Demetria Slyt, General Editor
November is men’s health awareness month, often referred to as “no-shave-November,” which raises awareness of prostate and testicular cancers. This month also broadly acknowledges men’s #mentalhealth and #suicideprevention. Within the last few years, men’s #mentalhealth has been receiving more attention, especially on #socialmedia such as #Instagram and #Facebook. The #mentalhealth of men is often disregarded or ignored, due to traditional and societal norms or forced gender roles. In this article I will discuss traditional masculinity, as well as where I believe those ideals are transitioning and look at the ‘new’ modern man. I also want to talk a little bit about how traditional ideas of masculinity can negatively impact young boys’ development and emotional education.
Traditional masculinity is based around the idea of western “manliness” that revolves around men being stoic, aggressive, and dominant. This is a big factor into why certain phrases exist, such as: “Men don’t cry,” or “be a man!” Which can have very harmful effects on young #boys as they mature into #adolescence and adulthood. These can manifest into future #behaviors such as #isolation, repression, substance abuse, and lead to the development of various mood disorders. I think that is really important to disrupt these behaviors early and establish safer environments for young #boys to express themselves. #Men are more likely to repress their emotions, leading to larger issues later in life and reluctance to seek treatment. Statistically #men live shorter lives than #women, and men have a higher rate of #suicides each year. That isn’t even accounting for the rates of #suicide among #men in different sexualities and or #men of color.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
These ideals have been cemented as societal norms, however, recently they are being brought into attention and challenged. I believe the modern ideal of what it means to be a man is changing, even if slowly. Millennial and Gen-z men are different from those of the past generations because of these slow changes and growing acceptance. They are more open to expressing their emotions, but, because of these societal norms it is hard to escape other individuals’ ideals of what a man is. It is worth noting, that even when we create safe spaces for younger boys to freely express their emotions in a healthy way this can be broken when they go out into the world and their views are influenced by others ideas of what a man is. So, yes, it is an incredibly difficult cycle to change.
Subjects based around gender are always going to be difficult to discuss, because there are always going to be people who are dismissive, or who invalidate each other’s feelings or feel like one is attacking the other. I think there is something wrong with our society when we cannot have open unbiased discussions with each other and just listen. This year I have had more conversations about men’s issues and #mentalhealth with my current partner than I ever have before. I understand and recognize the things that he shares with me as issues that are prevalent in our lives. However, I find it difficult to not say things that invalidate him or things that might be construed as, “We have it harder, so you’re wrong.” I do not find it difficult not because that is something I truly believe. But I find it difficult because these arguments have been so deeply ingrained into our minds that it is hard to break those habits and be open to outside opinions or issues that are seemingly pitted against our own. If you do not have a safe space with your partner or allow your partner a safe space to share ideas and feelings, that is a real issue. This is part of why many #men feel they cannot express their feelings to their partners.
It is important to teach your young #boys that it is okay to cry and experience their emotions without feeling shamed or invalidated. Create safe spaces for your sons, nephews, boyfriends, or husbands to share their emotions and establish healthy communication. This has become a trending topic within #socialmedia in the last year, and is becoming more normalized. There have also been recent big strides in psychological fields about how to treat #male #patients, and create inclusive safe spaces. I believe that we, as a society, are changing in a lot of regards but everything takes time. With change there will always be some resistance, but in the larger picture of things the tiny splashes we make now will create bigger waves in the future and make the real impact.
Demetria Slyt is a Dakota Student Editor. She can be reached at Demetria.slyt@und.edu.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2021/12/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-masculinity-and-mentalhealth/
Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Demetria Slyt, General Editor
November is men’s health awareness month, often referred to as “no-shave-November,” which raises awareness of prostate and testicular cancers. This month also broadly acknowledges men’s #mentalhealth and #suicideprevention. Within the last few years, men’s #mentalhealth has been receiving more attention, especially on #socialmedia such as #Instagram and #Facebook. The #mentalhealth of men is often disregarded or ignored, due to traditional and societal norms or forced gender roles. In this article I will discuss traditional masculinity, as well as where I believe those ideals are transitioning and look at the ‘new’ modern man. I also want to talk a little bit about how traditional ideas of masculinity can negatively impact young boys’ development and emotional education.
Traditional masculinity is based around the idea of western “manliness” that revolves around men being stoic, aggressive, and dominant. This is a big factor into why certain phrases exist, such as: “Men don’t cry,” or “be a man!” Which can have very harmful effects on young #boys as they mature into #adolescence and adulthood. These can manifest into future #behaviors such as #isolation, repression, substance abuse, and lead to the development of various mood disorders. I think that is really important to disrupt these behaviors early and establish safer environments for young #boys to express themselves. #Men are more likely to repress their emotions, leading to larger issues later in life and reluctance to seek treatment. Statistically #men live shorter lives than #women, and men have a higher rate of #suicides each year. That isn’t even accounting for the rates of #suicide among #men in different sexualities and or #men of color.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
These ideals have been cemented as societal norms, however, recently they are being brought into attention and challenged. I believe the modern ideal of what it means to be a man is changing, even if slowly. Millennial and Gen-z men are different from those of the past generations because of these slow changes and growing acceptance. They are more open to expressing their emotions, but, because of these societal norms it is hard to escape other individuals’ ideals of what a man is. It is worth noting, that even when we create safe spaces for younger boys to freely express their emotions in a healthy way this can be broken when they go out into the world and their views are influenced by others ideas of what a man is. So, yes, it is an incredibly difficult cycle to change.
Subjects based around gender are always going to be difficult to discuss, because there are always going to be people who are dismissive, or who invalidate each other’s feelings or feel like one is attacking the other. I think there is something wrong with our society when we cannot have open unbiased discussions with each other and just listen. This year I have had more conversations about men’s issues and #mentalhealth with my current partner than I ever have before. I understand and recognize the things that he shares with me as issues that are prevalent in our lives. However, I find it difficult to not say things that invalidate him or things that might be construed as, “We have it harder, so you’re wrong.” I do not find it difficult not because that is something I truly believe. But I find it difficult because these arguments have been so deeply ingrained into our minds that it is hard to break those habits and be open to outside opinions or issues that are seemingly pitted against our own. If you do not have a safe space with your partner or allow your partner a safe space to share ideas and feelings, that is a real issue. This is part of why many #men feel they cannot express their feelings to their partners.
It is important to teach your young #boys that it is okay to cry and experience their emotions without feeling shamed or invalidated. Create safe spaces for your sons, nephews, boyfriends, or husbands to share their emotions and establish healthy communication. This has become a trending topic within #socialmedia in the last year, and is becoming more normalized. There have also been recent big strides in psychological fields about how to treat #male #patients, and create inclusive safe spaces. I believe that we, as a society, are changing in a lot of regards but everything takes time. With change there will always be some resistance, but in the larger picture of things the tiny splashes we make now will create bigger waves in the future and make the real impact.
