My Mental Health Story

[@MarilynMayaMendoza]

Hello dear Kim, I honor and am moved by your story. You have overcome so much. I love how books have helped both of us escape unhappy Family situations.I appreciate your friendship so much And I’m grateful to be doing this read-athon with you. Aloha friend

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

You are the best partner to do this with. ❤️

[@GloWe724]

Thank you for sharing your story. I’ve dealt with mental health problems all my like too. It’s a hard road. God has gotten me through. But I believe for some people these things can run in families. As least that’s been the case for us. Blessings.

[@tess_of_the_books.9312]

I just want to add my two cents worth, I appreciate your openess...it all helps towards understanding the different challanges we face as our own unique selves. Thank you for sharing.

[@jansmith9391]

❤one would never guess that you have been on such a journey. Thank you for sharing so openly with us. It’s really brave. I know from the frustration with people who don’t even try to understand my daughter’s struggles with bipolar and lupus. Both tend to be invisible illnesses. Awareness like this is so needed for improvement and acceptance.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

❤️❤️❤️

[@lauratesta3876]

Thank you, Kim, thank you!! You are an inspiration. Thanks for sharing your brave journey with the world. And yes: we need more "living and thriving with mental illness" type stories❤️💪💪

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

🥰🥰🥰

[@nicholegamble2684]

Omg it's me....and I was told it was normal because I'm physically disabled and "most disabled people are depressed" had a psychiatrist say I had red flags for 10 yrs on my pre visit questionnaires. She immediately said I had bipolar 2. She said people with bipolar....anti depressants don't work and I take the same medication

[@myreadinglife8816]

I appreciate hearing your story and the fact you are willing to share it with us. I know so many women who have been diagnosed with bipolar or other mental health conditions in adulthood. It’s lovely to see people gaining understanding and help finally after struggling for so long!❤

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Thanks. ❤️❤️❤️

[@anenthusiasticreader]

Thanks for sharing your experiences, Kim. ❤❤❤

[@marcellainthemargins]

Thank you for sharing your story Kim, you've come such a long way ❤

[@savagereads]

Thank you for sharing your story! I completely relate to a traumatic birth exacerbating mental health issues. Thank you for the book recommendations as well.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

I hope you found something you may enjoy reading!

[@PageTurnersWithKatja]

A number of things in this resonate for me. Thanks for sharing your story, it's not easy.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

❤️❤️❤️

[@seriela]

Thanks for sharing, Kim.😊

[@infoMentalHealth]

AWESOME:) WE SEEM TO HAVE ALOT IN COMMON!

[@lizh9497]

Thank you for sharing x

[@virginiamurray9280]

You are so brave to share all of this, Kim. It takes guts ….and a big heart because I know you want to help others who are struggling. I love you, my friend!❤️

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Thank you! Love you too!!! 🥰🥰🥰

[@tiffanychildwithin]

Thank you so very much for sharing

[@davidnovakreadspoetry]

There’s so much here that resonates with my own history-not in detail but in the general flow-particularly beginning with the anger which I can only smile about to hear. You should be, for one thing, a poster child for the value in reading books (and in the humanities in general). We have so much unexamined anger running rife in this country-and people don’t always understand that, while there may be no magic pill, it can begin to be unlocked, and that there are other ways of doing things than the old habitual methods that failed you in the past. You seem in a good space (at least for the duration of this video lol) and I’m sure a lot will find encouragement and inspiration in it (I do). Just FYI I think there’s a lot of good reason now to believe that Van Gogh got shot by some young hooligans & did not suicide.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Yes, my good space is longer than the video! LOL!!! Thank you for your words. And I'll have to look into the Van Gogh scandal! :)

[@bornagainreader]

Thank you for sharing your story. No words other it was so appreciated. 🤗

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

❤️❤️❤️

[@monica_has116lentilsand2cats]

this was incredibly touching. thx for sharing and being so vulnerable. it resonated deeply with me. ❤

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

🥰🥰🥰

[@kelly_hunsaker_reads]

Thank you for sharing. I am BiPolar also. I spent years in deep depressions and bursts of what I thought of as a good mood. Luckily I have now been stable for 20 years despite having developed multiple autoimmune diseases. It was a lot of work... Seroquel has been my best friend.

