Chynna's Pearls: Top 20 Memoirs Focusing On Mental Illness

Last week, I was approached by writer, Celina Jacobson from Masters In Health Care. She let me know about an article they'd just posted in their blog called The 20 Greatest Memoirs of Mental Illness and felt our readers may be interested in some of these resources.

I agreed.

As a person who has written a memoir in this area, I understand the importance of putting these books out on the shelves. People can read all the medical journal articles or watch these issues highlighted on the news or in movies but never truly understand unless they speak directly to the sufferers and their families.

They know...they 'get it'...they live it each and every day.

These books are important because they not only teach others they also get people out there talking about these issues and that's the stepping stones to creating understanding and tolerance. We don't write these books to be rich and famous. We write them because the subject matter is important and if just one person out there can be helped or feel less alone or find the resources they need, then it's all worth it in the end.

Check out the list, pass it to others you feel would benefit and help get other people talking. Thank you so much to Celina and to Masters in Health Care for putting together such a list. Does anyone have other important memoirs to add? Please feel free to add them here.

Upcoming interviews: A Memoir From A Mom of a Bipolar Son Who Took His Own Life

Good evening, everyone. Well, we wanted to open the floor to a very serious issue among those living with/suffering with bipolar disorder: thoughts of suicide.

My mother had them. In fact, she tried killing herself many times...once right in front of me. I don't know if this is common...parents and experts out there are more then welcome to elaborate...but it was w/my mom. However, she was unmedicated and untreated. Does this happen with those under therapy and treatment? What can we do to help raise awareness for this unspoken aspect of bipolar? Please...let's talk about this. Let's stop another person from thinking it is so hopeless it resorts to this.

In light of this conversation, I'll be sharing a part from White Elephants on 'The Gift' on Sunday dealing with teen suicide. MINE. My brother and I also lost a friend in High School suffering from years of depression who killed herself. WE NEED to address this. And we'll have a guest post in the next few weeks from a mom who lost her bipolar son because he wasn't able to handle life here anymore. I don't want to know any other kids feel this is the only way out.

Let's talk about it...

TUNE IN Tuesdays: Mental Illness and Siblings

I apologize that our month-long posts to help raise awareness for mental health got a little sidetracked. We've had alot going on over at our other blog, "The Gift". Now that we're here today, I'd like to delve into an important subject in terms of raising, caring for/about someone living with mental health issues: sibling relationships.

My younger brother and I were closer than two peas in a pod. We had to be. When you have a parent with untreated bipolar, life could be unpredictable, unstable and, oftentimes, downright scary. But we always had each other. We protected one another, had each other's back, gave each other courage and the will to go on. We were fortunate to have had each other during those days.

My uncle told me that although he and my older uncle often covered for and protected my mom, they weren't as close. It was difficult being close to my mom because her behavior was unpredictable and her moods swung so widely. They loved her but grew to resent the negative effect she had on our family and, later on, on my brother and I. When she passed away, both of my uncles said that her death seemed to set them both free in that they could finally remember many of the good things about her.

I'm wondering how many siblings we have out there with similar feelings. Is it difficult for you being close? Do you feel resentful sometimes? How do you cope with those feelings? And for parents out there, how do you help the siblings in your family?

'Take On Depression' during Mental Health Awareness Month!!

I came across a great resource for those out there suffering with Depression or Bipolar Disorder. 'Take On Depression' is a wealth of information and resources.

What a great way not only to learn about depression and its affects but how we can reach out to one other by telling our own stories!

Please check them out and pass them along to those who may be searching. I will be adding them to our Lily Wolf Words Website asap!!

As this seems to be the highest point for mania reoccurrences out there, how is everyone doing?

Getting Through Birthdays and other Special Occasions

Yesterday was my birthday.

Birthdays have always been really difficult for me. It's hard to bring in a new year of your life when you have anxiety, chaos and stress around you. My birthday seemed to be a 'trigger' even for my mom. Of course it's in May and that's when she seemed to head into her 'up' cycle into mania but still...

Every birthday of my life growing up revolved around my mom being too drunk to function, too 'up' to participate or taking off. It hurt. And the anticipation of my birthday every year hurt. But you know what? It didn't hurt this year.

I was calmer than I'd ever been. I reminisced. I laughed. I just had fun. And it was okay. For so many years it wasn't okay but this year...it finally was.

For those of us who grew up with these issues around us...those of us not raising children with bipolar and other issues but being raised by someone living with them, it's so hard too, isn't it? But you deserve happiness too. Just like the caregivers here who say the illness doesn't define the child neither do your parent's issues define you. We love them. And, believe me, I can totally relate to how difficult it can be to forget how fun times...special times...were often interupted or ruined by the illness (I always blamed the illness, not my mom). But the time does come where we can be strong enough to let go and enjoy.

And that's okay!

This picture is me enjoying my birthday with two of my four children (the other two are on the right here and above right). For me, they have been my source of strength and reason to keep forging ahead.

I thought of my mother yesterday...alot. I think she'd be proud to see that I'm trying to move forward. We all need to do that...in our own time.

I thank you all for the b-day wishes and I'll talk to you again soon.

Question for today: How do you get through special occasions? Are there triggers? Share your tips/advice/insight.

Chynna's Pearls: Day One of Mental Health Awareness Month

We always had each other...

Thank you for joining us as we kick off Mental Health Awareness Month here on the White Elephants blog. Each day this month, I'm going to open the floor to discussion on the various areas of living with or caring about someone who has mental health issues. 

It's unfortunate but there is a huge stigma placed on individuals who have mental illnesses or mood disorders or who live with other psychological hurdles. Those stigmas are what prevent others from being willing to develop an understanding for sufferers and their families. And I'd like to see that change. But that's a big job, isn't it? How can we instill that understanding in individuals who simply don't want to understand? We keep talking, sharing and informing.

I can't ask you all to do that unless I'm willing to do the same. So, in celebration of this very important awareness campaign I'm going to do two things: I'm going to share my own experiences on these issues each day and at the end of the month I'm going to give away one copy of each of my books, "White Elephants", "Blackbird Flies" and "Not Just Spirited: A Mom's Sensational Journey With Sensory Processing Disorder".

On Wednesday, I'd like to talk about how important it is to have a creative distraction to guide us through the tougher times. And I'll share an excerpt from 'White Elephants' that shows why we need this. Today, I'll leave you with a question: What is one thing you'd like others to understand the most about your situation?