Grow a Strong Family Inc.

12/08/2025

Why Sharing These Issues Matters 🧠

Change doesn’t happen in silence. Every time you share these issues, you help break the walls of stigma, misunderstanding, and inaction surrounding brain disorders.

📢 Sharing spreads awareness. Many people still don’t know that brain disorders like schizophrenia, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, and brain injuries are medical conditions — not personality flaws or choices. The more we talk about them, the harder it is for misinformation to survive.

🤝 Sharing builds community. When people see posts like this, they realize they’re not alone — whether they’re living with a brain disorder or caring for someone who is. That sense of connection can spark support networks and advocacy groups.

🗳 Sharing pushes decision-makers to act. Politicians, health systems, and local leaders notice what their communities are talking about. The more voices call for better housing, treatment access, and crisis response reform, the more pressure there is to make it happen.

💡 Sharing normalizes the conversation. We talk openly about cancer, heart disease, and diabetes — brain disorders deserve the same visibility and compassion.

Your voice matters. Your share matters. Every click can help turn awareness into action — and action into change.

If you agree, share this now and keep the conversation going.

20/05/2025

We ALL need to protect our democracy. It is not democrat or republican! It is citizen to citizen.

The New Yorker

12/05/2025

Educating the public on the importance of treating psychosis as the medical emergency it is is critical to understanding why so many of our policies across the country need to change. Our current mental health care system is failing far too many families; it is 'Beyond Stigma'.

While we know those living with severe mental illness are not more violent than the general public, it is crucial to understand that leaving psychosis untreated increases that risk not because the person is necessarily violent, but because their thoughts, beliefs, or what they are seeing lead them to commit an act based on what they believe to be true.

Thank you Matt Stick and Michael Stick for sharing your very personal story. Though you experienced unimaginable loss and grief due to the devastating effects of mental illness, your story is one of hope and the power of unconditional love!

Thank you AwareNow Media for giving us a platform to tell our stories and raise awareness one story at a time!

https://issuu.com/awarenessties/docs/awarenow_issue_59_the_renewal_edition_us_/66

02/05/2025

Great information on how to spot and deal with a mental health crisis.

⛑️🧯⚠️How to Spot a Mental Health Crisis Before It Starts❗️↩️🧠

The number one question people inevitably ask when their loved one is out of their mind, or in a crisis with their brain, is: How do I help them get treatment?...

They're refusing it
They don't see they need help
They've gone off their meds
They haven't slept in x days
They are escalating
They don't recognize they are not themselves

It's a good idea to know what to do (I'll follow up with advice in another post), and a great idea to know *before* a situation arises.

Because in all likelihood, you're up a creek without a paddle after it's already become a crisis.

You need answers ahead of time. Anyone you know, who is predisposed to a mood disorder that results in psychotic behaviors can be triggered given certain factors coming together:
1.lack of knowledge they have the genes,
2. lack of treatment when they discover they have it, and
3. lack of insight when the illness befalls them.

The good news is they can absolutely be helped. Timing is key. The sooner symptoms are noticed and treatment is implemented, the better the outcomes.

In these states of mind, take it from someone whose been there: you are a fragile like a ticking explosive ordnance. The brain can be triggered by the most seemingly random input it receives.

In an acute psychotic state, I was compelled to smash a banana and subsequently slap my husband's face with my bare hands. I "read" messages that were sent by God to empower me to enact change: proclaim "the kingdom of heaven is at hand, repent!!!" My reckless driving immediately following an argument with my husband led police officers to pull me over (which somehow I managed to get out of by telling them I was safe and just going to church to get help from the pastor).

I could go on and on about the number of weird behaviors the psychosis caused. But, of course, by the time things ramped up to acute and needing treatment, we somehow didn't notice the preceding skewed thoughts and intermittent strange behaviors.

Every case of psychosis has a preceding period of increasing traces of psychotic behavior. This is known as the prodromal state, lasting a period of a range of 1 to 24 months (weeks to years, but median average being 16 months according to WebMd.)

Friends, if you see the following behaviors -- take note! These are the signs you ought to be aware of to notice before the "schiz" hits the fan!

Each person's symptoms can vary, but these are examples of typical and possible behaviors that can unfold in the prodromal state:

- spacing out for spans of a moment to a few minutes +
- isolating oneself in their room or house
- talking to oneself more than usual
- rambling
- increased rate of speech
- not making logical sense
- asserting oneself, defending actions
- paranoid tendencies, fearful of particular people, demons, or government agencies like the FBI
- erroneous beliefs emerging
- energy levels have increased noticeably, getting fewer hours of sleep,
- texting friends and family excessively and at unreasonable hours (like 5 am)
- posting excessively online, especially drawing attention to perceived injustices in life, with grievances that may or may not be valid
- unfounded, irrational beliefs, fears, suspicions, especially spiritual in nature (someone close to them is possessed, smells repulsive, needs to be killed, etc.)
- refuses to admit they're losing their sensibilities, or refuses to see doctors, therapists, or mental healthcare professionals (lacking insight -- not denial)
- making rash decisions, impulsive purchases, reckless driving
- eyes can be recessed and also raised more than normal, sometimes appearing "sparkly"

This is not all the possible symptoms that could arise, but a good round up of many common ones I've had or seen in others with these illnesses when I worked as a case worker and have heard talks by other fellow advocates.

Follow my author page Katie R. Dale to learn more on how to respond to someone beginning to show signs... a post I'll share next.

If you want more tips and insights, sign up for my free download-- the Game Plan: Mental Health Guide @ KatieRDale.com/resources

Please share this if it has helped you or could help someone you know. Mental illness happens.

Disclaimer: The information I provide in the content here is meant to be educational and not to be taken as professional medical advice. For any medical emergency dial 911 or go to your local ER. Dialing 988 will collect you with the US national crisis helpline. See a certified mental health professional for direct care.

02/05/2025

The bravest step is simply to face what hurts, even when change feels impossible. Healing begins with honesty.

If you're struggling, you are not alone. Reach out, speak up, and take it one moment at a time. We're here to walk this path with you.

To listen to stories of hope and understanding, listen to the Giving Voice to Depression podcast at recovery.com/voices/giving-voice-to-depression/.💛

02/05/2025

Let's make May "Serious Mental Illness Awareness Month!"https://www.city-journal.org/article/mental-illness-inpatient-psychiatric-care-medicaid-medicare?fbclid=IwY2xjawKBmRJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFKcDh5U0pNdnBBNk5CWDhrAR7ZY97kvxhVg9zdx8S8TDrOiatfnfFIaTOK4vKbe8CPiyI8hV25eWcCLLhqug_aem_n3INd8FXBRsIH9R8u0ujHQ