[@kelly_hunsaker_reads]

Also, thank you for the recommendations. That Styron book is phenomenal.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

I’m very glad to hear you found something that works. It’s so hard to narrow that down sometimes. The hard work is worth it. ❤️

[@RovingReader]

I connect so hard to so much of what you say! Thanks for being so open and starting a discussion 👏🏼

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

🥰🥰🥰

[@enie8751]

Thank you so much 🙏🏼. And once again I remember my favourite quote by Robin Williams (who also struggled a lot) „Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind.“

[@K_Lit77]

Hello from Japan. 📚Thank you for sharing your story; I know it's not an easy thing to share what you had/have been going through. I think finding out what is wrong, why it is happening is a very big step. I am glad that you are feeling better. :) By the way, I wrote about for my master's thesis. I'm trying to get to the next step. I also wrote an essay about stigma towards mental illnesses/conditions while in school, so I understand what you said at the end. Thank you again for sharing. 🌸

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Thank you! 🥰🥰🥰

[@vickiepfost8629]

Thank you for your story. I learned so much. A lot of your descriptions hit home with a family member of mine. It makes me more understanding of her life.

[@ashleyhawkins8884]

Thank you for sharing your story Kim! Not to draw comparisons but I felt we shared some similar experiences and I found your story very helpful for me. People who struggle with mental health issues often feel alone and filled with shame, myself included. Listening to others share their struggles lessens the shame significantly. I love that mental health May has helped bring awareness and enlightening books for people to dig into. As always your channel content is awesome! Maybe a fun follow up to mental health May could be joyful June...a month filled with books focusing on humor and laughter to help balance out the deep introspection of May. Feel free to use that if that sounds interesting to you and this lovely community 😌🥰

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Thank you so much for your words! Mental illness holds no shame. For so long we’ve believed so much crap about ourselves while so much was hidden. I want to break the stigma wide open. I’m so glad the content has given you something helpful. 🥰🥰🥰

[@ashleyhawkins8884]

@@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH So helpful Kim! I think the memories of when we weren't at our best and how it affected others is hard to carry at times. Having support in your life and an understanding of the why is critical to healing. Shining a light on this is so important. You make a huge difference with your channel Kim. Many thanks and your strength and bravery to share is truly inspiring 💓

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

@@ashleyhawkins8884 ❤️❤️❤️

[@novellenovels]

Thanks so much for your kind words, I really appreciate the support ❤ Well done for sharing your story and being so brave. Sufferers learn to manage and cope 😊

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Thanks Emily! ❤️

[@suzannebousquet2710]

I would love to meet y🎉! It sounds like my life!

[@nataliaweissfeld7478]

Thank you for sharing your story. You are an inspiration ❤

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Thank you so much! 🥰🥰🥰

[@ariannefowler455]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. ❤❤❤❤

[@nathanfoung2347]

Amazing story Kim, well you are thriving, a great example of a survivor in my mind. Thank you for sharing your story. Go well.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Thanks so much! 🥰

[@kimberlynewsom9876]

Thank you so much for sharing your story so openly with us. You've made me consider going back to therapy and trying again to get some stuff figured out. We share some similarities in our stories, and you are a lovely example of living with a mental health issue, and overcoming the stigma. I'm kind of speechless right now and am having a hard time articulating my thoughts, so I'll just say once again, Thank you so much.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Thank you so much for your words! One of the things I wanted to do with this readalong is talk about living AND thriving with a mental illness, but also make it easier for people to talk openly. I hope you follow up with someone and get the support you deserve. :)

[@LaurieInTexas]

Thank you for sharing. We are all better off by sharing our struggles so others know they aren't alone and may recognize symptoms they have and get help if they haven't already. It is brave to tell your story. I appreciate that you are open and honest and offer books that have meant something to you.

