Remove Aging and mental health Remove Hospitality Remove Trauma and the brain
article thumbnail

Letting Go of Lithium

Mad in America

I had headaches, brain fog, and fatigue. Being a brain doctor, he focused on the headaches. My sister took antidepressants and my family has a lot of mental health issues, so based on that, I was thrown into the same category. The doctor in the hospital who diagnosed me had a great impact on my life for years to come.

article thumbnail

My Red October – An Army Veteran’s Crucible to Recovery

Mad in America

My middle school-aged daughter had a suicide attempt, the result of relentless bullying. M y brother Jesse sat next to me on the couch in my living room. Two police officers stood inside my entryway, watching us. My mind raced. I believed my brother’s life was in danger. I believed I was the only person who knew it and only I could save him.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

My Story of Surviving Psychiatry

Mad in America

It will be easier to dive into the depths of darkness and despair that I went through as a mental health patient if I start with a story of hope. It will be easier to dive into the depths of darkness and despair that I went through as a mental health patient if I start with a story of hope. This holiday has been amazing.

article thumbnail

“It Is What It Is” — Learning From the Past Without Getting Stuck in It

Mad in America

In that moment, in that mental-ward room alone, I felt I was the helpless target and it was my enemy bent on my destruction. Scuffling whispers echoing in the hall and in my brain halted, followed by a brief but sacred silence. Nevertheless, like USS Arizona and Utah, I lay immobile from what felt like a sneak attack. I now stammered.

article thumbnail

A Felt Sense of Safety – From Disassociation to Embodiment

Mad in America

A nutrition geek and nature fanatic who loved learning about the healing power of food, I could not wrap my mind around how I needed prescriptions to balance my brain. Years later, my youngest brother was hospitalized for type 1 diabetes. It was the perfect way to start my senior year of high school. Everyone participated in some way.

article thumbnail

Manic and Mistreated

Mad in America

I was experiencing my first manic episode, brought on by a traumatic event. I reacted to my emotions with the weight of stress on my chest. I was assaulted, by someone who was supposed to love and protect me. I confided in my mother, who seemed to believe me at first. I struck out in a place of fear, anger, and pain. They didn’t listen to me.

article thumbnail

Day # 161: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

Bullet Psych

Alcohol is reinforcing because it increases dopamine release in the brain's reward system, particularly in the mesolimbic pathway, leading to feelings of pleasure, relaxation, and euphoria. Epidemiology & Pathogenesis 4 , 5 Genetics , environmental influences , and mental health comorbidities contribute to vulnerability.