Darkness to Dialogue: Living Well With Mental Illness

Disclaimer: This post discusses suicide and may be distressing for some readers. It is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional help. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 in the U.S.  What People Really Want To Know About Suicide: Honest Answers, Warning Signs, And How To Help Summary Suicide is a subject people often avoid because of fear, stigma, or uncertainty. Yet when you or someone you love has been touched by suicide, silence can be heavier than words. This post explores the questions people truly want to ask, whether they’ve lived through it personally or are simply trying to understand. My Personal Connection I’ll be honest: suicide isn’t an abstract issue for me. Like many, I’ve had my own encounters with suicidal thoughts, and I’ve also known others who’ve struggled. The silence surrounding suicide was often worse than the pain itself. People tiptoe, afraid of saying the wrong thing, while those in the storm ofte...

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...

Curated by: Caralyn Dreyer Written by: Seanna Chiara September 2025 Edition Finding Healing After Rock Bottom, Bipolar, Chronic Pain, and the Spiritual Turn That Changed Everything Editor’s Note  In honor of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month , I am sharing this Mental Health Spotlight as part of my ongoing series highlighting powerful lived experiences in recovery.  What follows is written in Seanna Chiara’s own words, raw, honest, and unfiltered. Her story is a testament to resilience, healing, and the power of choosing life even in the darkest moments. Content Warning: This post contains mentions of suicidal thoughts, abuse, and other sensitive material that may be triggering for some readers. Please take care of yourself as you read. What Led Me to My Personal Healing Journey It’s hard to say this out loud, but the truth is, I want to die. I had given up on life. When you hit rock bottom, oftentimes, that’s the point of surrender. And surrender changes everything....

  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...

Why Healing Isn’t Perfect You’re recovering, yet some days you still wake up with anxiety or sadness, and you wonder if you’re failing. Healing isn’t about perfection. It’s about living a meaningful life  with  the shadows that remain. “Recovery isn’t about erasing symptoms, it’s about learning to live fully with them.” Key Insight True recovery doesn’t always mean being symptom-free. Real recovery is learning to thrive despite symptoms, valuing progress over perfection, and redefining “wellness” for your own life. My Recovery Story I remember the afternoon I realized my “good days” didn’t look like what I thought recovery should. I’d finally made peace with getting out of bed without dread. I laughed at something small. My heart felt lighter. But that evening, a sleepless wave hit, my chest tightened, and the old fear whispered in my mind. I wondered  if I still have nights like this, am I really getting better? I’ve carried that tension a lot: wanting the rising sun to ...

From Crisis to Coping: How Recovery Skills Can Save Lives and Build Hope Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, and this post is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment or advice. If you are struggling or thinking about suicide, please know you do not have to go through it alone; help is available. In the U.S., you can dial 988 to be connected to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline right away. If you are outside the U.S., please reach out to your local emergency number or a trusted crisis resource in your area. This topic is deeply important to me as someone who has lived through mental health challenges and now advocates for recovery. I share my experience and insights as a way to raise awareness, provide hope, and remind others that healing is possible. Key Insight Suicide prevention isn’t only about responding to crisis; it’s about building coping skills that guide us through life’s hardest moments and create long-term recovery. Why This Matters to Me I’...