Quietly Passing Down An Eating Disorder

            I don’t know why this question never occurred to me before. It’s a legitimate question, one that might occur to anyone in my...

Are 28 Medications Too Many?

I’m the one who is taking 28 different medications. I carry a typed medication list around with me. The list runs on both sides of the page. I...

Are Twenty-Eight Medications Too Many?

I’m the one who is taking twenty-eight different medications. I carry a typed medication list around with me.  The list runs on both sides of the...

Searching For A Solution to Suicide

Suicide is an epidemic that preceded the pandemic, and will likely endure as we continue to get vaccinated, shed our masks, and work towards settling...

I Always Knew I Was Resilient

The last time I posted was at the end of February, during National Eating Disorder Awareness Week.  I posted not only about how the pandemic has...

The Pandemic Makes It Harder to Cope with Eating Disorders

I feel compelled to write a post every year as National Eating Disorder Awareness Week rolls around, especially this year as the pandemic and its...

The Pandemic Is a Breeding Ground for Eating Disorders

National Eating Disorder Awareness Week Begins February 22nd

I feel compelled to write a post every year as National Eating Disorder Awareness Week rolls around, especially this year as the pandemic and it’s...

Andrea Is On Hiatus While She Heals From A Broken Wrist

Typing with one hand is cumbersome and slow. A picture is worth a thousand words!I'll be back soon.Thanks.Andrea

One of My Worst Fears Has Come True: I’m on Steroids

Last week I wrote about trying to stay off steroids in my post "First, Do No Harm." I finally went back to see Dr. A., my new pulmonologist this past...

I’m On Steroids. I Ate A Brownie.

Last week I wrote about trying to stay off steroids in my post First, Do No Harm. I finally went back to see Dr. A., my new pulmonologist this past...

First, Do No Harm

I have a decision to make that will negatively affect my health either way.  Despite being prescribed multiple medications for my asthma, it’s...

There Is No Tidy Ending to My Eating Disorder

Trigger Warning: This post contains weights and calories. I’ve been struggling with my eating disorder. I haven’t gained the pandemic fifteen,...

This Is How I'm Going To Make One Million Dollars

Shortly after I launched my mental health advocacy and awareness organization, BWellBStrongBPD, I had the opportunity to join a women’s networking...

Welcome 2021. Massive Upheaval On So Many Levels

As the events at our nation’s capital unfolded on Wednesday, I was working from home, making my numerous telephone calls and documenting.  Some of...

Taking Resolve To A New Level For 2021

I resolve to work harder than ever to make my mental health organization a success. My dream is to make this venture self-sustaining so I can leave my...

Periodically, Haunted by Remnants of My Stroke

Yesterday, Friday, was a difficult day at work.   Before my stroke I was working in the position as an “unofficial” team lead.  A team lead is...

Trapped Between Passion and Practicality

“Mood swings,” was how I described the nature of my depression to Dr. Lev during our Zoom session this past week.  “From really low to just...

Kicking a Woman When She’s Down

Almost three weeks ago I wrote a post about a depression that had begun intruding into my life.  The medication my psychiatrist started me...

This Will Be A Short Post Because I’m Depressed

My brother must have heard the flat tone in my voice this past week because he invited me up to his house for a pancake brunch yesterday morning...

Two Days Among My Fellow Writers, Listening and Learning

I haven’t posted in a couple of weeks as I was frantically getting ready for The Writer’s Digest Conference which was held virtually this past...

We Can Support Mental Health by Listening

As much as my physical health sucks right now, (i.e. I’m getting an infusion of iron tomorrow for my anemia since my red blood count has dropped so...

October 4th - October 10th is Mental Health Awareness Week

As much as my physical health sucks right now, i.e. I’m getting an infusion of iron tomorrow for my anemia since my red blood count has dropped so...

A Precarious State

I’m living in a space where my physical and mental health feel tentative every day. I had a second stroke at the end of August, and two weeks after...

Precarious (adj) /prɪˈker.i.əs/

I’m living in a space where my physical and mental health feel tentative every day. I had a second stroke at the end of August, and two weeks after...

The Waiting Game

As a writer, we talk a lot about the pain of rejection, but not about the agony of waiting for a decision.  I submit essays to literary journals,...

A Stroke of Luck

I was driving not totally mindlessly this morning along a familiar highway, on my way to get bloodwork ordered by my cardiologist.  I allowed my...

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

We’ve got another epidemic in this country.  This one is longer-lived.  It’s one of depression and suicide. I keep returning to the summer of...

And I Thought Last Week Was Bad

My last blog post talked about the week before last being the week from hell.  I had no idea what was yet to come.  The week before last I had one...

The Wonderful Week from Hell

I returned from vacation this week to my full-time job as a psychiatric social worker on Monday.  During the week I was off, I learned there had...

Psychosis Takes Up Residence and Leaves an Unpleasant Residue

I’ve been going through a rough time, as have many people who have emotional challenges that pre-date this pandemic. I’ve weathered a bunch of...

Psychosis Takes Up Residence & Leaves An Unpleasant Residue

I’ve been going through a rough time, as have many people who have emotional challenges that pre-date this pandemic.  I’ve weathered a bunch of...