Demetria Slyt is a Dakota Student Editor. She can be reached at Demetria.slyt@und.edu.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=8526
November is men’s health awareness month, often referred to as “no-shave-November,” which raises awareness of prostate and testicular cancers. This month also broadly acknowledges men’s #mentalhealth and #suicideprevention. Within the last few years, men’s #mentalhealth has been receiving more attention, especially on #socialmedia such as #Instagram and #Facebook. The #mentalhealth of men is often disregarded or ignored, due to traditional and societal norms or forced gender roles. In this article I will discuss traditional masculinity, as well as where I believe those ideals are transitioning and look at the ‘new’ modern man. I also want to talk a little bit about how traditional ideas of masculinity can negatively impact young boys’ development and emotional education.
Traditional masculinity is based around the idea of western “manliness” that revolves around men being stoic, aggressive, and dominant. This is a big factor into why certain phrases exist, such as: “Men don’t cry,” or “be a man!” Which can have very harmful effects on young #boys as they mature into #adolescence and adulthood. These can manifest into future #behaviors such as #isolation, repression, substance abuse, and lead to the development of various mood disorders. I think that is really important to disrupt these behaviors early and establish safer environments for young #boys to express themselves. #Men are more likely to repress their emotions, leading to larger issues later in life and reluctance to seek treatment. Statistically #men live shorter lives than #women, and men have a higher rate of #suicides each year. That isn’t even accounting for the rates of #suicide among #men in different sexualities and or #men of color.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
These ideals have been cemented as societal norms, however, recently they are being brought into attention and challenged. I believe the modern ideal of what it means to be a man is changing, even if slowly. Millennial and Gen-z men are different from those of the past generations because of these slow changes and growing acceptance. They are more open to expressing their emotions, but, because of these societal norms it is hard to escape other individuals’ ideals of what a man is. It is worth noting, that even when we create safe spaces for younger boys to freely express their emotions in a healthy way this can be broken when they go out into the world and their views are influenced by others ideas of what a man is. So, yes, it is an incredibly difficult cycle to change.
Subjects based around gender are always going to be difficult to discuss, because there are always going to be people who are dismissive, or who invalidate each other’s feelings or feel like one is attacking the other. I think there is something wrong with our society when we cannot have open unbiased discussions with each other and just listen. This year I have had more conversations about men’s issues and #mentalhealth with my current partner than I ever have before. I understand and recognize the things that he shares with me as issues that are prevalent in our lives. However, I find it difficult to not say things that invalidate him or things that might be construed as, “We have it harder, so you’re wrong.” I do not find it difficult not because that is something I truly believe. But I find it difficult because these arguments have been so deeply ingrained into our minds that it is hard to break those habits and be open to outside opinions or issues that are seemingly pitted against our own. If you do not have a safe space with your partner or allow your partner a safe space to share ideas and feelings, that is a real issue. This is part of why many #men feel they cannot express their feelings to their partners.
It is important to teach your young #boys that it is okay to cry and experience their emotions without feeling shamed or invalidated. Create safe spaces for your sons, nephews, boyfriends, or husbands to share their emotions and establish healthy communication. This has become a trending topic within #socialmedia in the last year, and is becoming more normalized. There have also been recent big strides in psychological fields about how to treat #male #patients, and create inclusive safe spaces. I believe that we, as a society, are changing in a lot of regards but everything takes time. With change there will always be some resistance, but in the larger picture of things the tiny splashes we make now will create bigger waves in the future and make the real impact.
Demetria Slyt is a Dakota Student Editor. She can be reached at Demetria.slyt@und.edu.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=8526
Demetria Slyt, General Editor
November is men’s health awareness month, often referred to as “no-shave-November,” which raises awareness of prostate and testicular cancers. This month also broadly acknowledges men’s #mentalhealth and #suicideprevention. Within the last few years, men’s #mentalhealth has been receiving more attention, especially on #socialmedia such as #Instagram and #Facebook. The #mentalhealth of men is often disregarded or ignored, due to traditional and societal norms or forced gender roles. In this article I will discuss traditional masculinity, as well as where I believe those ideals are transitioning and look at the ‘new’ modern man. I also want to talk a little bit about how traditional ideas of masculinity can negatively impact young boys’ development and emotional education.
Traditional masculinity is based around the idea of western “manliness” that revolves around men being stoic, aggressive, and dominant. This is a big factor into why certain phrases exist, such as: “Men don’t cry,” or “be a man!” Which can have very harmful effects on young #boys as they mature into #adolescence and adulthood. These can manifest into future #behaviors such as #isolation, repression, substance abuse, and lead to the development of various mood disorders. I think that is really important to disrupt these behaviors early and establish safer environments for young #boys to express themselves. #Men are more likely to repress their emotions, leading to larger issues later in life and reluctance to seek treatment. Statistically #men live shorter lives than #women, and men have a higher rate of #suicides each year. That isn’t even accounting for the rates of #suicide among #men in different sexualities and or #men of color.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
These ideals have been cemented as societal norms, however, recently they are being brought into attention and challenged. I believe the modern ideal of what it means to be a man is changing, even if slowly. Millennial and Gen-z men are different from those of the past generations because of these slow changes and growing acceptance. They are more open to expressing their emotions, but, because of these societal norms it is hard to escape other individuals’ ideals of what a man is. It is worth noting, that even when we create safe spaces for younger boys to freely express their emotions in a healthy way this can be broken when they go out into the world and their views are influenced by others ideas of what a man is. So, yes, it is an incredibly difficult cycle to change.
Subjects based around gender are always going to be difficult to discuss, because there are always going to be people who are dismissive, or who invalidate each other’s feelings or feel like one is attacking the other. I think there is something wrong with our society when we cannot have open unbiased discussions with each other and just listen. This year I have had more conversations about men’s issues and #mentalhealth with my current partner than I ever have before. I understand and recognize the things that he shares with me as issues that are prevalent in our lives. However, I find it difficult to not say things that invalidate him or things that might be construed as, “We have it harder, so you’re wrong.” I do not find it difficult not because that is something I truly believe. But I find it difficult because these arguments have been so deeply ingrained into our minds that it is hard to break those habits and be open to outside opinions or issues that are seemingly pitted against our own. If you do not have a safe space with your partner or allow your partner a safe space to share ideas and feelings, that is a real issue. This is part of why many #men feel they cannot express their feelings to their partners.
It is important to teach your young #boys that it is okay to cry and experience their emotions without feeling shamed or invalidated. Create safe spaces for your sons, nephews, boyfriends, or husbands to share their emotions and establish healthy communication. This has become a trending topic within #socialmedia in the last year, and is becoming more normalized. There have also been recent big strides in psychological fields about how to treat #male #patients, and create inclusive safe spaces. I believe that we, as a society, are changing in a lot of regards but everything takes time. With change there will always be some resistance, but in the larger picture of things the tiny splashes we make now will create bigger waves in the future and make the real impact.
