It happens every year. As I watch the first golden leaves fall from the oak tree outside our house and listen to the sound of the cicadas ushering in autumn, my anxiety spikes. I used to think I was relapsing into depression, but having been through this year after year (and documenting it in my...

Dear Readers, I want to thank you for your outpouring of support and kindness in response to my post that I would be keeping parts of my story to myself because of a fear that by being so honest about where I am in my medication journey, I was leading others to make irresponsible and...

Dear Readers, After getting still more mail that I may be responsible for someone’s suicide by talking about my own journey with medication and their limitations, I’ve decided not to publish any more about my experience in that regard. I’m going to stick to general self-help pieces and things that help me, but keep the...

American fashion designer Kenneth Cole recently posted a billboard prominently displayed over Manhattan’s West Side Highway that reads: “Over 40M Americans suffer from mental illness. Some can access care … All can access guns” with hashtags #gunreform and #areyouputtinguson. Once again, an uninformed celebrity type has used his influence to further stigmatize those with mental...

When I was six months pregnant, I attended a birthing preparation class with my husband and about twelve other expectant parents. During the fifth session, the instructor asked the mothers whether or not they were going to use medication to get through the pain of childbirth labor. “Everyone who wants to try for a natural...