Introductions (optional!) :)

[Melissa]

Hi hi! I’m Mel, I’m 22 and I live in Australia. I live with anxiety, depression, PTSD and am in recovery from an eating disorder. I am also on the Autism Spectrum just to make things more interesting

[Di]

Welcome, Kaleria and Mel!

[Cheryl]

Hi Melissa! I'm from Australia too, so feel free to friend. 😀

[Jenn]

Hi everyone!! I’m jennifer and I’m from Long Island, NY. I’m an avid reader and already own more books than I’ll probably ever be able to read in my life! I suffer with depression and anxiety. I also work on an adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit and am working on my MSW. As you can see, mental health is a big part of my life- personally, professionally, and academically. I’m looking forward to being apart of this group, and I’m excited to find some new MH reads!! :)

[Di]

Welcome, Jennifer!

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Aloha and Welcome Folks!🤙🇺🇸

[Cheryl]

Welcome Jack!

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Jack wrote: "Hi all, my name's Jack.
I have suffered with depression (at times severe) since about fourteen. I'm in my sixties now, and have spent a working-lifetime trying to hide my illness (as many did, thi..."

Aloha and Welcome Jack! Kudos on your writing! I am lazy. Could you give me the link for your memoirs, please?
🤙🇺🇸

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Jack wrote: "Hi RM.
Ummmm... I thought we're not allowed to put links here?
- I'll send a message with the name.
Thanks for your interest.
Best wishes."

You are correct. I just break rules at times. 😀🇺🇸

[ＱＵＥＥＮ]

Hello everyone!
My name is queen and I am lucky enough to have been
offered the role as a moderator here. Thanks Di! I can't
wait to see this group flourish.

Since I was young I have wanted to offer my support to
whoever needed it but never could find someone willing
to help me. I began to develop severe anxiety from
medication for ADHD which really just impacted my
whole educational career. I have suffered from depression,
neglect, anxiety and much more. Over the years and with
the help of my friends I would say I'm doing pretty well.
If you want to chat, have any concerns, wanna get to know
me, just message me! I'm real chill.

I recently just finished volunteering at a therapeutic riding
center in NYC called GallopNYC. We serve many new
yorkers with disabilities as well as autism. Each person
we serve benefits from the activites with the horses.

[Maggie]

Nice to meet you Queen. Interesting to hear about your work with GallopNYC. I believe animals provide such wonderful comfort to us all, especially those with mental health issues. I'm guessing it is their unconditional love and acceptance, but it goes further, I think they have some intuition that certain people need their care. I have 3 cats and 2 dogs, they all help and support me without being aware of it. I am dealing with bipolar and anxiety and they certainly provide comfort.

[Mystic Orange]

Welcome everybody.

[Kalu]

hello everyone! my name is kalu and i'm stepping through the legos known as bipolar I, pstd, anxiety, y'know. everything is so tied together that it's really hard to pinpoint things! i'm also 28, nonbinary, and live near boston. :)
i look forward to finding books that can add to my long lasting pursuit to understand myself better and heal. mental health is so important to me, clearly hehe, and i'm very driven to be there for people that want to talk things through or just bond over anything just because we have some mental illnesses!

thank you for providing a wonderful community ♥

[Di]

Welcome, Kalu and Stjepan!

[Jim]

I'm an author who spends time promoting his own books - but since that is disallowed here, then I won't do it. But I write about both my work as a therapist (with 20 years experience of helping clients with problems of anger, anxiety, depression, stress, self-confidence and self-esteem issues, and couple-relationship problems). And I write about my own journey from emotional abuse and personal distortion in my family of origin to personal liberation at the age of 40. Life is difficult - yours and mine! But it is also non-difficult: both/and. And it could always be a lot more difficult than it is! :-)

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Aloha and Welcome All!

Be well,
Alwaysdaddygirl
🤗🇺🇸

[Mythalys]

Hey!

I am Sidney, I've been suffering from a complex of symptoms for over two years now. I don't really wanna self diagnose. But all the evidence shows that I probably have BPD. While the hype self diagnosis got is shameful. I sadly cannot visit a psychiatrist. whether it's my paranoia or just me. I just can't. I live with a hardcore religious family that simply don't care about mental health. Certainly, i can't risk getting disowned for being atheist and all the liberal qualities you can think of. I am kinda new to reading and since this November i knew i needed to read. even though i started reading earlier this year in March i stopped after few weeks. I guess now I am able to get back into reading.

[Di]

Welcome, Sidney! Hope you can find an understanding and supportive community with us.

[Mythalys]

So do I. I am excited for wintergirls !

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Aloha and Weclome Sandy! Why do you like wintergirls?🤙🇺🇸

[Mythalys]

It's Sidney xD. But well, I never read but it's in my 2019 list and since the group is reading it in January thought I would start the year with that book.

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Sidney wrote: "It's Sidney xD. But well, I never read but it's in my 2019 list and since the group is reading it in January thought I would start the year with that book."

