Tag: stigma

Why I Rarely Tell People I Have a Mental Illness

Dori Owen

Why is it that every organ in your body can get sick and you get sympathy except the brain? ―Ruby Wax Subtitle: It would be so much easier to disclose I have a blood disorder. Which I actually do. But unlike a bipolar disorder, it’s not so much of a conversation Read more

Dori Owen

Dori Owen is a storyteller, writing from small town Arizona, after living a few decades in California as an LA Wild Child, with a brief stop in Reno. She settled into grownup life as a project manager, collecting an MBA and a few husbands along the way. She is a shown artist and her favorite pastime is upcycling old furniture and decor she finds from thrift stores. She lives with the cat who came to visit but stayed. The love of her life is her grown son who lives in Portland, Oregon. Her essays and poems have been published in RAW&UNFILTERED VOL I, StigmaFighters Vol 2, and Love Notes From Humanity. Her blogs have been featured on The Lithium Chronicles, Open Thought Vortex, Sudden Denouement, and The Mighty.

Love is Love: The Reality of LGBT Latino Community

Stephanie Ortez

Certain challenges come with being a Latin individual living in the U.S.A. It can be difficult to embrace a new culture, while keeping your roots and simultaneously staying true to your home traditions. When I first moved to the US some friends laughed at my accent, strangers judged me based Read more

Stephanie Ortez

Stephanie is a highly caffeinated mother of two wonderful boys. She is hopelessly addicted to non-fiction books and literature that moves her to tears. She is an admissions advisor for George Washington University online where she assists homeschooled students internationally. Stephanie lives with Bipolar Disorder, PTSD, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. She is a passionate mental health advocate, member of Stigma Fighters. Her writing has been featured on The Elephant Journal, The Mighty, The Organic Coffee Haphazardly and Feminine Collective.

Get Help, Move On

Suzy Favor Hamilton

“Get help, move on,” the words on Twitter from the editor of a fairly well known running publication. A friend pointed it out to me several weeks after it was written. I get words of hate and ignorance sent to me fairly often, so ordinarily, no big deal. I’ve developed Read more

Suzy Favor Hamilton

Author, of "Fast Girl – A Life Spent Running From Madness" a New York Times Best Seller. The book follows Suzy’s path from child phenomenon runner to Olympian, and then her struggles with life after running and an eventual year in Las Vegas as a high-end escort. After Suzy was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, her entire life makes sense and recovery to a life of contentment begins. Suzy is also a Public Speaker. Her topics vary, ranging from her experience with bipolar disorder, the avoiding the pitfalls of running, eating disorders & body image issues, and the motivational angle of rising from rock bottom. Her athletic career is remarkable: U.S. Olympian - 3 U.S. National Championships - 7 Former U.S. Record Holder at 1000m Former U.S. Indoor Record Holder at 800m Goodwill Games Bronze Medalist, ‘98 Fifth at 2002 World Cross-Country Championships - Best ever finish by U.S. Woman at World XC Championships (short course) 5 sub-4’s, including 5 of the 9 fastest times ever run by an American Only American Woman to ever have the fastest seasonal 1500m time in the world USA Track & Field Distance Runner of the Year, ‘00 Suzy has been featured in national ads for Nike, Reebok, Pert Plus Shampoo, Nordic Track, Clairol, Oakley, Kikkoman Foods, and Viactiv. She has been featured in magazines such as People, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Rolling Stone, Runner’s World, Harper’s Bazaar, Men’s Journal, Sports Illustrated & Outside Magazine and was featured on ABC’s 20/20 in September 2015. Her interests include running, of course, yoga, barre, cycling artwork, riding roller coasters and traveling. Suzy is married to Mark Hamilton and the couple has a 10-year-old daughter, Kylie.