Best Friend's story of surviving "SCHIZOPHRENIA"

Mary B. was just a mere 15 years old when she was given the diagnosis of Paranoid Schizophrenia.  This label seemed to make the disease itself worse.  She felt like an outcast and a "socially unacceptable" misfit.  But today at 38 years old, she has evolved from the stigma and is giving back by helping others in similar situations.

It all began with a broken family and her grandparents taking on the responsibility of raising her. Her grandparents began having problems with getting Mary to go to bed at night.  She only wanted to stay awake and became obsessed with doing her homework all night and folding her clothes continuously in a meticulous matter.  Mary would be described at that time an insomniac, a perfectionist, and an obsessive compulsive person.

Upset with her grandpa's rules and suffering from severe sleep deprivation, Mary B. called the police who took her to a psychiatric hospital for admission.   She stayed there for 7 days.

At age 16, Mary, who was highly upset by having her grandparents raise her, ran away and went to a motel.  She began hearing voices through the walls.  They were haunting her and telling her to "go away".  Being mentally unstable and out of control, she "trashed" the motel room and threw her keys out into the parking lot.  The cops were called.  Mary went to the door half naked and the cops had assumed she was doing crack.  They instructed her to leave the hotel at once.

At age 17, she attempted to work as a dishwasher.  But it was a constant struggle for her to do this job or any job.    She reported to me that she threw her first paycheck off a bridge and that she never cashed any of her checks.  She recalls seeing a grim reaper and a devil with a machete under the bridge.   She tells me that it was a "dark, shadowy image".

At age 18, she dropped out of high school because she thought everybody was talking about her.  She recalls feeling like a "loner".

She mentions to me that at age 20 she was walking down the street.  And that at this time the voices were talking to her, saying that one side of the street was "godly" while the other was evil.  Mary remembers empting her wallet behind a bush.  Then she stripped off all her clothes and went running through the woods.  She thought she was Jesus Christ.  She returned to the road and the cops came and took her to a mental hospital.  There she was placed on anti-psychotic medication.

At age 21, she recalls an incident were she was extremely suicidal and rode her bike 8 miles to the hospital.   Then they admitted her and placed her on an anti-depressant as well.

Mary describes her struggle with mental illness as "very hard and scary"  She said she lost a lot of sleep and was having "nerve problems".  Even today, Mary states that the "meds don't help all the way".  She said "recovery was great!  I took my meds to stop the symptoms from coming back.  And I am going to continue to take my medications to keep me healthy!"

Thanks to Mary B. for sharing her story with us!

Please look out for the next book in the How to Survive Series.  It is called How to Survive Schizophrenia!
Best Wishes,
--Stephanie

Today's Topic: "INSIGHT & INSPIRATION into INSANITY!"

INSIGHT & INSPIRATION into INSANITY

By: Stephanie Anne Allen

            Mental illness and insanity are not the same.  While mental illness affects our moods and thoughts, insanity is a condition in which a person (who may or may not have mental illness) is not touch with reality.  They are not in control of their actions and their behaviors can become “socially unacceptable” or even “criminal” without the insane person’s awareness.   A person with mental illness may never experience “true insanity”.  Just as a person who is considered insane may have no history of mental illness.  But there are a handful of people who experience both insanity and mental illness. 

            A mentally ill person may experience symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, but this is not “true” insanity.   True insanity is when a people loses “touch with reality” and has absolutely no awareness of what is happening around them, and no control over their behaviors.  These insane people may commit crimes, and they will not even be knowledgeable of what they had done and will certainly have no awareness while committing the crime.

            We have seen it all over the news lately with people blaming crimes on mental illness.  No, these crimes do not occur because someone has a mental illness.  Some of the crimes may occur as a result of actually insanity, but that is rare.  Most of these crimes are committed by people who have full use of their faculties.  They are committed by people who are truly criminal and no regard for society, decency, and morality. 

            There are only a few actual people who commit crimes due to insanity!  These are good people who lost touch with reality and had no idea what was going on around them.  These are decent, kind, and respectable people who have broken the law, because they were “insane” and had no understanding, whatsoever, of what they were doing.  People in this category often receive a Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity ruling during their criminal trials.  They are then committed to a state forensic hospital for a term of incarceration.

