Category: mental illness

L-Methylfolate and Antidepressants: Can This Supplement Boost Your Treatment?

Struggling with antidepressants that just aren’t working? L-methylfolate (MTHF) might be the missing piece. This key nutrient helps your brain produce serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine—exactly what antidepressants target. But some people don’t make enough of it naturally. Could supplementing with MTHF boost your treatment? Find out what the research says, plus my thoughts on it.

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When Depression and Anxiety Treatment Fails: Finding Hope and Support

What do you do when therapy and medication don’t work? This guest writer spent years battling depression and anxiety, searching for relief that never seemed to come. In this personal story, he shares his journey through treatment-resistant mental illness — the frustration, the hopelessness, and the unexpected places he found support. If you’ve ever felt like giving up, this article is for you.

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Smiling Through Depression: The Hidden Pain of High-Functioning Mental Illness

“Smiling depression” and “high-functioning depression” aren’t official diagnoses, but if you’ve ever forced a smile while feeling broken inside, you know they’re real. I’ve lived it—going through life as if everything is fine while struggling just to get through the day. If you hide your pain, function because you have to, and feel exhausted from pretending, you’re not alone. In this article, I share my experience with smiling depression, why we do it, and why it’s okay to stop hiding. You don’t have to carry this alone.

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The Hidden Truth About New Year’s and Suicide — Finding Hope and Healing in January

New Year’s is often seen as a time for fresh starts and celebration, but for many, it can be overwhelming, especially for those living with bipolar disorder. The cultural pressure to “start over” combined with feelings of loneliness or failure can make January 1 a particularly difficult day, even increasing the risk of suicide. In this article, I uncover the hidden struggles of New Year’s Day, explore why it can feel so challenging, and offer practical steps to find hope and healing in January and beyond.

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Understanding Anosognosia in Bipolar Disorder: Why Some People Don’t Believe They’re Sick

Anosognosia, a clinical lack of insight, affects up to 50% of people with bipolar disorder, leaving them unable to recognize their illness. This symptom can devastate not only those with bipolar disorder but also their loved ones. Discover why this happens, how it impacts treatment, and what you can do to help someone who doesn’t believe they’re unwell.

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Dextromethorphan Vs Ketamine: A New (Affordable) Depression Treatment Option Explained

Looking for a more affordable alternative to ketamine for treatment-resistant depression? Discover how dextromethorphan/bupropion offers new hope. This article breaks down the differences between ketamine and dextromethorphan, their effectiveness, and how these antidepressants work. If you’ve struggled with depression treatments or face challenges accessing expensive therapies like ketamine, this guide might offer the answers you’ve been searching for. Dive in to learn more about this innovative approach.

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I’m Miserable — This Is How I Deal with It

Don’t ask me how I am. Just don’t do it. Asking me how I am will only result in one of two things: a dishonest answer or honest tears. I don’t particularly care for either outcome. This is because I’m miserable. I’m hellaciously depressed and have recently undergone a couple of unfortunate situations. i do the best I can to ignore all that — after all, nothing can be done — but when I think about how I am, I get really upset. I know how I am. I’m horrible.

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Stop Forcing Platitudes for Mental Illness

I hate platitudes in general, but I especially hate platitudes when they’re applied to mental illness. It’s so condescending when people offer some simple piece of advice and tell you it will fix everything. It’s disgustingly pious when people tell you you’re looking at things or handling things the wrong way because they know of a rhyming couplet. Not only are platitudes unlikely to be helpful in general, I would suggest they are even less so for people with a mental illness (especially serious mental illnesses like bipolar disorder). Here’s why people need to stop offering platitudes to those with mental illness (and maybe everyone else).

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Additional Writings

Check out my Amazon Author Page.

I write a three-time Web Health Award winning column for HealthyPlace called Breaking Bipolar.

Also, find my writings on The Huffington Post and my work for BPHope (BP Magazine).

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