Demetria Slyt is a Dakota Student Editor. She can be reached at Demetria.slyt@und.edu.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=8526
November is men’s health awareness month, often referred to as “no-shave-November,” which raises awareness of prostate and testicular cancers. This month also broadly acknowledges men’s #mentalhealth and #suicideprevention. Within the last few years, men’s #mentalhealth has been receiving more attention, especially on #socialmedia such as #Instagram and #Facebook. The #mentalhealth of men is often disregarded or ignored, due to traditional and societal norms or forced gender roles. In this article I will discuss traditional masculinity, as well as where I believe those ideals are transitioning and look at the ‘new’ modern man. I also want to talk a little bit about how traditional ideas of masculinity can negatively impact young boys’ development and emotional education.
Traditional masculinity is based around the idea of western “manliness” that revolves around men being stoic, aggressive, and dominant. This is a big factor into why certain phrases exist, such as: “Men don’t cry,” or “be a man!” Which can have very harmful effects on young #boys as they mature into #adolescence and adulthood. These can manifest into future #behaviors such as #isolation, repression, substance abuse, and lead to the development of various mood disorders. I think that is really important to disrupt these behaviors early and establish safer environments for young #boys to express themselves. #Men are more likely to repress their emotions, leading to larger issues later in life and reluctance to seek treatment. Statistically #men live shorter lives than #women, and men have a higher rate of #suicides each year. That isn’t even accounting for the rates of #suicide among #men in different sexualities and or #men of color.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
These ideals have been cemented as societal norms, however, recently they are being brought into attention and challenged. I believe the modern ideal of what it means to be a man is changing, even if slowly. Millennial and Gen-z men are different from those of the past generations because of these slow changes and growing acceptance. They are more open to expressing their emotions, but, because of these societal norms it is hard to escape other individuals’ ideals of what a man is. It is worth noting, that even when we create safe spaces for younger boys to freely express their emotions in a healthy way this can be broken when they go out into the world and their views are influenced by others ideas of what a man is. So, yes, it is an incredibly difficult cycle to change.
Subjects based around gender are always going to be difficult to discuss, because there are always going to be people who are dismissive, or who invalidate each other’s feelings or feel like one is attacking the other. I think there is something wrong with our society when we cannot have open unbiased discussions with each other and just listen. This year I have had more conversations about men’s issues and #mentalhealth with my current partner than I ever have before. I understand and recognize the things that he shares with me as issues that are prevalent in our lives. However, I find it difficult to not say things that invalidate him or things that might be construed as, “We have it harder, so you’re wrong.” I do not find it difficult not because that is something I truly believe. But I find it difficult because these arguments have been so deeply ingrained into our minds that it is hard to break those habits and be open to outside opinions or issues that are seemingly pitted against our own. If you do not have a safe space with your partner or allow your partner a safe space to share ideas and feelings, that is a real issue. This is part of why many #men feel they cannot express their feelings to their partners.
It is important to teach your young #boys that it is okay to cry and experience their emotions without feeling shamed or invalidated. Create safe spaces for your sons, nephews, boyfriends, or husbands to share their emotions and establish healthy communication. This has become a trending topic within #socialmedia in the last year, and is becoming more normalized. There have also been recent big strides in psychological fields about how to treat #male #patients, and create inclusive safe spaces. I believe that we, as a society, are changing in a lot of regards but everything takes time. With change there will always be some resistance, but in the larger picture of things the tiny splashes we make now will create bigger waves in the future and make the real impact.
Demetria Slyt is a Dakota Student Editor. She can be reached at Demetria.slyt@und.edu.
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=8526
Monday, December 27, 2021
He called me right before Christmas and was talking of taking his life because he's so tired of being taken advantage of, and people using him and he's depressed and lonely
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-former-nba-player-joe-pace-with-dental?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1
Help Former NBA Player, Joe Pace With Dental
$10,000 goal Give $25 today
https://gofund.me/cd03d057
Your donation matters
-
James Donaldson is organizing this fundraiser.
- Medical, Illness & Healing
Greetings,My name is James Donaldson, a former NBA basketball player, and a very good friend of Joe Pace, dating back to 1980 when we both played against each other in the Italian professional basketball leagues.
I've remained good friends with Joe over the decades, and, he just hasn't been able to get "lady luck" to smile on him more often than not.
Joe has been homeless, suffered with drug addiction, alcoholism, depression, and even calling me recently with suicidal ideations.
Over the years, I've been right there for Joe as we both live in the Seattle area. I've helped him in setting up a bank account, depositing and cashing his government assistant checks, paying his utility bills and rent on a timely basis.
Joe only played two years in the NBA, and to be vested in the NBA retirement pension plan and medical coverage, you must play at least a minimum of three years in the NBA. He wasn't fortunate enough to be able to obtain that.
If you look at the recent news video interview with him, it can better tell the story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGIwEHEdtpw&ab_channel=FOX13Seattle
After this news interview aired back in November 2021, a "virtual stranger" came up to Joe, and told him that she was going to start a Go Fund Me campaign for him to raise money for his necessary and very expensive dental work that he needs desperately.
She raised over $3600, and then "deactivated" the account, and made off with the money. Joe has no way of getting a hold of her, and I sent her a message on Go Fund Me before her account was deleted. I doubt if I'll ever hear from her, but we will see.
I ran a Go Fund Me account for Joe about five years ago, and was able to raise monies for his expenses and rent.
So, I spoke to Joe last week, and told him I would gladly get another campaign going for him.
Joe is a terrific guy, who has just fallen upon hard times, time after time. He's smart, intelligent, knowledgeable about the world around him, but just can't get a break. He came down with Covid back in September and spent almost one month in the hospital. He has underlying conditions such as diabetes, and the worsening case of arthritis in his back, hips and knees.
I love the man like he's my own brother. And even though our journeys through life have been vastly different, we've become very good friends over the years and look out for each other.
Please contribute and donate to this campaign for Joe Pace. He doesn't have a lot of people in his life he can trust, and he's been used, taken advantage of more times than anybody deserves (that's one of the many reasons he was thinking of taking his life) . I'm there for them, and I always will be.
Thank you so much for considering the support for my good friend, Joe Pace. As I did with helping him with his banking and making sure that his bills were paid, you can feel comfortable and confident that I will make sure all the money is gathered so that we have enough for his dental procedure in the next few months. And also, any money raised above our stated goal, will be used to make sure that all his bills and utilities are paid and current as well as his rent.
