We have come so far as a society in human rights and the acceptance of others. I have been lucky enough to see gay people allowed the right to marry, and for our country to have our first black president. Of course we...

I have lived with an eating disorder for as long as I can remember. From a young age, I have obsessed with my weight and had distressing thoughts when I looked at myself in the mirror. My condition has developed from...

For as long as I can remember, I’ve tried to separate my depression from me. I demonized it and made it this big villain that wasn’t a part of me — it was a battle I had to fight, an enemy I had to destroy. Time and...

By: Anita Everett, M.D., DFAPA, Director, SAMHSA Center for Mental Health Services Our population is aging. Approximately 75 million Americans will be over age 65 by 2030.  Additionally, a 2012 study from the Institute...

My 4-year-old son is on the autism spectrum.  The way autism is categorized and described today is controversial to some, but I believe it’s better than the previous method of using functioning labels. When people ask...

A parent recently reached out to me on my Facebook Page A Special Community and asked me a question that I haven’t been asked in a very long time. She asked, “Where were you considered on the autism spectrum when you...

NBC’s new breakout show “The Village” explores relationships between family members and friends who become family in separate but interconnected stories. The ensemble drama also does not shy away from tackling...

This past week I had a training for work that was at a different location. The building had accessible parking, large elevators… and a horrible bathroom. Seriously. The way I had to forcibly bend my body could easily...

Living with a disability can be challenging, and sometimes it can be very difficult to find reasons to be grateful in spite of that disability. With all the stories circulating on social media about the struggles and...

At 21, I have accumulated several diagnoses, including autism and borderline personality disorder. Unfortunately, I had to go a couple of residential facilities for my mental health. It got to a point where I couldn’t...

A few weeks ago, the vision in my right eye became blurry. And, when I looked in the mirror the right pupil looked huge and dilated compared to the left eye. Did I panic and rush to the ER? Nope. I was overwhelmed by a...

The other day I was trying to explain brain fog to someone who’s been healthy their whole life. All the descriptions I’ve found online are woefully inadequate. To paraphrase a few sources: Brain fog is a symptom of...

I tread water in the freezing sea. The sounds of the waves cresting and the wind howling are drowned out by the anguished cries of those around me. My limbs feel heavy. The cold pierces my muscles, chilling me to the...

“My guess was correct. Your blood work shows you have Lyme disease,” says my doctor. My brows furrow in bewilderment. “What?” I respond. “That can’t be possible… I’ve never been bitten by a tick.” Yep, that’s how it...

May is Mental Health Awareness Month; I would like to think this is an opportunity for people to acknowledge the phrase “mental health” is not something to feel skittish about, it’s not something to avoid, or hide...

You can’t always put your cancer experience into words. Sometimes, a song sums up how you’re feeling when you can’t quite describe it. Other times, a song gives you a boost of encouragement and “you got this” vibes at...

Did the surgeon just say I had three cancers at once? That can’t be right, I think. I try opening my eyes wider to look coherent, which is laughable while on Dilaudid in a hospital bed. The doctors keep sharing...

My family and I were out with family and friends celebrating Mother’s Day in a popular Mexican restaurant in our town. We sat down, ordered drinks and our food. The adults enjoyed conversations and most of the kids...

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.” — Reinhold Neibuhr I’m sure many people have heard of the Serenity prayer. There...

My son, Noah, was diagnosed with autism last summer. Autism isn’t as scary as it may sound. Unfortunately, it is one of the most commonly misunderstood diagnoses and I want to shed some light on the lesser-known sides...

By Phillip Reese Emergency room patients increasingly leave California hospitals against medical advice, and experts say crowded ERs are likely to blame. About 352,000 California ER visits in 2017 ended when patients...