Where I Stand

01/09/2025

Sending love to everyone CA affected by the fires:

02/27/2024

08/07/2021

Hey Everyone:)

Question- how many people would be interested in a weekly virtual recovery group?

Like/comment or DM if you’re interested.

❤️

07/22/2021

Being stuck in traffic after being in the car for several hours reminds me to use the DBT skill Radical Aaceptance.
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Radical acceptance is when you stop fighting reality, stop responding with impulsive or destructive behaviors when things aren’t going the way you want them to, and let go of bitterness that may be keeping you trapped in a cycle of suffering.

Here are some great practical steps that are helping me:

* Observe that you are fighting against reality. (Ex: “We shouldn't be stuck in traffic.”)
* Remind yourself that the unpleasant reality cannot be changed. (Ex: “Ww are stuck in traffic.”)

* Acknowledge that something led to this moment. (Ex: “There is a lot of construction and beach traffic.”)

* Practice acceptance with not only your mind, but your body and spirit. Be mindful of your breath, posture, and use skills like half-smiling and willing hands.

* List what your behavior would look like if you did accept the facts then act accordingly. (Ex: “Listen to music, remind myself it is temporary, focus on something else, make a grocery list, read.”)

* Plan ahead with events that seem unacceptable and think about how you should appropriately cope.

* Remain mindful of physical sensations throughout your body such as tension or stress.

* Embrace feelings such as disappointment, sadness, or grief.

* Acknowledge that life is worth living even when there might be temporary pain.

* If you find yourself resisting, complete a pros and cons exercise to better understand the full impact of your choice.

Being stuck in traffic is a minor example of using this skill- but I swear it helps! It also makes using it on more difficult situations easier when I practice using it on mild-moderately challenging situations I cant control that are upsetting.

❤️💜

06/01/2018

When They Told Me It Was Impossible…Written by L.E., Blogger & AdvocateDo you know those moments when one thing changes your entire life? This is sometimes referred to as the Butterfly Effect – when a single event creates monumental changes in the trajectory of all future events. I would argue that we have all experienced our own Butterfly Effect at some point, regardless of whether we know it or not.

http://www.thisiswhereistand.org/when-they-told-me-it-was-impossible/

Where I Stand is a community of mental health recovery advocates, supporters, and survivors. Hope heals.

05/23/2018

Accepting Failure and Fighting the Perfectionist Written by: Kristy Cloetingh, Blogger & Advocate Failure [noun]: lack of success/an unsuccessful person or thing A few weeks ago, I sat in a conference room in New York City with about ten other women who all graduated from my high school in various classes. As we talked about the goings-on at my alma mater, the discussion morphed into one about the well being of the current students; specifically, how they coped with failure.

http://www.thisiswhereistand.org/accepting-failure-and-fighting-the-perfectionist/

Where I Stand is a community of mental health recovery advocates, supporters, and survivors. Hope heals.

05/02/2018

The Day My Pregnancy Test Was Positive Written by Charlotte Sandy, Blogger & Advocate The day I took a positive pregnancy test was not filled with joy and happiness as I had anticipated. Almost right away, I noticed these positive feelings were silenced by the deafening shouts of anxiety.

http://www.thisiswhereistand.org/the-day-my-pregnancy-test-was-positive/

Where I Stand is a community of mental health recovery advocates, supporters, and survivors. Hope heals.

05/01/2018

The Ire of Anger Written by Denise Ann, Blogger & Advocate Anger is frightening. Anger is foreign. Anger is uncomfortable. Hearing anger in people’s voices leaves me frozen. Expressing anger feels dangerous. Anger feels wrong. Not just now, but always.
http://www.thisiswhereistand.org/the-ire-of-anger/

Where I Stand is a community of mental health recovery advocates, supporters, and survivors. Hope heals.

04/22/2018

Embracing Insecurity Written by Kristy Cloetingh, Blogger & Advocate It happens out of nowhere. Anytime, any place. A Saturday afternoon in the park, the sunlight illuminating the treetops and bathing everything in a beautiful, pure golden light. A Thursday evening, as patrons squeeze into the lobby of the restaurant at which I bartend,

http://www.thisiswhereistand.org/embracing-insecurity/

Where I Stand is a community of mental health recovery advocates, supporters, and survivors. Hope heals.

04/16/2018

Managing Borderline Personality Disorder When The World Doesn’t Want To Written by Lizzie Elsberg, Blogger & Advocate F60.3 Borderline Personality Disorder. It’s a diagnosis that doesn’t appear in any of my medical records; no treatment plans; no insurance claims; probably not even on a scrap of paper, in fear that it could somehow be traced back to me.

http://www.thisiswhereistand.org/managing-borderline-personality-disorder-when-the-world-doesnt-want-to/

Where I Stand is a community of mental health recovery advocates, supporters, and survivors. Hope heals.

03/29/2018

Self-Compassion, Self-Forgiveness, and Hope Written by Denise Kirschner, Blogger & Advocate “I am the sum of my parts. Everything I’ve done and everything I’ve ever achieved and everything I have ever been.” ~ Jen Larsen

http://www.thisiswhereistand.org/self-compassion-self-forgiveness-and-hope/

Where I Stand is a community of mental health recovery advocates, supporters, and survivors. Hope heals.

03/20/2018

Why We Can’t Put a Price Tag on Our Pain Written by Kristy Cloetingh, Blogger & Advocate When the Where I Stand team was brainstorming topics for this month, a couple choices were thrown out there: depression, anxiety, self-harm, family… “I’ll do self-harm,” I volunteered! I mean, I had experience. The topic should resonate with me. Right?

http://www.thisiswhereistand.org/why-we-cant-put-a-price-tag-on-our-pain/

Where I Stand is a community of mental health recovery advocates, supporters, and survivors. Hope heals.