Monthly Archives: November 2021

Originally published at https://yourislandnews.com/a-thank-you-letter-to-mental-health-professionals/ on Aug 14, 2019

Recently, I was at an appointment when the receptionist noticed I was dressed far nicer than my usual casual look and inquired why. 

I proudly told her I was working full time …

Originally published at https://yourislandnews.com/grief-versus-the-control-freak/ on Sept 11, 2019

One of the necessary elements for me to maintain my recovery is to have order in my life. If you come into my home everything has a place, rooms have themes, things …

Originally published at https://yourislandnews.com/family-comes-together-to-face-mental-illness/ on Oct 30, 2019

There’s a saying that “mental illness is a family disease.” 

Felicia Vairo can speak to this first-hand as her youngest daughter, Emily, was diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder in the summer of …

Originally published at https://yourislandnews.com/a-service-animal-may-be-an-important-addition-to-recovery/ on Oct 2, 2019

Establishing a strong support network is a key ingredient in recovery. Typically, supports may consist of medical professionals, peers, religious organizations, family, friends, and even social media. 

What might be just as …

Originally published at https://yourislandnews.com/fighting-my-brain-the-emily-vairo-story/ on Nov 13, 2019

In the eye of the storm living with a mental illness without a formal diagnosis or treatment is a scary and confusing time. Although she first starting experiencing symptoms when she was …

Originally published at https://yourislandnews.com/fighting-against-stigma-of-dissociative-identity-disorder/ on Jan 1, 2020

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What most know about Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is what they have learned from the media. The problem is these portrayals are grossly inaccurate further feeding into a dangerous stigma.

In …

Originally published at https://yourislandnews.com/how-do-we-know-recovery-is-real-if-we-dont-talk-about-it/ on Feb 20, 2020

Peer Support Specialists (PSS) are not clinicians, social workers, or medical professionals, and they are not looking to replace any of these integral roles in an individual’s recovery.

A PSS is someone …

Originally published at https://yourislandnews.com/different-doesnt-have-to-equate-to-less-than/ on Apr 29, 2020

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a tricky beast. According to the DSM-5 – the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals in the U.S. – there are nine symptoms …

Originally published at https://yourislandnews.com/no-matter-the-diagnosis-mental-illness-is-a-burden/ on June 17, 2020

I’m probably about to share a very unpopular opinion here, but for someone living on the “outside” of SPMI (Serious and Persistent Mental Illnesses) it can feel as if the challenges they …