Navigating Halloween Triggers
October can be an overwhelming time for everyone, the kids are back in school, there is a crisper and colder temperature in the air, and the anticipation of Halloween marks the beginning of ongoing holidays for the next three months. As October progresses and Halloween creeps closer, inevitably, disturbing, intense, and sometimes triggering decorations, images,…
What Can You Do? A Reflection on Stephen “tWitch” Boss’s Passing
I am feeling fortunate to live in a time where someone who dies by suicide can make national news and bring attention to one of the most silent and deadliest killers. I am also feeling deeply saddened by another incredibly bright light that was taken from his family, friends, and community, way too soon. I…
Living With Depression & Working on Acceptance
I have always been proud of my candidness when it comes to talking about uncomfortable topics. Suicide, suicide prevention and experiences related to mental health are a few that come up quite a bit. Maybe it’s because I’ve worked in an addiction and a mental health treatment center since graduating college, maybe it’s because my…
Mental Health & Movies: Words On Bathroom Walls
When television shows or movies are able to include themes, characters, and plot devices that contribute towards furthering the audience’s understanding of mental health issues, it is truly something special. In recent years, there seems to be an influx of media that contains suicide or a certain mental health disorder as a central component to…
Conversations With My Dad and Grandpa From The Other Side and How They Respond
Life has a tendency to come at you fast, it has a tendency to throw the things you least expect at what are seemingly the worst times. My Grandpa Woodrick passed away a few months ago while I was on a camping trip in Utah. This time, my boyfriend and I were leaving our campground…
Family Ties — My Relationship With The Hemingways
My family has always been proud of our relationship with the Hemingway family, yes, I’m talking about THE Ernest Hemingway; literary and creative genius, my brother and I have always had a deep admiration for his work. My personal favorite is his short story, Hills Like White Elephants. I’ve always been inspired by his ability…
The Gifts He’s Left Behind — The Turmoils of Remembering Loved Ones
I believe that memories are like gifts, sometimes they can be a surprise when you receive them and often times they can bring you joy. Gifts can make you feel loved, but sometimes they can have the opposite effect. I have always battled with remembering my dad because I deemed the memories that I had…
Mental Health & Movies: Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
When it comes to mental health and the media, it can be difficult to find a show or movie that includes mental health, let alone talks about it. The majority of the content may contain a scene or two where people react to their mental health issue such as dying by suicide or experiencing a…
How Mac Miller’s Death Has Affected Me and How It Should Affect You
Mac Miller’s death is something that I have been having a hard time comprehending, I loved his music, I loved his style, and I loved his energy. If you were a fan of his music or not, his death should be something that you have a hard time comprehending as well. When someone dies as…
Be The One for Someone, Who’s Your Someone?
To many of you, the month of September represents the transition from summer to fall. September is the time that children of all ages begin to head back to school and start a new chapter in their lives, it’s a time that often involves a lot of stress as we attempt to get our lives…
Brian & Tim — Two men, One Struggle
In 1963, the whole nation became familiar with the bright young faces of Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, along with their cousin Mike Love, and their friend Al Jardine; the group was known as The Beach Boys. Despite their beaming faces, The Beach Boys were not the sweethearts that America pegged them as. Especially singer,…
How To Remember Kate Spade
Kate Spade is known for it’s classic, creative, and elegant, style. It can be argued that Kate Spade is a women’s first wallet or handbag that we continue to purchase throughout adulthood due to it’s fun yet beautiful designs; I’ll never forget how sophiscated I felt when I was gifted a bold teal wristlet from…
The Power of Words — Mental Health and Politics
I have always wondered what made phrases that relate to mental illness and suicide socially acceptable. I have always wondered why my peers and people I’ve watched on television thought it was okay to throw phrases that associate mental illness with a feeling such as “I feel so depressed today” or “You’re acting so OCD”.…
Suicide — Shame or Sorrow? How Losing My Dad Has Affected Me
To learn more about the non-profit organization, i understand, check out http://www.iunderstandloveheals.com! Our goal is to eliminate the stigma that revolves around suicide and mental health illnesses.
Maddie Woodrick 