Know you medicine

I took the step to see what would happen if I decided to stop taking my medication for a couple of days. This was not only an eye-opener, but it had me ask a lot of questions about medicine, and people with mental illness. Within the four days I realized that the pills are more like suppressants. They only help to keep my anxiety from getting out of control. This is not a bad thing, but what about people who feel that they are ready to move on from medication? I also just want to say that I don’t advise anyone to do what I did, because this could be very dangerous.

I had very little withdraws, and more of my anxiety affecting me. I felt this sudden urge to go back to being on my medication. I can say that without my medication it felt as if the world was crashing down on me. Every day I was crying over something. There were good things that happened as well. I was able to get my appetite back, I felt more energetic, and my stomach felt fine.

This is not something that I plan on doing again. It was not a great experience for me at all. If you have tried something like this feel free to leave comments rather they are good or bad. Remember this is your safe space, and we are here to heal together.

More rights/Workplace/Mental Illness

                                                More rights/Workplace/Mental Illness  

Mental illness, can affect your work ethic. I think that this is an important discussion that is not talked about enough. I’ve work jobs that affected my mental illness, and when it became to much I found myself not wanting to do the job anymore. The symptoms of having a mental illness can affect your performance at work. If your mental illness becomes a disability, then you are lawfully protected. But if you have a mental illness like anxiety you are out of luck.

I wish to see the United States focus more on providing a safe work environment for people who suffer from mental illness. There are a lot of people who are uneducated when it come to spotting signs of someone who might be having an episode. Besides working as a psychiatrist, psychologist. There are no places in the work place besides HR that you can speak to if you are having symptoms of your mental illness. This would be great to incorporate in the work place. Imagine how many people deal with mental illness, and you come to work, and you have the resources to help you have a better work environment.

I really believe that Americans have a long way to go before doing anything major like that. I don’t believe that this administration, or the next will think this far ahead but it’s worth a try to get the word out there. So many times, I have had an anxiety attack, and nobody around me would even considered that I might need help. I didn’t take it personal because in my mind I believe that they are not well inform to understand someone like me. This is important because we need to have healthier people in the work force. 

When your employees are happy, and healthy production will also do well.

I really want to know what your thoughts are on people with mental illness having more rights in the work place. Don’t forget to leave a comment (good or bad), question, Etc. This is a safe place so let’s heal together.

More stress, more anxiety

                                                               

         

                                                             More Stress, More Anxiety 

I promised to share a personal story with you guys. I will start with the most recent attack that has happen to me. For the last couple of days, I felt as if I was out of breath. I thought maybe something might have been wrong, but it was stress. Stress, can affect your mental illness. With me when I am stress I have these chest pains, and I feel extremely nauseated. I knew that I was stressing but what happened as the stress progress is what made me scared.

Sure, I had symptoms of my anxiety affecting me I just didn’t think that It would lead to me having an anxiety attack. I woke up, and that is when I started to have trouble breathing. That’s when I decided to grab my medication, but was it going to work? It did make the symptoms stop for a little while, but it was just a suppressant for them. Throughout the rest of this week I still felt the shortness of breath.

Though it has been awhile since I had an anxiety attack I still remembered what my therapist told me to do. I started to count, I took small breaths, I made sure that I focused on something in the room. When I arrived at work I talked to people around me, so I can vent about why I have been so stressed lately.

I found this to be helpful. It minimized the chest pains, and I was able to breathe without feeling like I ran. What I want you to take from this story is that It’s okay to admit sometimes that our mental illness gets the past of us. Its what steps are we taking to minimize the symptoms of that mental illness.

If you have advice, or comments (good or bad) make sure that you leave them below. Sharing your personal journey may be something that helps someone along the way. Let’s use this blog as a safe place to heal and grow together.