mental illness issues Archives - Page 14 of 52 - Natasha Tracy Bipolar Expert

What Trauma-Informed Care Gets Wrong About Bipolar Disorder

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Dec 4, 2019

“Trauma-informed care” is a semi-new buzzword that is heard all over right now but trauma-informed care gets a lot wrong when it comes to bipolar disorder (and other serious mental illnesses). I don’t say this because I don’t think trauma-informed care works — I think it probably does. But like anything, it only works for a certain population; and, like with anything fashionable, right now (look, it has its own conference) they are trying to shoehorn it onto every population. And when it comes to bipolar disorder, trauma-informed care gets a lot wrong.

Toxic Positivity Around Mental Illness

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Nov 14, 2019

I despise toxic positivity and I especially despise toxic positivity around my mental illness. Toxic positivity shrouds itself in “helpfulness” and yet hides a shiv beneath it. Toxic positivity comes in forms like, “Yoga will help your anxiety,” or “Meditation will calm your feelings of depression,” and when you scowl, it is then followed quickly by the words, “I’m just trying to help.” Well, here’s the thing, positivity may have its place in the world and in mental illness, but when positivity crosses the line and becomes something that actually hurts instead of helps — that’s toxic positivity and it has no place around serious mental illness.

Life-Saving Suicide Posts — Whether You’re Suicidal or Not

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Sep 10, 2019

I’d like to spend some time this World Suicide Prevention Day sharing what I feel are life-saving suicide posts for people that are suicidal and for those who are not. I’ve spent more than a decade writing about suicide, suicide attempts and other mental health-related topics. I’ve covered a lot of ground. These posts have helped save lives over and over. No, this isn’t ego talking, this is the power of words talking. Suicide information does have the power to be life-saving.

So, if you are suicidal or if you need to support someone who might be suicidal, please review these suicide-related posts.

Save Mental Health Care for West Virginia – Speak Out Today

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Aug 18, 2019

Two mental health facilities that provide acute, inpatient, psychiatric care are slated to close their doors in Wheeling, West Virginia. My name is Katrina Bell, and I have worked for the last 14 years at Ohio Valley Medical Center’s psychiatric facilities. These are the Robert C. Byrd Child and Adolescent Center as well as the Hillcrest Behavioral Center. These facilities are the only inpatient, acute, psychiatric centers in the Northern Panhandle of the state.

We were recently informed that our hospital will be closing within 60-90 days and no later than October 7^th of this year. We were devastated by this news, not only for us but for the vulnerable population we serve. We want your help to save these life-saving facilities.

Does Jeffery Epstein’s Suicide Rob Victims of Justice?

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Aug 12, 2019

When I read about Jeffery Epstein’s suicide*, the first thing I thought was, “Well, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy.” But then I heard a reporter on television says that Epstein’s suicide robbed his victims** of justice and this got me thinking: Is it better to have a crime’s perpetrator in jail or dead? Put simply if you were a sex-trafficking victim of Epstein, if he had turned your adolescence into a nightmare for months or longer, would you prefer that he be dead or in prison?

Why Aren’t Bipolars Asking for Help Before a Suicide Attempt?

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jul 23, 2019

As a person with bipolar, I can tell you, I did and I didn’t ask for help before my suicide attempt. I had been asking for mental health help, begging for help with bipolar disorder before my suicide attempt; however, I did not seek out suicide-specific help before my suicide attempt. And while we have data saying that many people see a doctor before attempting suicide, what we also know is that many people with bipolar disorder are not asking for help before a suicide attempt — even if they do see a doctor.

When Nothing Helps Your Mental Illness

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jun 26, 2019

Sometimes nothing helps my mental illness. I’m sorry to be the one to break it to you, but it’s true. Sometimes no matter the action, no matter the coping skill, no matter the thought pattern, my bipolar just don’t get better. This is difficult for those around me, and it’s especially disheartening for me. But it’s just a fact, sometimes nothing helps my mental illness.

Are People with Serious Mental Illness Spoonies? What’s a Spoonie?

Posted by Natasha Tracy | Jun 13, 2019

“Spoonies” have traditionally been thought of as people with serious, chronic illnesses of the body (outside of mental illnesses), but are people with serious, chronic mental illnesses really spoonies too? Personally, I identify as a spoonie and I think many people with serious, chronic mental illnesses are spoonies too. Read on to learn about what a spoonie is and how using the spoonie lexicon can help those with serious, chronic mental illness.

Saying ‘I’m Grumpy’ When Really I’m Depressed — Social Acceptability of Sadness

Posted by Natasha Tracy | May 28, 2019

I say “I’m grumpy” when really I’m depressed all the time. Like, all the time. It just seems to slip out when people ask me how I am. I think it’s because saying “I’m grumpy” feels like less of a lie than “I’m fine.” I also think that saying “I’m grumpy” is more socially appropriate than saying “I’m depressed.” It’s like saying, “I’m dealing with a negative emotion right now but it’s one you’ll understand,” as opposed to, “I’m dealing with an illness right now that you’ll never understand.” So, yes, when I’m depressed I’ll most often admit to being “grumpy.”