Thank you so much for your time and consideration,James Donaldson
Your early support inspires others to donate. Make a donation
Organizer
James Donaldson
Organizer
Ellensburg, WA
Contact
https://gofund.me/cd03d057
Comments
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2021/12/can-you-help-me-raise-money-for-my-good-friend-former-nba-player-joe-pace-please-support-the-gofundme-campaign-that-i-am-administrating-for-him/
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-former-nba-player-joe-pace-with-dental?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1
Help Former NBA Player, Joe Pace With Dental
$10,000 goal Give $25 today
https://gofund.me/cd03d057
Your donation matters
-
James Donaldson is organizing this fundraiser.
- Medical, Illness & Healing
Greetings,My name is James Donaldson, a former NBA basketball player, and a very good friend of Joe Pace, dating back to 1980 when we both played against each other in the Italian professional basketball leagues.
I've remained good friends with Joe over the decades, and, he just hasn't been able to get "lady luck" to smile on him more often than not.
Joe has been homeless, suffered with drug addiction, alcoholism, depression, and even calling me recently with suicidal ideations.
Over the years, I've been right there for Joe as we both live in the Seattle area. I've helped him in setting up a bank account, depositing and cashing his government assistant checks, paying his utility bills and rent on a timely basis.
Joe only played two years in the NBA, and to be vested in the NBA retirement pension plan and medical coverage, you must play at least a minimum of three years in the NBA. He wasn't fortunate enough to be able to obtain that.
If you look at the recent news video interview with him, it can better tell the story.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGIwEHEdtpw&ab_channel=FOX13Seattle
After this news interview aired back in November 2021, a "virtual stranger" came up to Joe, and told him that she was going to start a Go Fund Me campaign for him to raise money for his necessary and very expensive dental work that he needs desperately.
She raised over $3600, and then "deactivated" the account, and made off with the money. Joe has no way of getting a hold of her, and I sent her a message on Go Fund Me before her account was deleted. I doubt if I'll ever hear from her, but we will see.
I ran a Go Fund Me account for Joe about five years ago, and was able to raise monies for his expenses and rent.
So, I spoke to Joe last week, and told him I would gladly get another campaign going for him.
Joe is a terrific guy, who has just fallen upon hard times, time after time. He's smart, intelligent, knowledgeable about the world around him, but just can't get a break. He came down with Covid back in September and spent almost one month in the hospital. He has underlying conditions such as diabetes, and the worsening case of arthritis in his back, hips and knees.
I love the man like he's my own brother. And even though our journeys through life have been vastly different, we've become very good friends over the years and look out for each other.
Please contribute and donate to this campaign for Joe Pace. He doesn't have a lot of people in his life he can trust, and he's been used, taken advantage of more times than anybody deserves (that's one of the many reasons he was thinking of taking his life) . I'm there for them, and I always will be.
Thank you so much for considering the support for my good friend, Joe Pace. As I did with helping him with his banking and making sure that his bills were paid, you can feel comfortable and confident that I will make sure all the money is gathered so that we have enough for his dental procedure in the next few months. And also, any money raised above our stated goal, will be used to make sure that all his bills and utilities are paid and current as well as his rent.
Thank you so much for your time and consideration,James Donaldson
Your early support inspires others to donate. Make a donation
Organizer
James Donaldson
Organizer
Ellensburg, WA
Contact
https://gofund.me/cd03d057
Comments
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2021/12/can-you-help-me-raise-money-for-my-good-friend-former-nba-player-joe-pace-please-support-the-gofundme-campaign-that-i-am-administrating-for-him/
A Daily Iowan news reporter writes about their journey with #mentalhealth struggles.
Lillian Poulsen, News Reporter
Trigger warning: this article mentions #suicide, #eatingdisorders, and self-harm.
#Mentalhealth is something I’ve struggled with my entire life. I grew up a chubby, closeted #bisexual, unsure of myself and afraid to share some parts of my identity.
It wasn’t until eighth grade that I recognized that my thoughts, feelings, and experiences meant something deeper than teenage angst.
After a rough night, I cried to my mom about my fears of having #anxiety and #depression. A few weeks later, I attended my first counseling appointment with a therapist and began the long journey of finding myself.
While I always had a feeling that I had a #mentalillness, I waited until #highschool for the confirmation. My first therapist, Emily, shared that I had symptoms related to Generalized #AnxietyDisorder and severe #depression. At the time, I had little knowledge of what that meant or how it would change my life.
I wasn’t alone in this struggle, however. According to the #NationalAllianceonMentalIllness, one in six U.S. youth aged six to 17 experience a #mentalhealthdisorder each year. Additionally, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34.
Throughout #highschool I saw Emily, and she helped me through many problems. While she walked me through traumatic events in my life, she mainly helped me build the confidence to live each day.
Body image affected me a lot throughout middle #school and #highschool. I worried about watching my weight, controlling what I ate, and exercising often.
According to Park Nicollet Melrose Center, 53 percent of 13-year-old #American #girls are unhappy with their bodies, and this number grows to 78 percent by the time they reach 17. Around 30 percent of 10 to 14-year-olds are actively dieting, and #adolescent #girls who diet frequently are 12 times as likely to binge eat as #girls who don’t.
Throughout my journey with Emily, I formed life-long friendships, found value within myself, and felt confident in my future.
When I first started therapy, I was a young #teenager struggling with body image issues, self-harm, and #suicidalideation. Therapy opened a door for me that I didn’t know existed, and I wouldn’t be the same without it.
While I was fortunate to have a mom who believed me when I said I needed help, it was a struggle to explain my #mentalhealth to other people in my family who viewed it as something that I could just overcome.
After I graduated #highschool, I felt ready for college. At my last session with Emily, she told me I was in a good spot and ready to face the new adventure ahead.
Since I felt so certain of myself, I went into college thinking I wouldn’t need a therapist. I quickly learned this wasn’t the case after struggling for months on my own.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
During my sophomore year of college, I continued to struggle but found some help at University Counseling Services. I attended a couple of sessions when I was really struggling and felt it was enough for me.
In 2017, 2,376 #students visited University Counseling Services, according to a 2017 annual report. People spent 6,344 hours in individual counseling in 2017.
Junior year of college was a turning point for me in my #mentalhealth journey, one that I never saw myself taking after my first therapy session at 13.
While I struggled my first semester of junior year because of the #COVID-19 #pandemic, it wasn’t until my second semester that I had reached a breaking point.
After letting my #anxiety and #depression build for several months surrounding various issues in my life including sexuality, religion, academics, and body image, I found myself having the worst panic attack of my life in March 2021.
After spiraling for the entire night while with my friends and sister, I made a phone call to my mom the next morning.
I told my mom I needed her to come to Iowa City immediately and that I wasn’t safe. I also called my boss and the #suicidehotline, because I was afraid of what I would do if I was alone.
My mom made the two-hour drive from West Des Moines to pick me up. On the way back to my house, I continued to panic and thought I might die. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced.
