Personal Stories

Karen Liberman

Photo Credit:

Photo by Barry Shainbaum.

You see, for me, hope, healing and recovery are not individual attainments or life states. Like the best meal or song or spectacular view, these are most profoundly felt when shared with others. I will forever thank MOOD DISORDERS ASSOCIATION for allowing me to share this finest of all gifts.

On Tuesday morning August 27 1997, I awoke at 10:37 am on the psychiatric ward in Sunnybrook Hospital and I was well. After fifteen years of indescribable emotional, cognitive, and physical pain, I was well. After six psychiatrists, seventeen hospital stays, twenty-seven different medications, twenty-four electro-convulsive therapy treatments, countless amounts of psycho-therapy, I was well. Having experienced spontaneous remission after one dose of a new medication (that I would continue with for the next twelve years), I was well.

Why share my darkness? The face of mental healthcare

Submitted by Lawrencep on January 20, 2014 - 12:59pm

Brett Batten is sharing his journey, in hopes that it decreases the stigma associated with mental illness.

I started thinking about all the labels I have had; insane, criminal, crazy, mentally ill, manic depressive, I could name a few more.

Labels are basically stereotypes; mental molds that we cast for people so we feel separate and safe from them. With stereotypes comes stigma and with stigma comes isolation. This isolation helps protect the strong and healthy but it drives those who are different underground and often in the case of mental illness – people don’t seek help.

Blog posted on Hospital News (www.hospitalnews.com), October 4, 2013

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