Counselor | kristinbell.org

Review: Understanding the Borderline Mother

September 2, 2010 at 10:15 pm | Posted in Anxiety, Books, Borderline Personality, Counselor, Depression, Eating Disorders, Kristin Bell, Self-Harm | Leave a comment

“Understanding the Borderline Mother” by Christine Ann Lawson is an interesting book, but I felt that it focused far too much on the negative aspects (yes there are many) of the Borderline Personality. If you pick up this book, but didn’t know anything about Borderline Personality Disorder you would probably think that people with the disorder are pure awful with no redeeming qualities. The book does have some good aspects and is compelling to read, but it seems too one-sided and lacks any understanding of any of the pain and suffering that might motivate the behavior of a person with this disorder. Borderlines are often difficult patients and difficult people to understand, but many times it seems they are completely misunderstood in therapeutic situations. This book does not really attempt to “understand” the Borderline, but does describe some of the behaviors that are often times seen. ( )

Suicide

December 9, 2008 at 3:42 am | Posted in Acceptance, Alcoholics, Anti-depressants, Anxiety, Ativan, Bipolar, Counselor, Cry, Dead, Depression, Fat Hatred, GBLT, Kristin Bell, Manic-Depressive, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Mood Stabilizers, Panic Attacks, Psych Meds, Psychiatry, Schizophrenia, Self-Injury, Suicide, Support System, Surviving, Xanex, Zoloft | 1 Comment

I’m just going to say it: GOD DAMN DEPRESSION!!! It is so horrible that words cannot describe it, right? You know what I am saying. And, at this moment, I have no idea how many people out there are thinking about or attempting suicide. It is the great loss, the tragic loss…every suicide. I’ve tried wrapping my head around it. Tried thinking of it as someone’s way out of pain, but the truth is, each attempt, every moment spent toiling over it: TRAGIC.

I know that it feels like the only way to relieve the pain. Looking back on my own suicidal ideation and attempts, I can only wonder: WHAT WAS I THINKING!?! Okay, I know what I was thinking…tired. tired of being tired. tired of having this huge pain that I couldn’t really describe, this unending sorrow swallowing me whole. Tired of being a failure, and broke, and stupid, ugly, horrible, disgusting, friendless, and every other bad thing I could think to call myself. But, I don’t know, mostly I didn’t even care if I lived or died. These few pills will take away the pain? Okay, I’ll be dead and it won’t matter anymore. My big dillema was getting rid of my body without horrifying other people. Continue Reading Suicide…

The Fat Skeleton in the Closet

October 29, 2008 at 4:18 am | Posted in Anorexia, Binge Eating, Body, Body Image, Bulimia, Compulsive Eating, Compulsive Exercising, Counselor, Eating Disorders, EDNOS, Extended Plus Size, Fat, Fat Acceptance, Fat Hatred, Food, Health, Kristin Bell, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Obsessions, Psychiatry, Scales, Secrecy, Surviving, Therapist, Thin, Weight, Weightloss, Weightloss Industry | 2 Comments

I don’t talk that much about my eating disordered self. My eating disordered self is like the proverbial (fat) skeleton in the closet! Okay, I know skeletons aren’t fat, but mine is! haha. People tend to think one of two things when you are fat. They either think that you don’t have an eating disorder and that you are just lazy, gluttonous, disgusting, and everything else along those lines…OR if they don’t think that, they think you DO have an eating disorder and the eating disorder is OBESITY period. So, basically Continue Reading The Fat Skeleton in the Closet…

A Book Everyone Should Read!

December 24, 2007 at 3:06 pm | Posted in Acceptance, Activism, Anti-anxiety meds, Anti-depressants, Anti-psychotics, Bipolar, Books, Counselor, Discrimination, Elyn R. Saks, Geodon, Haldol, Haldol DEC, Haldol Decanoate, Kristin Bell, Lunatic, Medicine, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Navane, NIMH, Prescription Meds, Problems, Psych Meds, Psychiatrist, Psychiatry, Psychiatry Denial, Psycho, Psychosis, Reading, Risperdal, Schizophrenia, Seroquel, Surviving, The Center Cannot Hold, Therapist, Trazadone, Trilifon | Leave a comment

I just finished reading Elyn R. Saks’ book, The Center Cannot Hold, and I highly recommend it to everyone, especially people who are touched by someone who has mental illness. The book is a memoir of Ms. Saks’ life and coming to terms with schizophrenia. From an early age she recalls having strange thoughts, but Continue Reading A Book Everyone Should Read!…