            Is there hope for those who suffer from insanity?  Can we “reform” them back into productive members of society?  Are they capable of fully recovering?  Yes, it is certainly possible, as I myself am an example.  I fought the hard battle with bravery and persistence.  I emerged from this insanity, and I feel that I have become a much better person due to all the adversity that I had endured.

            I was successfully treated for my severe mental illness and insanity.  I put into use my “survival skills” and I transformed what was a “bad situation” into one that is hopeful and offers inspiration to others in similar situations.  I went through hell, in order for me, to become the person I am today.  I was never a bad or evil person at all, but going through this hell helped change me into a much better person than I ever was.  I gained insight. I gained strength, courage, and faith.  I became a much more empathic and compassionate person.  I became grateful for things I had always taken for granted.   Using coping skills, I was able to emerge from my disturbing world and find the light once again.

            It is possible to recover from both insanity and mental illness.  It is doable.  And I promise you that it will be worth it in the end.  Each life was created for a purpose, and you will find yours.  Mine was to spread love and inspiration to all who suffer from mental illness and insanity.  I embrace this as my reason to exist in this very world.  And I hope that you shall pull through your problems and reach out and take control of your world, too!

Books by Stephanie Anne Allen:
My Mental Madness Memoir
How to Survive Depression
How to Survive Bipolar Disorder

Buy now!
www.amazon.com/author/allenstephanie

Today's Topic: "My Books"

Dear Friends and Fans, I am writing this post to reach out to all who may benefit from my books. Currently I have 3 books out!

1. My Mental Madness Memoir--The provocative TRUE journey through my struggles with mental illness.
2. How to Survive Depression--Book #1 in the How to Survive Series
3. How to Survive Bipolar Disorder--Book #2 in the How to Survive Series

I wrote My Mental Madness Memoir to inspire other by showing you the perfect example of perserving in the face of ultimate defeat.

I began the How to Survive Series to provide education, hope, inspiration, and tips on how to successfully cope.   I am currently working on the third book in that series.

                                                                   

 

                                                                   

See my author page with my books, bio, blog, and upcoming giveaways and promotions.

Click here

I want you all to know that recovery and resilience from mental illness is possible.  Please reach out and invite all your friends to read my blog.  

Thank you for spreading the love!

Much Love to you all!

Stephanie

Today's Topic: "How to Survive Bipolar Disorder"

To my loyal blog readers, Bipolar Disorder is very common.  I want you to know that you are not alone.  There are many others out there who suffer.  So you are in good company.  I would like to apologize for not making this post yesterday, as I was busy preparing and submitting my new book to Amazon.  This is the second book in the How to Survive Series.  It is titled appropriately How to Survive Bipolar Disorder.
     This book provides education, hope, inspiration, and tips on how to cope effectively with Bipolar Disorder.  Here is the table of contents for this amazing book:

Preface
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Causes of Bipolar Disorder
My Battle with Bipolar Disorder
How to Conquer your Bipolar Disorder
Recovery and Outcome
My Inspirational Quotes on Bipolar Disorder
Author's Note

     I want you to know that you can recover from Bipolar Disorder!  Never give up!  You can and you will make it through!  You will find that "balance" again!!!!

Here is the link to How to Survive Bipolar Disorder
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1980401411/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519656410&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+survive+bipolar

Much Love to you  all!
Stephanie Anne Allen
www.amazon.com/author/allenstephanie

Today's Topic "To Survive Depression" as an Audiobook

Hello to all of you,

As you know, "How to Survive Depression" in now available to all in ebook and paperback formats.  This book provides education, hope, inspiration, and tips on how to effectively cope with depression.  Yes, depression absolutely sucks.  And I feel for all those who suffer from it.  Remember that you are worth getting better for!  And with proper treatment, you can overcome your illness.  I have compassion and empathy for all of those who suffer with this mental illness.

"How to Survive Depression" will soon be out as an audiobook.  I hope you will get yourself or someone you love an ebook, paperback, or audiobook copy.  There you will find tips that I personally used on myself in my own recovery.  I know you will find this book very beneficial, as you did My Mental Madness Memoir.

Much love to you all in the this upcoming week!

