, being unloved, the feelings that everything is my fault. I have been on medication for anxiety since her death, and have talked to therapists. I am lucky that i can recognize what is happening and deal with it. I know tell myself a daily mantra about how awesome I am, if I feel like I hear a voice that tells me I am know good, or worthless I go to a happy memory where I am strong and loved. I have also learned that I don’t have to be strong for everyone that its ok for me to ask for help and its ok to let people help me.
Looking forward to reading your chapter Raven and you helped me alot when my dad died in the past with dealing my depression, and you have helped by offering me words of encouragement during the last few bad months. Thank you
Thanks for posting that – I know it couldn’t have been easy.
For each one of use that speaks, however, we lay a path for others to follow out of fear into freedom.
Each and every one of us has the power to rise above our problems – as long as we tackle them one day at a time.
I have battled against low self esteem most of my life, there have been many times the crap events in my life ganged up on me to make me feel completely worthless and it took many a friend and a good bit of patience on the part of some of them to help me work my way through it, and a complete melt down 4 years ago. I have never attempted but i have in the past contemplated suicide, dabled in S.I. as a poor coping mechanism and have had bouts of alcohol fix everything.
Currently i am “well” and i credit that to having plenty to do, mostly with my involvement in a world wide volunteer effort that brings milllions of people hope and coping skills.
But depression is like a comfy sweater, that sometimes you just want to wear all the time. Trying to store it in the garage so that it wont be tempting to put it on ever again.
Thank you for posting. It can be the hardest thing to speak of, not only because of stigma and a lack of understanding on the part of others -but because speaking of your issues can often trigger them, or bring them to the surface just when you have gotten the better of them.
Thank you .. yes hard to speak. harder to realize i might be identified but worth cause i know that knowing one is not alone in this boat does somehow make it easier.
Thanks for sharing about the book, even better you had a part of it. I WANT IT!! I think it will help many people, thanks for sharing
[...] enter to win simply go HERE and leave a comment as to how mental health has touched your [...]
Congrats to the winner, Terri-Lynne Petahtegoose, and to all who entered. And a special thanks to our contributing author Raven, who put the effort in to share this truly inspiring book, and included his own story of survival. A great addition to our collection.
Thank you,
All the best,
Charles Day MPA, BA
HWA Mentor Program Committee Chairperson
New England Horror Writers Association Full Member
Author of YA novel Legend of The Pumpkin Thief (Noble Young Adult Publishers, LLC)
And novel Deep Within (Twisted Library Press, Spring 2012)
Owner/Founder Evil Jester Press & Hidden Thoughts Press
charlesdayfictionwriter.blogspot.com.com
Thank you Mr. Day!