I struggled for weeks at home before my #parents took me to a psychiatric unit in Des Moines. The hospital didn’t have enough bed space, so I ended up going home. More weeks passed as I struggled with the inability to sleep through the night or go a single day without a panic attack.
In July, my #mentalhealth had deteriorated so much that my #parents decided to drive me to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to get help. There, I spent a week in the medical psych unit while #physicians attempted to figure out what was going on with my brain.
After that, I was transferred to the psych unit of the hospital, where I spent a week struggling with my #mentalhealth. While there, I learned that I had #PostTraumaticStressDisorder and #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder — two #mentalillnesses of which I had minimal knowledge.
While it was the most difficult time of my life, I leaned on people to help me through it. Without this support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
When I went to the psych unit in Iowa City, I lost friendships, including one with my best friend at the time. She decided that my struggles were too much for her to handle, even though I was at the lowest point of my life.
I learned a valuable but painful lesson: The people who care about me will stick by me even when it’s hard. Even though I lost this friendship, I gained my confidence back, built stronger relationships with my friends and family, and finally got the help I needed.
Mental health is something that will always play a role in my life. I’m grateful for the people who continue to check on me and make sure I’m doing OK.
If you’re struggling, I can only hope that the people in your life will be there for you. But if you’re like me and ever feel alone in your struggle, just know that I’m right there with you, cheering you on.
Columns reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board, The Daily Iowan, or other organizations in which the author may be involved.
About the ContributorLillian Poulsen, News Reporter
(she/her/hers and they/them/theirs)Email: lillian-poulsen@uiowa.eduTwitter: @lillian_poulsenLillian Poulsen is a News Reporter for The Daily Iowan....
Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2021/12/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-opinion-we-arent-alone-in-our-mentalhealth-struggles/
Lillian Poulsen, News Reporter
Trigger warning: this article mentions #suicide, #eatingdisorders, and self-harm.
#Mentalhealth is something I’ve struggled with my entire life. I grew up a chubby, closeted #bisexual, unsure of myself and afraid to share some parts of my identity.
It wasn’t until eighth grade that I recognized that my thoughts, feelings, and experiences meant something deeper than teenage angst.
After a rough night, I cried to my mom about my fears of having #anxiety and #depression. A few weeks later, I attended my first counseling appointment with a therapist and began the long journey of finding myself.
While I always had a feeling that I had a #mentalillness, I waited until #highschool for the confirmation. My first therapist, Emily, shared that I had symptoms related to Generalized #AnxietyDisorder and severe #depression. At the time, I had little knowledge of what that meant or how it would change my life.
I wasn’t alone in this struggle, however. According to the #NationalAllianceonMentalIllness, one in six U.S. youth aged six to 17 experience a #mentalhealthdisorder each year. Additionally, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34.
Throughout #highschool I saw Emily, and she helped me through many problems. While she walked me through traumatic events in my life, she mainly helped me build the confidence to live each day.
Body image affected me a lot throughout middle #school and #highschool. I worried about watching my weight, controlling what I ate, and exercising often.
According to Park Nicollet Melrose Center, 53 percent of 13-year-old #American #girls are unhappy with their bodies, and this number grows to 78 percent by the time they reach 17. Around 30 percent of 10 to 14-year-olds are actively dieting, and #adolescent #girls who diet frequently are 12 times as likely to binge eat as #girls who don’t.
Throughout my journey with Emily, I formed life-long friendships, found value within myself, and felt confident in my future.
When I first started therapy, I was a young #teenager struggling with body image issues, self-harm, and #suicidalideation. Therapy opened a door for me that I didn’t know existed, and I wouldn’t be the same without it.
While I was fortunate to have a mom who believed me when I said I needed help, it was a struggle to explain my #mentalhealth to other people in my family who viewed it as something that I could just overcome.
After I graduated #highschool, I felt ready for college. At my last session with Emily, she told me I was in a good spot and ready to face the new adventure ahead.
Since I felt so certain of myself, I went into college thinking I wouldn’t need a therapist. I quickly learned this wasn’t the case after struggling for months on my own.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
During my sophomore year of college, I continued to struggle but found some help at University Counseling Services. I attended a couple of sessions when I was really struggling and felt it was enough for me.
In 2017, 2,376 #students visited University Counseling Services, according to a 2017 annual report. People spent 6,344 hours in individual counseling in 2017.
Junior year of college was a turning point for me in my #mentalhealth journey, one that I never saw myself taking after my first therapy session at 13.
While I struggled my first semester of junior year because of the #COVID-19 #pandemic, it wasn’t until my second semester that I had reached a breaking point.
After letting my #anxiety and #depression build for several months surrounding various issues in my life including sexuality, religion, academics, and body image, I found myself having the worst panic attack of my life in March 2021.
After spiraling for the entire night while with my friends and sister, I made a phone call to my mom the next morning.
I told my mom I needed her to come to Iowa City immediately and that I wasn’t safe. I also called my boss and the #suicidehotline, because I was afraid of what I would do if I was alone.
My mom made the two-hour drive from West Des Moines to pick me up. On the way back to my house, I continued to panic and thought I might die. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced.
I struggled for weeks at home before my #parents took me to a psychiatric unit in Des Moines. The hospital didn’t have enough bed space, so I ended up going home. More weeks passed as I struggled with the inability to sleep through the night or go a single day without a panic attack.
In July, my #mentalhealth had deteriorated so much that my #parents decided to drive me to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to get help. There, I spent a week in the medical psych unit while #physicians attempted to figure out what was going on with my brain.
After that, I was transferred to the psych unit of the hospital, where I spent a week struggling with my #mentalhealth. While there, I learned that I had #PostTraumaticStressDisorder and #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder — two #mentalillnesses of which I had minimal knowledge.
While it was the most difficult time of my life, I leaned on people to help me through it. Without this support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
When I went to the psych unit in Iowa City, I lost friendships, including one with my best friend at the time. She decided that my struggles were too much for her to handle, even though I was at the lowest point of my life.
I learned a valuable but painful lesson: The people who care about me will stick by me even when it’s hard. Even though I lost this friendship, I gained my confidence back, built stronger relationships with my friends and family, and finally got the help I needed.
Mental health is something that will always play a role in my life. I’m grateful for the people who continue to check on me and make sure I’m doing OK.
If you’re struggling, I can only hope that the people in your life will be there for you. But if you’re like me and ever feel alone in your struggle, just know that I’m right there with you, cheering you on.
Columns reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board, The Daily Iowan, or other organizations in which the author may be involved.
About the ContributorLillian Poulsen, News Reporter
(she/her/hers and they/them/theirs)Email: lillian-poulsen@uiowa.eduTwitter: @lillian_poulsenLillian Poulsen is a News Reporter for The Daily Iowan....
Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/2021/12/jamesdonaldson-on-mentalhealth-opinion-we-arent-alone-in-our-mentalhealth-struggles/
A Daily Iowan news reporter writes about their journey with #mentalhealth struggles.
Lillian Poulsen, News Reporter
Trigger warning: this article mentions #suicide, #eatingdisorders, and self-harm.
#Mentalhealth is something I’ve struggled with my entire life. I grew up a chubby, closeted #bisexual, unsure of myself and afraid to share some parts of my identity.
It wasn’t until eighth grade that I recognized that my thoughts, feelings, and experiences meant something deeper than teenage angst.
After a rough night, I cried to my mom about my fears of having #anxiety and #depression. A few weeks later, I attended my first counseling appointment with a therapist and began the long journey of finding myself.
While I always had a feeling that I had a #mentalillness, I waited until #highschool for the confirmation. My first therapist, Emily, shared that I had symptoms related to Generalized #AnxietyDisorder and severe #depression. At the time, I had little knowledge of what that meant or how it would change my life.
I wasn’t alone in this struggle, however. According to the #NationalAllianceonMentalIllness, one in six U.S. youth aged six to 17 experience a #mentalhealthdisorder each year. Additionally, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34.
Throughout #highschool I saw Emily, and she helped me through many problems. While she walked me through traumatic events in my life, she mainly helped me build the confidence to live each day.
Body image affected me a lot throughout middle #school and #highschool. I worried about watching my weight, controlling what I ate, and exercising often.
According to Park Nicollet Melrose Center, 53 percent of 13-year-old #American #girls are unhappy with their bodies, and this number grows to 78 percent by the time they reach 17. Around 30 percent of 10 to 14-year-olds are actively dieting, and #adolescent #girls who diet frequently are 12 times as likely to binge eat as #girls who don’t.
Throughout my journey with Emily, I formed life-long friendships, found value within myself, and felt confident in my future.
When I first started therapy, I was a young #teenager struggling with body image issues, self-harm, and #suicidalideation. Therapy opened a door for me that I didn’t know existed, and I wouldn’t be the same without it.
While I was fortunate to have a mom who believed me when I said I needed help, it was a struggle to explain my #mentalhealth to other people in my family who viewed it as something that I could just overcome.
After I graduated #highschool, I felt ready for college. At my last session with Emily, she told me I was in a good spot and ready to face the new adventure ahead.
Since I felt so certain of myself, I went into college thinking I wouldn’t need a therapist. I quickly learned this wasn’t the case after struggling for months on my own.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
During my sophomore year of college, I continued to struggle but found some help at University Counseling Services. I attended a couple of sessions when I was really struggling and felt it was enough for me.
In 2017, 2,376 #students visited University Counseling Services, according to a 2017 annual report. People spent 6,344 hours in individual counseling in 2017.
Junior year of college was a turning point for me in my #mentalhealth journey, one that I never saw myself taking after my first therapy session at 13.
While I struggled my first semester of junior year because of the #COVID-19 #pandemic, it wasn’t until my second semester that I had reached a breaking point.
After letting my #anxiety and #depression build for several months surrounding various issues in my life including sexuality, religion, academics, and body image, I found myself having the worst panic attack of my life in March 2021.
After spiraling for the entire night while with my friends and sister, I made a phone call to my mom the next morning.
I told my mom I needed her to come to Iowa City immediately and that I wasn’t safe. I also called my boss and the #suicidehotline, because I was afraid of what I would do if I was alone.
My mom made the two-hour drive from West Des Moines to pick me up. On the way back to my house, I continued to panic and thought I might die. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced.
I struggled for weeks at home before my #parents took me to a psychiatric unit in Des Moines. The hospital didn’t have enough bed space, so I ended up going home. More weeks passed as I struggled with the inability to sleep through the night or go a single day without a panic attack.
In July, my #mentalhealth had deteriorated so much that my #parents decided to drive me to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to get help. There, I spent a week in the medical psych unit while #physicians attempted to figure out what was going on with my brain.
After that, I was transferred to the psych unit of the hospital, where I spent a week struggling with my #mentalhealth. While there, I learned that I had #PostTraumaticStressDisorder and #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder — two #mentalillnesses of which I had minimal knowledge.
While it was the most difficult time of my life, I leaned on people to help me through it. Without this support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
When I went to the psych unit in Iowa City, I lost friendships, including one with my best friend at the time. She decided that my struggles were too much for her to handle, even though I was at the lowest point of my life.
I learned a valuable but painful lesson: The people who care about me will stick by me even when it’s hard. Even though I lost this friendship, I gained my confidence back, built stronger relationships with my friends and family, and finally got the help I needed.
Mental health is something that will always play a role in my life. I’m grateful for the people who continue to check on me and make sure I’m doing OK.
If you’re struggling, I can only hope that the people in your life will be there for you. But if you’re like me and ever feel alone in your struggle, just know that I’m right there with you, cheering you on.
Columns reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board, The Daily Iowan, or other organizations in which the author may be involved.
About the ContributorLillian Poulsen, News Reporter
(she/her/hers and they/them/theirs)Email: lillian-poulsen@uiowa.eduTwitter: @lillian_poulsenLillian Poulsen is a News Reporter for The Daily Iowan....
Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=8524
Lillian Poulsen, News Reporter
Trigger warning: this article mentions #suicide, #eatingdisorders, and self-harm.
#Mentalhealth is something I’ve struggled with my entire life. I grew up a chubby, closeted #bisexual, unsure of myself and afraid to share some parts of my identity.
It wasn’t until eighth grade that I recognized that my thoughts, feelings, and experiences meant something deeper than teenage angst.
After a rough night, I cried to my mom about my fears of having #anxiety and #depression. A few weeks later, I attended my first counseling appointment with a therapist and began the long journey of finding myself.
While I always had a feeling that I had a #mentalillness, I waited until #highschool for the confirmation. My first therapist, Emily, shared that I had symptoms related to Generalized #AnxietyDisorder and severe #depression. At the time, I had little knowledge of what that meant or how it would change my life.
I wasn’t alone in this struggle, however. According to the #NationalAllianceonMentalIllness, one in six U.S. youth aged six to 17 experience a #mentalhealthdisorder each year. Additionally, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34.
Throughout #highschool I saw Emily, and she helped me through many problems. While she walked me through traumatic events in my life, she mainly helped me build the confidence to live each day.
Body image affected me a lot throughout middle #school and #highschool. I worried about watching my weight, controlling what I ate, and exercising often.
According to Park Nicollet Melrose Center, 53 percent of 13-year-old #American #girls are unhappy with their bodies, and this number grows to 78 percent by the time they reach 17. Around 30 percent of 10 to 14-year-olds are actively dieting, and #adolescent #girls who diet frequently are 12 times as likely to binge eat as #girls who don’t.
Throughout my journey with Emily, I formed life-long friendships, found value within myself, and felt confident in my future.
