Darkness to Dialogue: Living Well With Mental Illness

Understanding Dissociation: A Personal and Practical Guide to Mental Health Recovery A Glimpse Inside My Experience Sometimes I look around and feel a sudden disconnect from the world, streets that should feel familiar look strange, and memories collapse into each other. That disorienting sensation is dissociation, a symptom linked to trauma, chronic stress, and mental illness. Living with anxiety and depression means these moments can appear without warning. Acknowledging them instead of pushing them aside has become an essential part of my recovery. “Dissociation is not a flaw. It’s a signal that the mind is coping with overwhelming experiences.” The Layers of Dissociation Dissociation shows up in different ways: a sense of detachment from your surroundings, watching yourself from a distance, or losing track of time. In my twenties, after surviving early trauma, sexual assault, and domestic violence, I began noticing stretches of life that felt compressed or strangely distant. Re...

​ When Your Brain Won’t Stop: Understanding Intrusive Thoughts in Recovery Article Summary: Intrusive thoughts can be distressing and disorienting, but they’re not a sign of weakness or danger; they’re part of how a sensitized brain tries to protect you. For those in recovery, learning to observe these thoughts without attaching meaning can transform fear into understanding.  “Intrusive thoughts don’t define you, they reveal how hard your brain is trying to keep you safe.” Rising Above the Noise: My Experience with Intrusive Thoughts I first noticed intrusive thoughts around middle school. They were sudden, random flashes of fear, violent images, worst-case scenarios, or strange “what if” moments that came out of nowhere. At that age, I didn’t think much of it. I assumed everyone’s brain worked that way. By the time I reached college, those thoughts became harder to ignore. I’d imagine something bad happening to people I loved, or worry that even having those thoughts meant some...

Summary  Do you ever react in ways you later regret? In recovery, the difference between reacting and deciding can define your progress. By learning to pause, reflect, and choose intentional responses, you gain control over your healing journey and build resilience that lasts. Quick Insight Reacting is automatic; deciding is intentional. In mental health recovery, pausing before responding allows you to manage emotions, make healthier choices, and strengthen long-term coping skills. Learning to Pause in Recovery Recovery from mental illness isn’t a straight line. For years, I believed that healing meant suppressing my emotions or never stumbling. But the truth is, emotions are going to happen; they’re unavoidable. What matters is how we respond to them. For me, reacting meant snapping at loved ones, shutting down, or spiraling into shame. These patterns kept me stuck in cycles of guilt and frustration, even as I was making progress in other areas of life. Over time, I realized that...

  Summary  Many of us rely on coping strategies that feel helpful but actually slow our mental health recovery. This post reveals the hidden cost of these habits and shows practical ways to shift them for lasting resilience. What You Need to Know Not all coping skills are created equal. Some may soothe temporarily, but keep you stuck in patterns that slow recovery. Recognizing which strategies limit your growth and replacing them with healthier alternatives can accelerate healing and build resilience. Learning from My Own Coping Patterns For years, I relied on coping skills that felt “helpful,” but in reality, they were keeping me stuck. When I struggled with depression, anxiety, and trauma, I withdrew from friends and family. I believed that avoiding conflict or painful emotions would protect me, but it only amplified my isolation and shame. I also turned to distractions, social media scrolling, overworking, or overplanning—to numb emotional pain. These habits gave te...

Summary  Have you ever felt fear quietly creep in, years after a painful experience, as if your body suddenly remembered before your mind did? That’s retrospective trauma, and that late-arriving fear often marks deeper recovery, not relapse. Quick Answer Retrospective trauma occurs when fear or distress surfaces long after the original trauma. Rather than being a setback, it can be a sign you’re finally safe enough to process what happened. Recognizing it as part of your healing journey empowers recovery, rather than derailing it. When Silence Speaks: Learning to Listen to the Fear That Shows Up Late In many recovery journeys, whether from PTSD, chronic anxiety, or deep mental health wounds, fear doesn’t always happen in the moment. It can show up later, sometimes years after the painful event. And that isn’t failure. It's healing. Symptoms might emerge as sudden panic, disturbing memories, or creeping dread. Instead of panicking, consider pausing. This isn’t a regression; it may b...

Mental Health in the Workplace Welcome to Mental Health in the Workplace feature.  Have you ever felt your heart race or patience vanish during a meeting, email, or deadline? Workplace triggers can spark overwhelming reactions before you even realize what’s happening. Recognizing these triggers and applying coping strategies isn’t just helpful, it’s essential for maintaining mental health and professional effectiveness. Quick Answer Workplace triggers are cues, such as criticism, tight deadlines, or interpersonal conflict, that activate intense emotional or physiological responses. By noticing early warning signs and using grounding and self-regulation strategies, you can manage stress and respond intentionally rather than react impulsively. My Story: Navigating Triggers at Work For years, I noticed that certain situations at work: unexpected emails last-minute changes tense meetings—would leave me anxious, frustrated, or drained.  Often, I couldn’t identify why my reactions w...