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The John Muir Trail: Where Talking About the Weather is Not Small Talk by Kendall Lam, DBSA CA Board President
The start of my journey at Yosemite Valley’s Happy Isles “Looks like you’ve got a storm to outrun,” said the weathered old man with his wife to me as I made my way out of Devil’s Postpile National Monument around 3:30pm. As I looked up, I saw I was just at the edge of the storm as the sun peaked through the clouds towards the clear blue skies ahead. I could hear the thunder behind me every so often breaking the rhythm of my hurried footsteps and labored breathing. I felt aliv
Oct 15, 20253 min read


The Road Up and The Road Down by Tim C. Haeg (1970-1999)
This road leads from Ocean through City and on across Deserts bequeathed by Tarantulas to Mormons Flat oven expanses Lacking even cacti...
Jul 15, 20252 min read


"A Moment" By Paula Finn
I long to catch a moment— an earthy, fleshy slice of life and hug it hard until its essence bursts and bathes me. But my mind is always...
Apr 22, 20251 min read


"The Rules of Being Mentally Ill", By Alex Coleman
Photo by Glitch Lab App on Unsplash One : You are first and foremost a cacophony, a swirling dissonance of emotions and sounds, a type...
Apr 22, 20253 min read


"Sensitive Souls" By Danielle Harvey
Photo by Manuel bonadeo on Unsplash The sensitive, feeling souls, some call us fools, are aware of the narcissistic turn of the world....
Apr 22, 20252 min read


Poetry by Len Byrd
Lost Unfortunately life is here, whether you or I accept it or not. It will continue regardless of our self-acceptance. So many lost...
Apr 4, 20251 min read


My Recovery in 5 Minutes or Less By Wendy McNeill
Like…oh my God, for sure for sure! I’m Wendy McNeill, an authentic Valley Girl. In fact, the San Fernando Valley is a sprawling suburb...
Apr 4, 20256 min read


The Dual Life of Being a Peer with Bipolar Disorder and Also a Clinician by Dr. Andrea Vassilev
I adored my peer support group. I loved seeing the same friendly faces every week, connecting with them through shared experience and...
Apr 20, 20234 min read


Hug Your Loved Ones, Tomorrow Is Not Promised by Marina Shishkin
We had a fairytale love story that ignited in March of 2011. After dating for a week, I knew Bryan was the one and we married on...
Mar 10, 20233 min read


There Are Benefits to Bipolar Disorder by Kristin Colino
I’m here… because I have lived a life protected from pre-existing conditions that would prevent my health care coverage. I’m here…...
Jan 13, 20234 min read


The Day I Chose to Stay By Tina Cruikshank
It’s been thirteen years since I took two vials full of lithium and Lamictal and chased them down with a bottle of wine. I felt I had...
Sep 26, 20222 min read


Realizing I Was Not on CNN
By Sally Littlefield My story begins after the most stressful work meeting of my life. I drove home after the meeting and parked my car...
Jul 12, 20222 min read


My Mental Health Story By Greg Vogt
By the time of my 17th birthday, I had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder and anxiety, placed on two antidepressant...
Feb 21, 20222 min read


I Thought The Words Mental Health “Meant I Was Crazy”
My name is Abraham Sculley and I was diagnosed with major depression during my freshman year of college. Growing up, I had no idea what mental health was. I grew up in a devout Christian family and Jamaican-American household with not one but two Jamaican parents. At home, we didn’t talk about our feelings, and to me, the words “mental health” meant you were crazy. As a young man, I was raised to be a protector, provider, and priest for my future family. And there wasn’t any
Feb 18, 20222 min read


Butterfly – A Personal Story
By an anonymous contributor I’m 27 years old and too young to understand what trauma is, I’m too young to know what depression is, and...
Jun 16, 20214 min read
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