Mental illness: What Women Wish They Knew as Teens

A recent article on Bustle.com asked seven women the question: “If you had the power to go back in time and address the misconceptions about mental illness you had as a teenager, what would you say?”

It’s a great question, especially given that it’s National Recovery Month, a month-long celebration dedicated to stopping the stigma, raising awareness and celebrating the many of you who are in recovery from a mental health illness and/or substance use disorder. 

Here’s a look at some of the responses we thought might resonate most with you: 

• Gabi wishes she understood that she wasn’t alone and that others were suffering just like she was. If only she knew this, she would have sought the help “before her illness become life-threatening,” she said.

• Tina would tell her teen self that it wasn’t her fault and she didn’t deserve it. 

• Deb wishes that she had a better understanding of the self-harm behaviors – so she could educate others who thought she was just being “dramatic” or that she’d “grow out of it.”  

•  Sarah says if only someone told her “mental health issues wasn’t something to be ashamed of” and that she was “good.” 

• Nicole would have liked to know that mental illness looks different in everyone – and “even over the course of a day in myself," she said.

What do you wish someone told you about mental illness and/or substance use disorder? In honor of Recovery Month, we encourage you to take the time this month to think about this question and to educate someone in your life about the hard work and rewards of recovery. 

Take Back Your Mental Health

At Rising Roads, our staff is here to help you or a special lady in your life recover from a co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder. Let us help you take back your physical and mental health. To learn more about our psychiatric consultations, call us today: 866-746-1558.

Ways to Take Part in Recovery Month

It’s National Recovery Month and there’s no better time to help raise awareness, stop the stigma against addiction and spread the message that treatment is effective and people do recover.

There are a number of ways that you can get involved this September – and why not? The goal, after all, is to celebrate those who have committed to recovery and who are working hard to build a new, healthy sober life – just like you!    

So what are you waiting for? Here are a few ways to get involved this Recovery Month: 

• Spread the word on social media: You can update your FB status to include your recovery date or post an image on Instagram that represents something you’re proud of now that you’re sober. Recoverymonth.gov also has banners, flyers and customizable posters for anyone to use to promote Recovery Month on social media.
• Attend an in-person or online event: Recoverymonth.gov keeps a running list of events that take place around the country so you can find an event near you or learn about local activities to support recovery efforts. National Recovery month activities range from walks and runs to concerts to cookouts and more. There are also webinars, online chats and live Tweeting. 
• Share your recovery story. Certainly you can share your story under the “Voices for Recovery” section on Recoverymonth.gov – but it doesn't have to be that formal. Just taking the time this month to share your recovery story with a friend or coworker or family member is a great way to start spreading awareness. Of course, how much you want to share is a personal decision. But by being visible and letting others know you’re in recovery, you may help someone else take the first step toward sobriety.

Celebrate Recovery Month With Us!
National Recovery Month is a positive way to celebrate the importance of recovery and it can also be a wake-up call for you or someone you love. If you or a special lady in your life needs addiction help, reach out today. To learn about our women’s addiction treatment programs, call: 866-746-1558.