Next week (Oct 5-11, 2014) is Mental Illness Awareness Week.
Spread the word on social media here: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/MIAW2014.
Why I Dread October
Comments
28 responses to “Why I Dread October”
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Marty, would you be interested in writing a piece for Stigmama.com about your experience with bipolar? Right now Walker Karraa, PhD is looking for pieces about stereotypes… She (we) really could use some wisdom from mature mothers who have been through the life cycle as a mother (and grandmother). Interested?
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Best of luck. My mom grew up in Renton, and I have fond memories of visiting my grandparents there. Social media can be overstimulating. Remember to turn the computer off and enjoy some quiet.
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I was born in TX. Moved to WA in 1962. Lived in CA too. I am used to it. My kids, grandchildren and great grandchildren live here so will not leave. As long as there is football and basketball I am pretty good. Love watching grandson playing sports but he tore his ACL during the first quarter of the first football game a couple of weeks ago so he will be out his entire Jr. year. Bummer. Blogging almost makes me manic so i should not have such a bad winter. Keep my fingers crossed.
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Excellent idea, Marty … Ahuelon! I found I was unable to live in the Pacific NW due to the rain and overcast skies. We lived in Eugene for 10 months, then returned to sunny Southern California. If we had decided to stay, I would have used light therapy. My pdoc recommended going outside every day, come rain or come shine, and exercise (say, walk the dog). It would benefit me to do so here, as well, but I’m lazy and my dogs once pulled me to the ground and along the sidewalk for a yard or two chasing after another dog. Not fun!
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Such a delightful approach. I wish your days will bring positive energy and joy. May God Bless you!!
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I seem to have to white knuckle if until spring. I am going to use my light more this Fall and Winter. I think the holidays bring me down. I think I am going to try and find a soup kitchen to volunteer in for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
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Just reblogged her post and posted to FB. Thanks!
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Wow – I feel every word you mention in your post. May God Bless you and shine every step:)
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Thank you, Mihrank! You are so supportive. I really appreciate it.
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Well said.
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Apparently they do not suffer from mental illness or from cancers other than breast cancer. Your introductory caveat explains where you are coming from. Check out Walker Karraa’s post at
http://stigmama.com/2014/10/02/oh-october-by-walker-karraa-ph-d/.
She says much the same thing, AND she has survived breast cancer and a double mastectomy.
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Thanks. Just went there and tweeted it again today!
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I agree.
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Great!
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I had some problems posting to Twitter yesterday, too. Just for a short while. I think they may have been having some technical difficulties.
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Those were the subtle points they were not able to draw from my post. I’m planning a followup that is more direct with my opinion instead of more fact based as this one was.
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Kitt – this is such powerful, informative and detailed blog. Keep up with your great work!!
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Well, as my psychiatric social worker husband put it, breast cancer is a disease that cuts across all classes and strikes down rich, white suburban women, while mental illness is associated with the poor and outcasts of our society. I love October. It is my husband’s birthday’s month and I live for Fall. But callous you are not. Mental illness is one of the last frontiers of stigmatism, bullying and prejudice. People sympathize with those with breast cancer and celebrate survivors. What about the mentally ill??? I am not minimizing the ordeal of getting a breast cancer diagnosis and enduring the disease but there is no stigma attached to it. And survivors are celebrated as heroes. What about us??
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So glad people are finding it useful. My own sisters basically expressed that it was self-serving and one even called me ‘callous.’
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Thank you! I’m glad you don’t dread October either, & I’m glad you weren’t put off by my comment. You chose well in reblogging (as usual! ) the post – I thought her message was very relevant, timely and thought-provoking about awareness campaigns. I’m just sad that she dreads October – I wish it didn’t have to be that way!
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Years ago, our local newspaper printed all the papers for October on pink newsprint. It was really difficult to read, but they justified it as raising awareness of breast cancer. (Um, I venture to guess that the typical newspaper-reading demographic is well-informed and knowledgeable about it, thank you.) But the amount of coverage this particular cancer receives is so out of proportion to the coverage of even other cancers that it seems strange. I feel bad for those who have cancer; I’ve sat in the chemo room at my hematologist’s office and seen people that I knew were close to death. But I also know that there are many, many other people who are alone, desperate, and close to choosing death because they cannot receive the help they need, in part because of the stigma of mental illness. This shouldn’t be the case.
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Thanks for posting the very informative and helpful link, Kitt! I will be posting it next week and just went to the url and printed out the info for my husband to give to his mentally ill clients next week! Thanks a lot!
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No, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I did. I was just making a bad joke. Twitter wouldn’t take the post for some reason (not personal).
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Did you get negative feedback on Twitter?
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Good for you, and I mean it. No doubt that you are an advocate. Sorry to hear that you have had a lumpectomy.
Happy October to you. I don’t dread October. The author of the original post does. I simply agree that nowadays breast cancer is no longer taboo, but that mental illness remains stigmatized.
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I tried to post on Twitter and even Twitter is biased against mental illness. Followed your link and will post something connected with that next week.
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October is my FAVORITE month – I chose it to be the month for our wedding and Halloween is my favorite holiday of the year. No offense to anyone, I mean it – but I do not want want to focus on serious mental health issues (which I have) or breast cancer awareness (I’ve had a lumpectomy & it was extremely traumatic; I’ve had two friends my age die from breast cancer) during my special month. I want to focus on joy and joy alone. Yeah, I may sound selfish, but I’m fine with ignoring all the causes for October, because I’ve paid the dues, I helped where I’ve been able to help others, and I can continue raise awareness in ways that I feel comfortable with!
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