When I first started therapy, I was a young #teenager struggling with body image issues, self-harm, and #suicidalideation. Therapy opened a door for me that I didn’t know existed, and I wouldn’t be the same without it.
While I was fortunate to have a mom who believed me when I said I needed help, it was a struggle to explain my #mentalhealth to other people in my family who viewed it as something that I could just overcome.
After I graduated #highschool, I felt ready for college. At my last session with Emily, she told me I was in a good spot and ready to face the new adventure ahead.
Since I felt so certain of myself, I went into college thinking I wouldn’t need a therapist. I quickly learned this wasn’t the case after struggling for months on my own.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
During my sophomore year of college, I continued to struggle but found some help at University Counseling Services. I attended a couple of sessions when I was really struggling and felt it was enough for me.
In 2017, 2,376 #students visited University Counseling Services, according to a 2017 annual report. People spent 6,344 hours in individual counseling in 2017.
Junior year of college was a turning point for me in my #mentalhealth journey, one that I never saw myself taking after my first therapy session at 13.
While I struggled my first semester of junior year because of the #COVID-19 #pandemic, it wasn’t until my second semester that I had reached a breaking point.
After letting my #anxiety and #depression build for several months surrounding various issues in my life including sexuality, religion, academics, and body image, I found myself having the worst panic attack of my life in March 2021.
After spiraling for the entire night while with my friends and sister, I made a phone call to my mom the next morning.
I told my mom I needed her to come to Iowa City immediately and that I wasn’t safe. I also called my boss and the #suicidehotline, because I was afraid of what I would do if I was alone.
My mom made the two-hour drive from West Des Moines to pick me up. On the way back to my house, I continued to panic and thought I might die. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced.
I struggled for weeks at home before my #parents took me to a psychiatric unit in Des Moines. The hospital didn’t have enough bed space, so I ended up going home. More weeks passed as I struggled with the inability to sleep through the night or go a single day without a panic attack.
In July, my #mentalhealth had deteriorated so much that my #parents decided to drive me to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to get help. There, I spent a week in the medical psych unit while #physicians attempted to figure out what was going on with my brain.
After that, I was transferred to the psych unit of the hospital, where I spent a week struggling with my #mentalhealth. While there, I learned that I had #PostTraumaticStressDisorder and #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder — two #mentalillnesses of which I had minimal knowledge.
While it was the most difficult time of my life, I leaned on people to help me through it. Without this support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
When I went to the psych unit in Iowa City, I lost friendships, including one with my best friend at the time. She decided that my struggles were too much for her to handle, even though I was at the lowest point of my life.
I learned a valuable but painful lesson: The people who care about me will stick by me even when it’s hard. Even though I lost this friendship, I gained my confidence back, built stronger relationships with my friends and family, and finally got the help I needed.
Mental health is something that will always play a role in my life. I’m grateful for the people who continue to check on me and make sure I’m doing OK.
If you’re struggling, I can only hope that the people in your life will be there for you. But if you’re like me and ever feel alone in your struggle, just know that I’m right there with you, cheering you on.
Columns reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board, The Daily Iowan, or other organizations in which the author may be involved.
About the ContributorLillian Poulsen, News Reporter
(she/her/hers and they/them/theirs)Email: lillian-poulsen@uiowa.eduTwitter: @lillian_poulsenLillian Poulsen is a News Reporter for The Daily Iowan....
Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=8524
A Daily Iowan news reporter writes about their journey with #mentalhealth struggles.
Lillian Poulsen, News Reporter
Trigger warning: this article mentions #suicide, #eatingdisorders, and self-harm.
#Mentalhealth is something I’ve struggled with my entire life. I grew up a chubby, closeted #bisexual, unsure of myself and afraid to share some parts of my identity.
It wasn’t until eighth grade that I recognized that my thoughts, feelings, and experiences meant something deeper than teenage angst.
After a rough night, I cried to my mom about my fears of having #anxiety and #depression. A few weeks later, I attended my first counseling appointment with a therapist and began the long journey of finding myself.
While I always had a feeling that I had a #mentalillness, I waited until #highschool for the confirmation. My first therapist, Emily, shared that I had symptoms related to Generalized #AnxietyDisorder and severe #depression. At the time, I had little knowledge of what that meant or how it would change my life.
I wasn’t alone in this struggle, however. According to the #NationalAllianceonMentalIllness, one in six U.S. youth aged six to 17 experience a #mentalhealthdisorder each year. Additionally, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34.
Throughout #highschool I saw Emily, and she helped me through many problems. While she walked me through traumatic events in my life, she mainly helped me build the confidence to live each day.
Body image affected me a lot throughout middle #school and #highschool. I worried about watching my weight, controlling what I ate, and exercising often.
According to Park Nicollet Melrose Center, 53 percent of 13-year-old #American #girls are unhappy with their bodies, and this number grows to 78 percent by the time they reach 17. Around 30 percent of 10 to 14-year-olds are actively dieting, and #adolescent #girls who diet frequently are 12 times as likely to binge eat as #girls who don’t.
Throughout my journey with Emily, I formed life-long friendships, found value within myself, and felt confident in my future.
When I first started therapy, I was a young #teenager struggling with body image issues, self-harm, and #suicidalideation. Therapy opened a door for me that I didn’t know existed, and I wouldn’t be the same without it.
While I was fortunate to have a mom who believed me when I said I needed help, it was a struggle to explain my #mentalhealth to other people in my family who viewed it as something that I could just overcome.
After I graduated #highschool, I felt ready for college. At my last session with Emily, she told me I was in a good spot and ready to face the new adventure ahead.
Since I felt so certain of myself, I went into college thinking I wouldn’t need a therapist. I quickly learned this wasn’t the case after struggling for months on my own.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
During my sophomore year of college, I continued to struggle but found some help at University Counseling Services. I attended a couple of sessions when I was really struggling and felt it was enough for me.
In 2017, 2,376 #students visited University Counseling Services, according to a 2017 annual report. People spent 6,344 hours in individual counseling in 2017.
Junior year of college was a turning point for me in my #mentalhealth journey, one that I never saw myself taking after my first therapy session at 13.
While I struggled my first semester of junior year because of the #COVID-19 #pandemic, it wasn’t until my second semester that I had reached a breaking point.
After letting my #anxiety and #depression build for several months surrounding various issues in my life including sexuality, religion, academics, and body image, I found myself having the worst panic attack of my life in March 2021.
After spiraling for the entire night while with my friends and sister, I made a phone call to my mom the next morning.
I told my mom I needed her to come to Iowa City immediately and that I wasn’t safe. I also called my boss and the #suicidehotline, because I was afraid of what I would do if I was alone.
My mom made the two-hour drive from West Des Moines to pick me up. On the way back to my house, I continued to panic and thought I might die. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced.
