Blog
NAMI Keystone PA’s Blog features personal stories, press releases, news articles, and other content that provides information, insight, personal experiences, and more.
NAMI Blog
Black History Month Mental Health Feature: Charma D. Dudley, PhD, FPPR
February is Black History Month and many of us take time during this period to reflect on the achievements, as well as the struggles and pain, that black people have experienced in America. Although many things have changed in our society, African Americans and people of color still face racism...
Your Differences Are Your Superpowers
My name is Nick and I was born and raised in Bucks County, PA and attended college in Boston. I was and am always afraid that my technically invisible mental health diagnoses will be visible to those I meet, and worry that I will be judged on things that people can't see and that I can't control...
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Releases New Report on Childhood Trauma
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a new report, Helping Children and Youth Who Have Traumatic Experiences. The report shows that nearly half of the nation's children have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Children and...
What I Wish You Knew About PTSD and Veterans
One of the biggest disconnects between civilians, and veterans and service members, is the myth that if we've been to war we have posttraumatic stress disorder. I understand how easy it would be to fall into that mindset; as often times, when veterans make headlines, especially national headlines...
Recovering Successfully: Five Steps to Follow
1. Determining what stage of recovery you are in. Many of those living with a mental health condition are in different stages of recovery. There are simply so many levels of recovery for every mental health condition out there. I live with bipolar, brief psychosis, and general anxiety disorder...
The Possible Impossible
Ever since I was young, I have always had a strange fascination with hospitals. While my parents hated hospitals because they reminded them of death and dying, I couldn't help but be amazed by how someone could come into the emergency room on the brink of dying, but walk out alive and well...
Nine Thoughts on Schizophrenia
1. Violence. I've been a consumer in the mental health system since 1997 and I've encountered about 3 people (all men), that have what we call 'The Violent streak.' Most people are just working hard at feeling well, and getting through the day in one piece. For some reason though, much of the...
Out of the Darkness
I experienced social anxiety when I was only five years old. I couldn't speak to anyone, especially girls, all of my elementary school years. In 1958 there was NO awareness or understanding of Mental Health so I was just considered shy and told by many to "just snap out of it and get some guts."...
Life is a journey, not a destination...
My life has been anything but dull, this is for sure! My diagnosis came while I was in high school. It came after a mental break after trying to be too strong, from traumas in my childhood, for too long. I was 17 years old and rebelling against everything in my life. I was drinking and doing...