I've talked a couple times about depersonalization/derealization before, which is something I experience from time to time. For me, it feels sort of like a dream, but in a panicky sort of way. I know what's happening isn't real, but it feels very real. Being aware that it isn't real is almost just as unsettling as the feeling itself. I'm stuck in the experience and can't get out of it, even though I know my brain is just messing with me.

Today I want to give a quick shout out to the Depressed Cake Shop! It is a grassroots organization that facilitates pop-ups worldwide that sell customized baked goods as a way to get people talking about mental illness.

Eating disorders are serious mental health conditions marked by an unhealthy relationship with food. The three main types are anorexia, bulimia, and binge-eating disorder.

I've mentioned psychosis a couple times already, but today I'd like to go into a little more detail. The first big thing to note is that psychosis is a very real, and often severe mental illness. Using words like "psycho" or "psychotic" when talking about people's general behavior is completely inappropriate. People who are experiencing psychosis are having an impaired sense of reality and are in need of acute mental health care.

Today's video is a must-watch. In it, they talk about how our social connections play a crucial role in our emotional and physical well-being, and how loneliness is a major problem in our current world. They also describe what you can do to combat chronic loneliness, which is basically a better-worded (and better looking!) version of my post about CBT.

Please reach out to someone today and make that human connection. Humans are social creatures and we can take active steps to help each other out.

We're a little over half way done with #shawleveryday2019 and I want to talk a little more about Independence Center and the Clubhouse Shop program.

One of the more effective types of therapy is called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT. CBT rests on the idea that thoughts and perceptions influence behavior. Feeling distressed, in some cases, may distort one’s perception of reality. CBT aims to identify harmful thoughts, assess whether they are an accurate depiction of reality, and if they are not, employ strategies to challenge and overcome them.

Medication is one important aspect of mental health treatment and there are lot of options out there. Figuring out the right med combination and dosage can take a lot of time because unfortunately, the strategy is often one of guess and check.

Taking medication is not a sign of weakness or a sign that things are "really bad." Just like you would take medicine for a runny nose or a headache, taking medication for your mental health will reduce your symptoms and help you feel better.

Schizophrenia is an uncommon, but very serious mental illness. There used to be various distinct types of schizophrenic, but now they are considered part of a spectrum of disorders. Symptoms of schizophrenia include hallucinations (experiencing things with any of your senses that doesn't exist), delusions (false beliefs that are easy to prove wrong), extremely disordered thinking, and abnormal motor behavior.

When talking about mental health, there are a bunch of things that you should NOT say! Words mean things and using the right ones can help reduce stigma and create a more supportive environment.

I've mentioned the super bright lamps a few times, so today I'd like to talk about them in a little more detail, along with seasonal affective disorder in general.

There are a variety of chemicals in our body called neurotransmitters, which transmit signals from one nerve cell (neuron) to another. This "neuro" part of the word is also where "neurotic" comes from, which used to be a common label for mental illness, but is no longer the preferred term.

Journaling can be a great tool to help you with your mental health. At its core, it just "writing life down." It can help you more objectively view your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and better see the perspectives of others. When we are in the moment of a frustrating or negative experience, it can be hard to see how to make the situation better. But by writing things down, you may be able to assess what happened and why and how you can make better choices next time.

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.