My apologizes on all. I do think that cool you wanting to a head start. I was wondering if it was because this book change something for you in your life. Again, sorry. Be well Sidney.

🇺🇸🤙

[Mythalys]

It's okay :). I just think the book will be cool because it's touchy.

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Sidney wrote: "It's okay :). I just think the book will be cool because it's touchy."

Ah, okay. Mahalo for your understanding!🇺🇸🤙Be well.

[Mythalys]

Hmm, I am sorry but what does Mahalo means xD? And thnx

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Sidney wrote: "Hmm, I am sorry but what does Mahalo means xD? And thnx"

No need to apologize. One thing about life is always learning. Mahalo means thank you in HI. I hope all is the best as possible.

🇺🇸🤙

[Mythalys]

Gotta search HI up

[Maggie]

Hi my name is Maggie, not sure if I've introduced myself before. I live in Australia. I have Bipolar and pretty full on anxiety. I have a daughter with Borderline Personality Disorder, OCD, and an awful eating disorder. She is managing better at the minute than she has for ages, I'm so proud of her. But because of her history I wont be reading Wintergirls, I live with that every day and don't feel the need to be triggered by my reading material.

[Di]

Welcome, Maggie! There is absolutely no pressure to read things that don't fit your needs or trigger you. But maybe some of our previous group reads will intrigue you? Take look in our bookshelf here.

[Mythalys]

Hey Maggie :)

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Sidney wrote: "Gotta search HI up"

Hope you like it!🇺🇸🤙

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Aloha Maggie! Mahalo for sharing about you and your daugther! That is understandble. If I may, hugsie🤗


🤙🇺🇸

[Maggie]

Hugs are always welcomed 🙂

[Maggie]

Di wrote: "Welcome, Maggie! There is absolutely no pressure to read things that don't fit your needs or trigger you. But maybe some of our previous group reads will intrigue you? Take look in our bookshelf here."

Thanks Di, I will have a look soon✔️

[Maggie]

Sidney wrote: "Hey Maggie :)"

Hi there

[Cheryl]

Hi Maggie! Fellow Bipolarite from Australia here. Feel free to friend if you want to and I hope you have a lovely time on here.

[Di]

Welcome, Ronald! Hope you will read along our group-reads and express your opinion on accuracy of mental health representation.

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Hugsie Maggie🤗


Sorry I am behind again.

🇺🇸🦅

[Mythalys]

Hey Ronald! Welcome to the group. It seems that you have a rich mix. Well, I really don't think it's impossible to believe what you just said. After all, it's a rare case. I hope you find yourself within the group and have a great time.

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Yikes! I miss your introduction Ronald. My apologizes. Mahalo for sharing! It okay. Always feel free to chat or participate or both.


If I may,🤗
RM
🇺🇸🦅

[Mythalys]

Ronald I believe you I really do. I am sorry if you got me wrong but I really do. I always believe people when it comes to mental illnesses because I know how bad it hurts when someone doesn't believe you. See ya around Ronald!

[Mythalys]

I am glad to hear that :)

[Pat]

Hi. My name is Pat Suzie Tennent. After a lifetime of abuse I developed Dissociative Identity Disorder and PTSD. Been free for over three years now and recovering from the trauma. Thankfully getting lots of help from professionals. Learning that recovery is far from a straight line. Sometimes one step forward and two back but getting there slowly. As part of recovery I wrote a book telling my story but left out the graphic detail. It’s essentially the story of my life, what has helped and what didn’t. What didn’t help was the professionals who don’t believe in DID. What has helped more than anything is the love of a few special people and the care of my present professionals. Pat.

[Di]

Welcome, Pat!

[RM(Alwaysdaddygirl)]

Aloha and Welcome Pat!

🇺🇸

[Pat]

Pat wrote: "
Hi. My name is Pat Suzie Tennent. After a lifetime of abuse I developed Dissociative Identity Disorder and PTSD. Been free for over three years now and r..."

[Pat]

Thank you for the welcome. Can’t remember if I said my book Coming Out Of The Dark is available on Amazon. Good to be part of the group. Pat.

[Sara]

Hello!
I'm Sara from Iran, a girl who was diagnosed with ADHD since she was so little and also has GAD and some other under-control disorders.
I love reading books which have characters with mental disorders, both fiction and non-fiction.

[Di]

Welcome, Sara!

[Maggie]

Hi Sara,

I also have mental health issues (bipolar, anxiety) and I enjoy books (and films) which feature people with mental health diagnosis. Some of my favourites in no particular order are the
. Living with It Bev Aisbett books on anxiety (old books haven't read in years not sure if it is still appropriate)
.The Buddha and the Borderline
. Joy of Burnout
. Back after the break by Other Gunsberg (just released and a great read)
. Willow (Julia Hoban)
. The painted bridge.

I have also read a number of historical books about or set in asylums, so interesting and so sad.

If you want to check my other mental health books go onto my page and click Mental Health bookshelf

Maggie