It's All In Your Head

Anonymous Asks:

About thanking teachers - When I left school I gave several of my teachers paintings that I made. They don't have to be super good or detailed! Even just some watercolor splashes say, with colors correlating to how they've made you feel (i.e. blue & purple = calm, yellow & bright green happy, or whatever you feel). Honestly, anything you make or write, however small, will definitely be appreciated :)

mentalillnessmouse Said:

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To the ask about thanking helpful teachers: I also have had many teachers who helped me. At the end of the year, I usually give each teacher a nice handwritten note (an email or a typed note can also work, I have done those too, but I hear that handwritten = heartfelt.. However, it isn’t always optimal). I know that isn’t too creative, but I do spend a lot of time and effort on them and they are very appreciated (I even made at least one teacher cry! but it was through email). I think the most creative that I have gotten is to make an origami boat to write the note on because that teacher taught me how to make those once when I finished my assignment early. So I would suggest to maybe think an inside joke or memory like that to incorporate somehow. It still isn’t the most creative, but it will tug on their heartstrings and show that you really are thankful for everything that they have done.
As much as I love doing this and plan on continuing this over the next month, I too am curious about any other ideas! I think hearing a new creative idea would make it even better!

andyoudontknowhownicethatis Asks:

A bit off topic, but I've had really great teachers who have helped me with my mental illness this year. It's drawing to an end and I'd really like to recognize and thank them for what they did. Does anyone have any ideas? I was thinking maybe someone had something creative that has to do with mental illness? I just thought I'd throw it out there. Thanks!

mentalillnessmouse Said:

Maybe thank you cards with a mental illness awareness ribbon drawing. Not very creative I know.

Do followers have any more creative ideas?

- Q

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itsccchaney Asks:

hey. im a big follower and i was gonna say if anyone ever needs help, i can always lend a hand too. i've been through it all so if anyone needs anything i'd be glad to help.

mentalillnessmouse Said:

Thanks for being willing to help :)

- Q

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Anonymous Asks:

Tw suicide: the other night I was talking to a friend and I got really depressed and said some things I shouldn't have. I don't actually believe the things I said but she's really angry. I tried to apologise but she's still upset and doesn't want to talk to me. I tried to hang myself last night but it wouldn't work. I don't know what to do. She's one of the only friends I've ever had and I just want to make things right but I think I went too far. I hate myself right now.

mentalillnessmouse Said:

tw: suicide

Anon, I am so sorry that you are feeling this way. I know it’s scary, but the absolute best thing you can do right now is reach out to someone for help. Contacting us was a great first step, and I am so proud of you for that, but it’s also good to try and get through to a professional. If you still are feeling like you might hurt yourself, please call a hotline. The people who work on them are really wonderful and will help you however they can.

As for your friend, hopefully she will come around. What happened is probably still fresh in her mind, so it might take some time for her to realize that you didn’t mean what you said and forgive you. Right now, I would give her some space and let her think about everything for a while. Let her forgive you on her own terms- don’t push it, and she’ll appreciate that you respected her boundaries. Give it some time, and then try talking to her again. You could even write her a letter explaining how you feel/what happened in your words if that seems like a better option.

And even if she doesn’t forgive you, that does not make you a bad person. We all say things that we shouldn’t sometimes. It’s part of the human experience, and this instance does not define you. You have other qualities and facets of your personality, and you are so much more than your mistakes. You will find other people- they’re out there, they really are.

If you need anything else, feel free to send us another message.

You can get through this. I believe in you ♥

-Sarah

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Anonymous Asks:

For the anon who doesn't want to be around people: that is one of the characteristics of Schizoid Personality Disorder. With SPD, it's not about social anxiety, it's just that the person doesn't desire or often seek out relationships because of a lack of interest and connection. They often also have difficulty expressing their emotions. I don't know if any of that fits, but you could try reading some more about it if you'd like.

mentalillnessmouse Said:

Thanks for the suggestion.

