As you can tell, I like to knit a lot. I have over 260 projects cataloged in Ravelry and there are many more that I didn't even bother to document or that I knit before Ravelry even existed. I've been knitting for over 20 years and have no plans to stop.

People with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) display some or all of the following symptoms:

I am almost done with #shawleveryday2019 and I want to remind you that I am doing a fundraiser for Independence Center, which is a fantastic community-based rehabilitation program for adults with severe and persistent mental illnesses in the St. Louis area, built on the Clubhouse model of psychosocial rehabilitation. I am only 1/3 of the way to my goal and all the funds go directly to them.

Today is #WorldBipolarDay so I would like to share with you a post from my husband Brian. He has bipolar disorder type 2 and this is his experience in his own words.

Today I want to give a shoutout to artist Shawn Coss. As part of a monthly challenge called Inktober, he illustrated a series of mental illnesses, resulting in #inktoberillness. His dark style definitely captures the often intense feelings of mental illness.

In Japan and around the world, an extreme form of social withdrawal called hikikomori is becoming a mainstream problem. Hikikomori is defined as people who have not left their homes or interacted with others for at least 6 months. It affects both men and women and typically people ages 15 to 30, although there is growing concern that hikikomori continues to affect people as they get older.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder than can occur in both children and adults and is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. People with ADHD struggle with working memory, flexible thinking, managing emotions, self-regulation, and organization and planning. ADHD is not a lack of willpower to pay attention, the brain itself has a hard time shifting focus from one thing to another.

Many people experience both mental illness and addiction. People with a mental health condition are twice as likely to suffer from a substance use disorder, and people who abuse alcohol or other drugs are more likely to to have a co-occurring mental illness. The two conditions are definitely linked, but one does not necessarily cause the other.

Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour training course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders in your community. It gives people the skills to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

Today I want to dispel a few myths about mental illness.

People in the LGBT+ community are 3 times more likely to experience a mental health condition than straight people. Even more seriously, LGBT+ youth are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide and self harm.

Today I want to give a quick shoutout to comic artist Ruby Etc. Her comics are fun and silly and showcase human foibles, mental health, and a variety of whimsical things.

Self harm is a coping behavior that can be indicative of an underlying serious issue. It is generally not a suicide attempt, nor is it a "cry for attention", but a way to manage emotional distress or exert control over difficult feelings. The reasons behind self harm vary from person to person and can be related to anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, poor body image, abuse, bullying, or other stressors.