It started slowly. Benignly. With a weigh-in here. An extra glance at the mirror there. But I didn’t give “it” much thought. I was 15, after all. Obsessing over my appearance was—or, at the very least, should have been—normal. But my fascination with, and phobia of, fat was anything but. It controlled me, taunting me … Continue reading How to Help a Child With Body Dysmorphic Disorder, from Someone Who’s Been There
Tag: mental health
Remembering Carrie Fisher & Her Contributions To Mental Health
By Kimberly Zapata Usually, I’m relatively unfazed by celebrity deaths. Don’t get me wrong — I have empathy for the family of those affected. For the colleagues, loved ones, and friends left behind. I feel for their loss. But for the most part, my life is not impacted; my life remains unchanged. The same cannot be … Continue reading Remembering Carrie Fisher & Her Contributions To Mental Health
The Difference Between Sadness And Depression
By Kimberly Zapata I’ve received a lot of mental health advice over the last 20 years, and while the vast majority of said advice has been helpful, one troublesome comment keeps coming up: “Aw, it’s okay. You’ll snap out of it; I mean, everyone gets sad. Everyone gets depressed.” Of course, I know these words are well-intentioned. … Continue reading The Difference Between Sadness And Depression
How To Help Suicide Attempt Survivors, From Those Who Have Been There
By Kimberly Zapata The first time I tried to take my life, I was 17 years old. No one knew. I wrote a note and made a plan, bought a bottle of pills, and ingested them en masse, swallowing two, three, and four at a time. While I became ill, spending the next 36 hours … Continue reading How To Help Suicide Attempt Survivors, From Those Who Have Been There
Greater Than: Illness 