I struggled for weeks at home before my #parents took me to a psychiatric unit in Des Moines. The hospital didn’t have enough bed space, so I ended up going home. More weeks passed as I struggled with the inability to sleep through the night or go a single day without a panic attack.
In July, my #mentalhealth had deteriorated so much that my #parents decided to drive me to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to get help. There, I spent a week in the medical psych unit while #physicians attempted to figure out what was going on with my brain.
After that, I was transferred to the psych unit of the hospital, where I spent a week struggling with my #mentalhealth. While there, I learned that I had #PostTraumaticStressDisorder and #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder — two #mentalillnesses of which I had minimal knowledge.
While it was the most difficult time of my life, I leaned on people to help me through it. Without this support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
When I went to the psych unit in Iowa City, I lost friendships, including one with my best friend at the time. She decided that my struggles were too much for her to handle, even though I was at the lowest point of my life.
I learned a valuable but painful lesson: The people who care about me will stick by me even when it’s hard. Even though I lost this friendship, I gained my confidence back, built stronger relationships with my friends and family, and finally got the help I needed.
Mental health is something that will always play a role in my life. I’m grateful for the people who continue to check on me and make sure I’m doing OK.
If you’re struggling, I can only hope that the people in your life will be there for you. But if you’re like me and ever feel alone in your struggle, just know that I’m right there with you, cheering you on.
Columns reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board, The Daily Iowan, or other organizations in which the author may be involved.
About the ContributorLillian Poulsen, News Reporter
(she/her/hers and they/them/theirs)Email: lillian-poulsen@uiowa.eduTwitter: @lillian_poulsenLillian Poulsen is a News Reporter for The Daily Iowan....
Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=8524
Lillian Poulsen, News Reporter
Trigger warning: this article mentions #suicide, #eatingdisorders, and self-harm.
#Mentalhealth is something I’ve struggled with my entire life. I grew up a chubby, closeted #bisexual, unsure of myself and afraid to share some parts of my identity.
It wasn’t until eighth grade that I recognized that my thoughts, feelings, and experiences meant something deeper than teenage angst.
After a rough night, I cried to my mom about my fears of having #anxiety and #depression. A few weeks later, I attended my first counseling appointment with a therapist and began the long journey of finding myself.
While I always had a feeling that I had a #mentalillness, I waited until #highschool for the confirmation. My first therapist, Emily, shared that I had symptoms related to Generalized #AnxietyDisorder and severe #depression. At the time, I had little knowledge of what that meant or how it would change my life.
I wasn’t alone in this struggle, however. According to the #NationalAllianceonMentalIllness, one in six U.S. youth aged six to 17 experience a #mentalhealthdisorder each year. Additionally, suicide is the second-leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 34.
Throughout #highschool I saw Emily, and she helped me through many problems. While she walked me through traumatic events in my life, she mainly helped me build the confidence to live each day.
Body image affected me a lot throughout middle #school and #highschool. I worried about watching my weight, controlling what I ate, and exercising often.
According to Park Nicollet Melrose Center, 53 percent of 13-year-old #American #girls are unhappy with their bodies, and this number grows to 78 percent by the time they reach 17. Around 30 percent of 10 to 14-year-olds are actively dieting, and #adolescent #girls who diet frequently are 12 times as likely to binge eat as #girls who don’t.
Throughout my journey with Emily, I formed life-long friendships, found value within myself, and felt confident in my future.
When I first started therapy, I was a young #teenager struggling with body image issues, self-harm, and #suicidalideation. Therapy opened a door for me that I didn’t know existed, and I wouldn’t be the same without it.
While I was fortunate to have a mom who believed me when I said I needed help, it was a struggle to explain my #mentalhealth to other people in my family who viewed it as something that I could just overcome.
After I graduated #highschool, I felt ready for college. At my last session with Emily, she told me I was in a good spot and ready to face the new adventure ahead.
Since I felt so certain of myself, I went into college thinking I wouldn’t need a therapist. I quickly learned this wasn’t the case after struggling for months on my own.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
During my sophomore year of college, I continued to struggle but found some help at University Counseling Services. I attended a couple of sessions when I was really struggling and felt it was enough for me.
In 2017, 2,376 #students visited University Counseling Services, according to a 2017 annual report. People spent 6,344 hours in individual counseling in 2017.
Junior year of college was a turning point for me in my #mentalhealth journey, one that I never saw myself taking after my first therapy session at 13.
While I struggled my first semester of junior year because of the #COVID-19 #pandemic, it wasn’t until my second semester that I had reached a breaking point.
After letting my #anxiety and #depression build for several months surrounding various issues in my life including sexuality, religion, academics, and body image, I found myself having the worst panic attack of my life in March 2021.
After spiraling for the entire night while with my friends and sister, I made a phone call to my mom the next morning.
I told my mom I needed her to come to Iowa City immediately and that I wasn’t safe. I also called my boss and the #suicidehotline, because I was afraid of what I would do if I was alone.
My mom made the two-hour drive from West Des Moines to pick me up. On the way back to my house, I continued to panic and thought I might die. It was the scariest thing I’ve ever experienced.
I struggled for weeks at home before my #parents took me to a psychiatric unit in Des Moines. The hospital didn’t have enough bed space, so I ended up going home. More weeks passed as I struggled with the inability to sleep through the night or go a single day without a panic attack.
In July, my #mentalhealth had deteriorated so much that my #parents decided to drive me to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to get help. There, I spent a week in the medical psych unit while #physicians attempted to figure out what was going on with my brain.
After that, I was transferred to the psych unit of the hospital, where I spent a week struggling with my #mentalhealth. While there, I learned that I had #PostTraumaticStressDisorder and #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder — two #mentalillnesses of which I had minimal knowledge.
While it was the most difficult time of my life, I leaned on people to help me through it. Without this support, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
When I went to the psych unit in Iowa City, I lost friendships, including one with my best friend at the time. She decided that my struggles were too much for her to handle, even though I was at the lowest point of my life.
I learned a valuable but painful lesson: The people who care about me will stick by me even when it’s hard. Even though I lost this friendship, I gained my confidence back, built stronger relationships with my friends and family, and finally got the help I needed.
Mental health is something that will always play a role in my life. I’m grateful for the people who continue to check on me and make sure I’m doing OK.
If you’re struggling, I can only hope that the people in your life will be there for you. But if you’re like me and ever feel alone in your struggle, just know that I’m right there with you, cheering you on.
Columns reflect the opinions of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Editorial Board, The Daily Iowan, or other organizations in which the author may be involved.
About the ContributorLillian Poulsen, News Reporter
(she/her/hers and they/them/theirs)Email: lillian-poulsen@uiowa.eduTwitter: @lillian_poulsenLillian Poulsen is a News Reporter for The Daily Iowan....
Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com
https://standingabovethecrowd.com/?p=8524
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