Darkness to Dialogue: Living Well With Mental Illness

​ Honoring Loss, Embracing Healing, and Cultivating Resilience in Mental Health Recovery National Grief Awareness Week: Honoring the Losses We Carry Grief doesn’t always come from death; sometimes it comes from the parts of ourselves we’ve had to leave behind. This week creates space to name the quieter losses that often go unspoken but still shape the way we move through the world. The Many Forms of Grief We Don’t Talk About Grief is not limited to mourning a loved one. It can rise from the end of a relationship, the loss of safety after trauma, changes in health, missed opportunities, or the versions of ourselves we thought we’d grow into. These experiences may not always be recognized by others, but the emotional impact is real. Research shows that grief affects emotional, physical, cognitive, and behavioral parts of our lives. For many people navigating mental health recovery, grief can be a subtle thread woven through their everyday experience grieving lost years, lost conf...

  Monthly Mental Health Spotlight August/September 2025 Edition Written By: Aaron Smith Curated By: Caralyn Dreyer Finding Home: Aaron’s Story Every so often, I come across a story that reminds me why I do what I do. Aaron Smith’s journey is one of those stories. His path through questioning faith, exploring altered states, falling into addiction, and finding peace through yoga nidra is not just compelling; it’s a reminder that mental health recovery can take many forms. I’m honored to share his story here. Summary Aaron Smith’s mental health recovery journey began with a teenage mystical experience, took a detour into addiction, and ultimately found grounding in yoga nidra. His story is raw, inspiring, and full of insights for anyone seeking healing. Key Insights Aaron Smith overcame anxiety, depression, and addiction through yoga nidra, a meditative practice he describes as both instantly rewarding and deeply transformative. It became the key to his mental, emotional, and spiritu...

Summary Sometimes, healing looks like an emotional shutdown, and it can feel like a sign of strength. But that numbness may be a detour, not a sign you’re doing better. In this post, you’ll learn how to tell whether you’re truly building resilience or just shutting your feelings off, and why it matters. Quick Insight Strength in recovery is about being emotionally present and processing what comes up. Numbness, although it may feel protective, is an emotional disconnection that can hinder true healing. My Story: When Feeling Nothing Seemed Like Something I remember the moment clearly: I thought I was "strong" because I didn’t cry at that old trigger, couldn't remember why it used to hurt me so much. Later, I realized I wasn’t strong; I was numb. I’d shut down to survive, and that numbness felt like peace…until it didn’t. Over time, I learned the real sign of strength wasn’t not crying, it was feeling and surviving the tears. I began noticing when I was processing emotions...

What Happens When Emotional Openness Becomes Cool, And What It Means for Mental Health Recovery Estimated Read Time: 8 minutes Summary: “Therapy Bro Summer” may have started as a social trend, but it’s encouraging deeper conversations about stigma, masculinity, and recovery. This post explores what the trend means for those living with mental illness, especially when therapy is more than a season; it’s a survival strategy. As someone who is living this journey, I want to ensure that the conversations I share are not only heartfelt but also relevant to what’s happening in the mental health community today. One of the ways I develop topics for my blog is by researching current mental health trends, paying attention to what’s gaining attention in the community, and emerging research. This approach helps me connect timely conversations with deeper insights about recovery and healing, making the content both relevant and meaningful. For Many, Therapy Wasn’t a Trend, It Was Survival When I ...