Suicide Prevention Letter

Check out my suicidal prevention letter, hope it helps (: http://dearterroristproject.blogspot.com/2013/05/dear-suicidal-person.html

Anonymous Asks:

I have depression and anxiety and I am a wannabe self harmer & sufferer of an ED. I just want to cut and suffer but I can't. I don't understand.

mentalillnessmouse Said:

I know that it doesn’t seem like it, but that’s a good thing. I know the position you’re in where you feel you just ‘can’t, but that is a good thing. It means you are stronger than the urges. I’m sorry you’re struggling so much right now that you’re even thinking about or fantasizing going down that path. I’m telling you, and I think you already know this, that going down that path is a bad idea. You deserve much better than that. You don’t deserve to feel that way. Get help. Get support before it gets worse. I believe that you’re stronger than those urges and that you have been making good choices but I also know that you deserve help and support for this, if you actually self harm or not. The act itself doesn’t define the ‘illness’ if that makes sense. It’s what behind it and what’s fueling it that matters.
Please get support and help. You can get through it and bet overcome these thoughts. I believe in you. We are always here to offer support or whatever you need!
-Lina

Anonymous Asks:

I never really want to be with people, everyone is always asking me about making friends, dating, getting married the likes. I don't have a sufficient way to explain I'm not shy, I just don't want anything to do with people.

mentalillnessmouse Said:

I would challenge you to explore why you don’t like being around people. Is it anxiety related? You say you’re not shy, you just don’t like being around people, but do you know why? This could be something to explore and really think about. Also think about if its something that you want to change about yourself. I believe relationships are really important in life and even if we don’t want to be social all the time, having SOMEONE is really crucial. I think you’ll find if you branch out a little more, you’ll actually want to do it and then you’ll do it more and more. It’s worth a shot. It doesn’t mean you need to ever get married or have kids. Those choices are yours and its your life so that’s up to you, but I do believe having relationships in life and some people that you connect with is important.
-Lina

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Anonymous Asks:

I just found out my sister is going to an autism speaks walk tomorrow. I know how bad autism speaks is, but the minute I bring it up my parents will tell me I'm being overdramatic and dismiss me. What do I do?

mentalillnessmouse Said:

Hi there,
Sorry it took so long to respond to you. Once again our inbox is filling up and we have a lot of messages to get to. I assume this walk already happened. Feel free to send us a message and let us know how it went ok?
My advice though is to make people hear you. I know it’s hard sometimes but if something’s bothering you and you feel that you aren’t being listened to, make them hear you. Don’t stop standing up for yourself or for a cause you believe in like in this case. If they don’t listen when you verbalize it maybe try writing it out and explaining your side.
There is a chance they still won’t hear you and you might not be able to change their minds but that being said its still important o get your voice heard.
You can tell your sister that it upset you she went to the walk and why (if she did go). You deserve that.
-Lina

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The yawning=needing oxygen idea isn’t strictly true: it’s one of many theories scientists have about why we yawn, just in general :/ But I may have an explanation for yawning during panic attacks. I have to explain some science science first though.

Okay. Your nervous system is the system of all the nerves in your body (surprise); one part of it is the autonomic nervous system, which controls your organs and other involuntary stuff (think autonomic —> automatic). Part of the autonomic system is the sympathetic nervous system, which deals with fight-or-flight and homeostasis (=keeping your insides at the appropriate level). A panic attack is basically your fight or flight/stress response overreacting to a thing that is not, in terms of evolution, actually a threat. Something just flips the PANIC switch, and your sympathetic nervous system reacts.

For caaaaptain, who gets a yawn stuck in their throat: I also get an unmoveable “caught” thing, and you’ve actually just made me realize what this is. The sympathetic system normally controls your esophagus (part of keeping homeostasis), but when the PANIC alert is sent, your sympathetic system abandons many things that don’t help you fight or flee. The esophagus’s peristalsis (clenching) seems to be one of the things abandoned. You can’t yawn because there’s not actually a yawn there. The tightness in your throat is… actual physical tightness in your throat. Bonus: This could also be why some people have trouble eating when they’re anxious.

For fearsomefatties and caaaaptain, on successful yawns: there are a lot of theories about why we yawn and what it does to the body. You could feel better because yawning uses muscles, which use up some of the adrenaline released in the panic response. It might be that yawning reduces pressure on the brain, which would have come from, surprise, the panic response’s increase in blood pressure. Separately, yawning also seems to be caused by the some of the same emotion/mood neurotransmitters that are messed up in depression??? I can’t explain this theory very well because I find brain chemistry really complicated D:

BUT, weird-seeming things happening during a panic attack are often just your body doing something because it doesn’t know what it’s doing. If you picture your brain as an office, a panic attack would be all the little office workers running around in circles, shouting, occasionally bumping into each other and knocking over plants.