Tips And Tricks For Surviving A Mental Illness #7

August 17, 2007 at 2:09 am | Posted in Acceptance, Amblify, Anti-depressants, Anti-psychotics, Bipolar, Buspar, Counselor, Denial, Depakote, Depression, Discrimination, drugs, Effexor, Geodon, Haldol, Health, Kristin Bell, Lithium, Lunatic, MAO Inhibitors, Medicine, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Mood Stabilizers, Navane, Paxil, Prescription Meds, Problems, Psych Meds, Psychiatrist, Psychiatry, Psycho, Psychosis, Risperdal, Schizophrenia, Scientology, Seroquel, Surviving, Thrive, Tips & Tricks, Trazadone, Trilifon, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Zyprexa | 9 Comments

limbic

I don’t know if I am just stating the obvious with all of these Tips & Tricks, but sometimes it is the most obvious things that we forget when illness hits. This next tip is something that I have personally struggled with for years and sometimes a glimmer of it still pops up every now and then. Continue Reading Tips And Tricks For Surviving A Mental Illness #7…

Steps To Body Acceptance #3

August 12, 2007 at 2:35 am | Posted in Anorexia, Anti-depressants, Binge Eating, Body, Body Image, Boys/Men, Bulimia, Compulsive Eating, Compulsive Exercising, Counselor, Depression, Eating Disorders, EDNOS, Fat, Fat Acceptance, Fat Hatred, Figure, Grrls/Women, Health, Hiding, Kristin Bell, Measurements, Medicine, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Mirror, Obsessions, Problems, Psych Meds, Psychiatrist, Psychiatry, Psycho, Scales, Secrecy, Self, Shame, Social Worker, Steps To Body Acceptance, Surviving, Therapist, Thin, Uncategorized, Weight, Weightloss, Weightloss Industry | 9 Comments

For people who don’t have eating issues (hello? are there really any people out there without eating issues?) anyway, as I was saying for people without eating issues all of this body acceptance stuff must sound completely bizarre! I agree. We shouldn’t be so messed up about our bodies, but we are. So, on with step number three. For step number three Continue Reading Steps To Body Acceptance #3…

Steps To Body Acceptance #2

August 3, 2007 at 11:08 pm | Posted in Anorexia, Binge Eating, Body Image, Boys/Men, Bulimia, Compulsive Eating, Compulsive Exercising, Counselor, Eating Disorders, EDNOS, Fat, Fat Acceptance, Grrls/Women, Hate, Health, Hiding, Kristin Bell, Life, Measurements, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Obsessions, Problems, Secrecy, Self, Shame, Social Worker, Steps To Body Acceptance, Surviving, Therapist, Thin, Weight, Weightloss, Weightloss Industry | 2 Comments

Okay, I do have to warn you that this advice is not for the weak of heart. I’m not an anorexic nutritionist giving you advice about how you can lose weight and then love yourself. I have my own baggage and my own prejudices. Continue Reading Steps To Body Acceptance #2…

Tips And Tricks For Surviving A Mental Illness #5

August 1, 2007 at 10:44 pm | Posted in AA, Acid, Alcohol, Alcoholics, Amblify, Anonymous, Anti-depressants, Anti-psychotics, Bipolar, Bong, Booze, Buspar, Cocaine, Coke, Counselor, Depakote, Depression, Downers, drugs, Ecstacy, Family, Friends, Geodon, Haldol, Haldol DEC, Haldol Decanoate, Health, Heroin, Kristin Bell, Life, Lithium, LSD, MAO Inhibitors, Marijuana, Mary Jane, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Mood Stabilizers, NA, Narcotics, Navane, Paxil, Pot, Prescription Meds, Problems, Prozac, Psych Meds, Psychiatrist, Psychiatry, Psycho, Psychosis, Risperdal, Schizophrenia, Seroquel, Smack, Social Worker, Teetotaller, Therapist, Tips & Tricks, Trazadone, Trilifon, Uppers, Weed, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Zyprexa | 2 Comments

Okay, I know I’m in trouble with this tip. I know there are some of you out there who are NOT going to like this one at all! Still I have to say it, because it is an issue. Continue Reading Tips And Tricks For Surviving A Mental Illness #5…

Tips And Tricks For Surviving A Mental Illness #4

July 31, 2007 at 2:43 am | Posted in Allies, Amblify, Anti-depressants, Anti-psychotics, Bipolar, Buspar, Counselor, Depakote, Depression, Discrimination, Effexor, Family, Friends, Geodon, Haldol, Haldol DEC, Haldol Decanoate, Kristin Bell, Lithium, MAO Inhibitors, Medicine, Mental Health, Mental Illness, Mood Stabilizers, Navane, Paxil, People, Problems, Prozac, Psych Meds, Psychiatrist, Psychiatry, Psycho, Psychosis, Risperdal, Schizophrenia, Seroquel, Shame, Social Worker, Support System, Surviving, Therapist, Tips & Tricks, Trazadone, Trilifon, Wellbutrin, Zoloft, Zyprexa | Leave a comment

I guess I sort of tipped you off to what I was going to be talking about in tip number three. Well, this next tip cannot be underestimated. It is really important no matter who you are, but for people with mental illness it is extremely important. Continue Reading Tips And Tricks For Surviving A Mental Illness #4…