Words mean things. And they can change over time. A lot of mental health diagnoses we use now used to be called something else. As we learn more about them and as language usage in general changes, things have adjusted. It's critical that we use modern terms for these illnesses, because often the old phrasing causes more stigma.

A few days ago I talked about self-care. But what does self-care really mean? Self-care in essence is the mindful taking time to pay attention to you, not in a narcissistic way, but in a way that ensures that you are being cared for by you. I liken it to the concept of putting your own oxygen mask on before you help others with theirs. If you're not taking care of yourself, it's harder to be in a position to do well at work, in relationships, and with friends.

Mental illness has frequently been portrayed in various media, sometimes accurately, but often not. Below are some media that actually gets it right.

Today I'd like to give a shoutout to another artist who incorporates mental health into their comics. Sarah's Scribbles is both hilarious and all too true. She shines a light on anxiety, depression, and of course, cats!

Over a month into #shawleveryday2019 and there's still lots more to talk about! As a reminder, I am raising money for the Independence Center, which provides help and services to those experiencing serious and persistent mental health issues. You can donate to my campaign (funds go directly to Independence Center and not through me) or I will donate half the sale price of any shawl purchased.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a mental illness that not many people know very much about. It is marked by an ongoing pattern of varying moods, self-image, and behavior. These symptoms often result in impulsive actions and problems in relationships. The term “borderline” refers to the fact that people with this condition tend to “border” on being diagnosed with additional mental health conditions in their lifetime, including psychosis. One of the ironies of this disorder is that people with BPD may crave closeness, but their intense and unstable emotional responses tend to alienate others, causing long-term feelings of isolation.

Today has been a rough day, so all I want to do is make sure everyone is okay. Are you okay? If not, do you have someone to talk to? Are you doing self-care? It's okay to not be okay. Tomorrow will be a better day.

Today is #BellLetsTalk Day! Bell Let's Talk is focused on the following 4 pillars:

• Reducing stigma, promoting awareness and understanding

• Providing support and services when and where people need it

• Mental health research

• Encouraging corporate engagement in the Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace

I've talked a little bit about hockey players with mental health issues previously, but there are a lot of other celebrities and athletes who have opened up about their experiences.

Our moods can be greatly affected by sunlight. Natural light helps our bodies produce vitamin D. There are vitamin D receptors in the brain, and the vitamin may affect proteins in the brain known to play a role in mood, learning and memory, motor control, and possibly even maternal and social behavior. Vitamin D may also affect the serotonin levels in your brain, which is the chemical linked to feelings of well-being and happiness.

A lot of research is currently being done related to mental health. Whether it be studying new medications, new combinations of medications, new types of therapy, or getting information about the prevalence of a condition and types of care, we are continuing to learn about mental illness in the population.

Quick post today. Just want to share one of my favorite mental health artists on Instagram! Make Daisy Chains is the champion of #boringselfcare and offers a diverse perspective on mental health. I hope you check her out!

One barrier to getting mental health treatment can be cost. If you have good insurance, therapist and psychiatrist appointments could be as low as $10. But if you don't have insurance, paying out of pocket can be expensive.

I had a hockey game on Sunday and I didn't really want to go. I wasn't feeling very well mentally and the roads were a little snowy and icy. When I'm not feeling well, it can be very easy to just stay home and not go out and do things. But, I also know that exercise is not only good for my body, but good for my mind as well.

A mental health topic that is largely un-talked about is postpartum depression, which is estimated to happen to 1 in 7 women. It is more than just the "baby blues", which can happen as a result of the hormone swings that happen around childbirth and could last for a couple weeks. Postpartum depression symptoms, however, last much longer and are more intense and could interfere with your ability to take care of your baby or handle other daily tasks.

As you probably know, there is a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It's available 24/7 and it provides emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. I recommend programming it into your phone in case you or someone you know ever needs it.

1-800-273-8255

Mental health impacts different communities in different ways. Broadly, the issues faced are similar, but they can manifest differently and approaches to treatment can vary a lot.

Mental Health America has a lot of great statistics about mental health in the black and African American communities.

On Day 15 of #shawleveryday2019, I talked about people's fear of going on medication. Wil Wheaton has also blogged about this and I wanted to share his approach. Just like you would treat a physical illness with medication or a cast or some other tool, you should treat mental illness the same way. There are tools like therapy and medication that can help you address what's going wrong. Getting help is not a sign of weakness - it is a courageous thing and it's the first step toward feeling better.

Today's post comes from my husband Brian. It's a longer read, but I encourage you to take the time to go through the whole thing. The article he is referencing is from bphope titled Bipolar: Blessing or Curse? If you have any questions for him, feel free to comment and I will share it with him.