It sounds true, but it’s actually a myth that people who self-harm like pain. I’ve done it; I should know. That’s right — I’ve purposefully caused pain, and yet, I hate pain. Believe me, you can want to self-injure and hate pain — both of those things can be true at the same time. Read on to learn about the myth that those who self-mutilate like pain.
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Have you heard of a medical test for the selection of antidepressants? It’s billed as a simple blood test or cheek swab that can indicate what antidepressant you should or should not take. This is advertised as “personalized medicine” or “precision medicine.” And to anyone who has been on the (un)merry-go-round of antidepressant trials, it sure sounds like a great idea. Here’s the latest research on what you need to know about spending money on medical tests for antidepressant selection.
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I have thought that no one would want me if they knew the real me for, oh, my whole life. It’s not because I’m an ax-murderer or puppy-hater or anything; it’s just because I’m me, and “me” is very messy, indeed. The inner life of a bipolar can be torture. And then there’s whatever Natasha has to offer on top of it. And then there’s Ehler’s-Danlos. And then there’s fibromyalgia. And, really, I thought no one would want me before those last two really asserted themselves, so I can only imagine how undesirable I am now. But one thing I know is that many people think that no one would want them if they knew the real them. Specifically, I know that many disabled people think that no one would want them if they knew the real them. But do disabilities — bipolar disorder or otherwise — stand in the way of being desirable?
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Dear Suicidal Friend,
This sucks. Okay, it doesn’t just suck. It’s horrendous. It’s horrific. It’s soul-sucking. It’s suicidality at its finest. It’s lonely, and the pain is unbearable. I know what that feels like. I have been there many times before. I know how impossible just one more moment in the muck and mire feels. I have written about suicide over and over and over, and yet it doesn’t stop me from feeling suicidal again. It doesn’t stop me from wanting to kill myself. No amount of knowledge takes away the suffering.
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Successful corporate mental health speaker Mike Veny is this week’s guest on Snap Out of It! The Mental Illness in the Workplace Podcast with Natasha Tracy. Mike is now a Certified Corporate Wellness Specialist®, but just five years ago, Mike was suffering from a mental health breakdown thanks to depression and anxiety. While now, Mike talks to corporations about mental wellness for their employees, only a few years ago, it was showing them, personally, what it was like when that isn’t taken care of. This video podcast conversation will revolve around that mental breakdown and around Mike’s current thoughts about mental illness in the workplace.
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Cara McNulty is a population health scientist and the President, Behavioral Health and Employee Assistance Programs at Aetna, a CVS Health Company. She’s also a woman who has experienced mental illness. This week, Snap Out of It! The Mental Illness in the Workplace Podcast with Natasha Tracy is talking with Cara McNulty about her own experience with mental illness, amplifying her passion for helping others with mental illness. We’re also going to be talking about what place an employer should have when dealing with employees with mental illness and how voices with mental illness are shamed and silenced.
We’re going to be discussing things like:
Whether you are in human resources, a c-suite executive, or simply want to ensure that people with mental illness get what they need at work, you don’t want to miss this episode.
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Recently I was asked what to do when you don’t want to take your bipolar medication. What do you do when you’re battling medication noncompliance (also known as nonadherence) within yourself? I thought this was a good question as it’s something that many of us battle with. We know we need to take the medication, but some part of us doesn’t want to take the medication. I guess it’s a need vs. want scenario. This scenario is trickier than many people think, as not wanting to take medication is common and a very understandable impulse. So here’s what to do when you don’t want to take your bipolar medication.
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I have no motivation, but I still have to get things done, just like everyone. Getting things done without motivation is no easy feat, however. I find that my amotivation (no motivation) combined with the other symptoms of depression pretty much glue me to the couch. And while there seems to be a lot of recognition of a lack of motivation and other similar concepts like abolition and abulia in mental illness, there seems to be precious few solutions. But, as amotivation has been my state for many years of my life, I’ve had to come up with coping techniques. Here is one revolving around how planning can thwart a lack of motivation.
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This week, Snap Out of It! The Mental Illness in the Workplace Podcast with Natasha Tracy is talking to Gary Koplin, Founder, and President at HealthyPlace.com, a large consumer mental health site. Gary has a unique perspective as he specifically hires and manages people with mental illness. He’s worked with people who have had disorders from social phobia to bipolar disorder, from depression to dissociative identity disorder, and everything in between. If anyone knows the ramifications of mental illness in the workplace, it’s Gary.
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