Thanks for existing, MIM!

Anonymous Asks:

Is verbal abuse always direct?

mentalillnessmouse Said:

No. It’s possible for verbal abuse to be indirect. From there though (unless i’m mistaken) it’s probably more commonly referred to as emotional abuse or bullying.

-Safet

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Anonymous Asks:

[TW: rape, abuse, suicide] Hello, could you guys direct me to the resources you think would resonate more with my situation? I don't know where to start. I grew up in a very strict religious household where a lot of abuse went on. Relatives fought daily, there were police instances, broken bones, manipulation. My own father was verbally and physically abusive and my mother had depression and physical disabilities and couldn't do much. I developed anxiety and had ->

mentalillnessmouse Said:

panic attacks since kindergarten. I was bullied in school but my parents thought I was making it up to skip class and would beat me if I didn’t attend. I was scared of everything. In my early teens I was raped and had nobody to turn to. I thought it’d been my fault. I was terrified that I’d bled and I was no longer a virgin and my future husband would know I was ruined. I felt like people could see right through me and tell I was spoiled goods. I couldn’t stand myself and attempted suicide. I already feel like a loser and 90 percent of the time I hate myself… How can I try to improve this situation

First off I’d like to apologize for taking a while to get to your ask. It’s incredibly brave of you to share your story with us and I’m so proud of you for doing so.

I’d like to first point you towards http://www.survivorschat.com. It’s an abuse/incest/rape survivors support chatroom/forums that I help moderate and you are welcome to come and talk about what is on your mind. Also, there’s a resources page that you can check out to see what applies to you there.

The rape and abuse was not your fault. You did not want it to happen and you did not deserve that kind of treatment. You are not spoiled goods or beyond repair. Imagine the kinds of people you pass by every day, chances are quite a few of them are survivors of rape and abuse also but it doesn’t show. I realise it feels like there’s a huge sign “survivor” on your forehead, but in reality it’s very hard to spot.

I encourage you to seek out counselling so you have some professional help to navigate through these difficult feelings and thoughts. The therapy can also help you combat the feelings of self hate, anxiety, suicidal thoughts …. etc. You are worth it.

I also hope you check out our helpful resources section for any resources that may apply to you http://mentalillnessmouse.tumblr.com/helpfulresources

I especially recommend you checking out MoodGym, an interactive website that teaches CBT skills to cope with anxiety and depression.

You are not a loser. You are so precious and worth so much more than this. You are not a bad person. You are a good person who has had bad things happen to them.

I hope you get the help you deserve. Best wishes ~

-Safet

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Anonymous Asks:

how to help a friend who self medicates? :/

mentalillnessmouse Said:

1. Educate yourself on the topic.

It’s difficult to help someone when you aren’t familiar with the reasons behind why they do what they do and the harmful effects of the self medication. Feel free to call hotlines and crisis lines that deal with self medication and drug abuse for additional resources you can provide to your friend or additional tips for dealing with said friend.

2. Be there for your friend but also watch out for your own well being

It’s important that you be there to listen to your friend and support them however you can, whether this means trying to talk them out of taking doses or listening to them when they need an outlet to express what they’re feeling. Your well being is important too though. Have you expressed your concern to your friend? From there you can let them know how much you care about their well being and suggest getting professional help.

3. Try to direct your friend to the right resources and help

Pretty self-explanitory. It’s important that your friend get the best help they can get, and that probably means going to a counselor or therapist of some sort. Yes, these professionals may suggest medication but your friend has a choice in whether or not to take them. Please check out our helpful resources for instructions on helping a friend, finding a therapist, and the ilk.

Hope this helps ~ and best wishes !

-Safet

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caaaaptain Asks:

TW + anxiety attacks. Sorry! I guess I wasn't clear. I understand that yawning helps the body, but I was wondering if anyone actually had trouble yawning during attacks. Could it be possible that the body doesn't send signals or send wrong signals?

mentalillnessmouse Said:

It’s definitely possible. And, as a general rule of thumb, if you’re experiencing something, you’re probably not alone in that :)

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