[@eringolive]

Thank you for sharing your story. I get now why Cracked, Not Broken would affect you so much. I’m just coming to terms with my own mental illness. Learning more about it and being open about had been a big help. My maternal grandmother had paranoid schizophrenia, and I’ve been afraid of being “crazy” since I was a kid. I’m still trying to remove my own ingrained stigma.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Yes! There are times when I look back on the line of mental illnesses in my family and wonder if they will continue. But I’ve also realized that so many people live with something; by talking about it openly I have heard so many people open up with their stories. It’s liberating in a way. 🤓🥰

[@scallydandlingaboutthebooks]

You are truly inspiring Kim.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

🥰🥰🥰

[@judybrown1624]

Thank you for sharing your story. I imagine the bad days are better just knowing the reason.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Definitely!!!

[@Elizabeth-Reads]

Thank you so much for sharing your story, Kim. I’m so sorry for all you’ve been through and are still living through. But I’m so glad you got your diagnosis and have been able to overcome so many hurdles. ❤ My daughter has ADHD, is likely on the spectrum, and suffers depression to the point where a couple of months ago she needed to be taken to residential treatment for a week to keep her safe. It’s been devastating, and so hard to explain to family and friends without worrying they’ll judge and think we’ve failed her. We need more understanding, and acceptance, and I know putting a public face on it like you’ve done will help people feel seen. I know it helps me to believe there’s hope, that she can come out the other side.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

My youngest has been through something similar. The key is communicating to her that the healthiest thing she's done is advocate for herself and take part in getting help for herself. It's not easy from a mom perspective, for sure. I'm with you in spirit, and hope you can disregard the sounds of shame you're hearing in your head and disregard whatever anyone else says or thinks. The most important things is loving and caring for your daughter. 🥰🥰🥰

[@eviewilliams5100]

Wow! What a story Kim. A well spent 30 minutes on my part. “Remove the stigma”. Absolutely!

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

🥰🥰🥰

[@gaildoughty6799]

So much of mental health, and other issues of course, seem to be genetic. It takes such a terrible toll on the family…much love to you and I admire your bravery in sharing your story. ETA Oh, the childhood anxiety. Horrid

[@AnnNovella]

This was a brave and beautiful video ❤

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️

[@charmainesaliba5546]

Hi Kim! Thanks so much for sharing your story with us ❤

[@SluggishReader]

I appreciate you sharing your story Kim ❤❤❤

[@TheBramble123]

Sharing your story in such an honest way takes much courage, with the only motive being to help others. Your honesty and kindness is much appreciated

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Thank you! 🥰

[@janethansen9612]

Thank you Kim. I am currently in the throes of severe anxiety and it’s so hard advocating for yourself plus it takes so long to get anywhere. I am still looking for what will work for me. Thank you for giving me hope that I will get there.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

I’m cheering you on! 🥰🥰🥰

[@readandre-read]

Kim, thank you for sharing your story. It is moving and encouraging. I am glad you reached the correct diagnosis!

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Thank you! 🥰🥰🥰

[@EveningReader]

Thank you for sharing this, Kim. ❤

[@michellemorrill888]

You are so brave and I applaud your openness to share your journey. Love you, my friend! ❤

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

🥰🥰🥰 Thank you!!!

[@loriroemer1122]

Thank you for trusting us with your story. "Spoonies" is also used in the US.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Interesting. I never heard that term! 🥰☺

[@AndreaSmallArt]

Thank you for sharing your story, Kim.

[@MIDDLEoftheBookMARCH]

Thank you! 🥰

[@RoadReads]

❤❤❤

[@Shellyish]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@hartereads]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️