-Stephanie Anne Allen

Today's Topic: "How to Survive Depression"

Today's Topic is How to Survive Depression. (Book #1 in How to Survive Series) 

Depression is not easy as you may know well.  Depression robs its victims of happiness.  It causes us to feel negative about ourselves, others, and life in general.  We are so miserable in our minds.  And we feel like it will never get better.  I say to you, do not be a victim.  Be a warrior.  Conquer your illness, because you can survive depression!

"If you are sitting in the dark (due to depression) go turn the light on.  If you can't find the light switch, seek the help of someone who can."

Blurb from How To Survive Depression:

Preface

                “How to Survive—Depression” is the first book in the “How to Survive Series”.  This is a collection of books that I am creating to educate, motivate, and bring inspiration to those who are going through difficult things, and times, in their lives.

            I hope that these books will inspire people to want to conquer their fears and their problems.  I want to offer encouragement and help people realize they are not alone in their battles.   And they can come through, just like others have. But not only can they pull through their conflicts, but they will come out on the other side a much better person—a person who has gained strength and wisdom and has acquired a much better attitude and overlook on life.

            Life is a beautiful thing and sometimes we can’t see that because our hardships blind us from all the splendor that life has to offer.  Sometimes we just want to sit back, stop fighting, and give up.  But I am writing this series to reassure you that life does get better.  And when you are rock bottom, the only way for it to go is up! 

            In this series, I will touch on different issues, and show you how to survive each of them in a very unique way.  I will give you self-help techniques that I have used or helped others use.  These techniques have been proven to work for me and others, because we put in the effort.  We worked hard on self-transformation and acceptance.  We learned to love ourselves enough to fight, to get beyond our problems.  And self-love my friends is where it all begins!

            Please remember this common statement.  “God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”  This is the serenity prayer by Reinhold Neibuhr.  And even if you don’t believe in God, it still applies to you.  You can still turn your life around.  You can still change if you choose to do so.

            The sad truth is that with life there is also inevitable suffering.  There is no way around that.  Some people believe suffering comes from the devil, others even believe it comes from God.  I don’t think anyone really knows the source.  But you do not need to know where your pain is coming from to do something about it.

            I have suffered greatly in my own life from much heartache, emotional pain, trauma, chaos, etc.  I have been at the point where most people do not survive!  The statistics were very much in favor of me ending my own life.  But I didn’t succeed at terminating it.  I took the battle head on.  This time I wasn’t going to run away from the fight for my life.  The good news is that I won the war within my own mind!  And I came out of it a much better person.  I gained strength.  I acquired insight and wisdom.  And now I am very much able to empathize completely with others who are going through similar problems.

            Would I take back all that my past entailed?  No.  There should not be any regrets and remorse in this life.  Everything happens for a reason.  And every human being has a purpose on this Earth.  We should just strive each and every day to become a better person than we were the day before.

Suffering is just a part of life.  And you are in control of what you chose to do with that suffering.  Do you let it break you or do you let it make you?  I am hoping you chose the second option.

And so, I present this series to you.  Let it bring you hope, encouragement, and inspiration.  And please “spread the love” by passing on this book to someone you know who could really use a boost in life!

As you know, the day of love is quickly approaching! On Valentine's Day, treat yourself or someone you love to this book.

Also, keep in mind my first book, My Mental Madness Memoir, is still available as an ebook, paperback, and audiobook.  And on February 14, 2018 ONLY the ebook version will be free to all who request it.

Well friends, have a great week ahead and don't forget to celebrate love on this upcoming "day of love"!
-Stephanie Anne Allen

HOW TO SURVIVE SERIES

EXCITING BOOK RELEASE INFORMATION!  HOW TO SURVIVE DEPRESSION is the first book in the How to Survive Series.  It was published just a few days ago.  I wrote it to provide education, hope, inspiration, and tips on how to cope effectively with depression.  Please get your copy today.  If you haven't already done so, My Mental Madness Memoir is also available.

Here is a link to my author's page so you can check out all my books.  www.amazon.com/author/allenstephanie

Here is a direct link to How to Survive Depression.
https://www.amazon.com/How-Survive-Depression-Book-ebook/dp/B079LZ87MZ/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8