#recovery advocacy

[ultimate-healing-blog]

RFK Jr.'s Vision for Addiction Recovery: A Controversial Approach

CLICK TO READ FULL ARTICLE - #Addiction #Fentanyl #Opiods Crises #AddictionRecovery #HealthAndWellness #SubstanceAbuse #OpioidCrisis #MentalHealth #RecoveryJourney #RFKJr #12StepProgram #DrugPolicy #SupportRecovery #HealingFarms #AddictionAwareness #Sober

When Robert F. Kennedy Jr. reflects on the path that has increasingly directed his attention towards health and wellness—culminating in his recent confirmation hearings for the role of U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services—it’s intriguing to note that his journey did not originate from a typical medical background or a robust foundation in research. Instead, it was significantly shaped by…

[chronicsymptomsyndrome]

Having survived abuse from people with mental illnesses, I know the urge to warn others to be wary of those mental illnesses. I know how often it can feel like that is your only power in life…the only action you can take against what you went through. But listen. Just because a mentally ill person caused you complex trauma, doesn’t mean you get to generalize and slander and malign every person with that mental illness.

You do not have to forgive your abusers. but you do have to heal without spreading stigma and misinformation. you do have to heal without antagonizing or dehumanizing others who are also just trying to heal. you have to help break the cycle. because nobody can heal alone.

[the-physicality]

thinking this labor day about all the athletes in women's sports who didn't have a stable league, who were only making decent money from a spot on their national team, who had to fight to get even a fraction of what they deserve. who spent their prime without a club league or the infrastructure to propel the sport. who came of age after title 9 in the usa [forcing schools to fund women/girls’ sports], the ones who fought for cbas and are only seeing big change at the end of their careers or after their careers concluded. who didn't have the media attention before, but are now showing just how much they can sell out stadiums and arenas. the players who played year round because overseas teams paid athletes what they were worth. athletes who endured and reported harassment but the league never took appropriate action. athletes who never had the media attention or ability to monetize their talent but who had careers that were just as impressive as the stars of today. who did it without the help of the science, technology, and medicine we have today. who set records with less support and fewer games in a season, which will be broken by kids who have had personal trainers since high school. athletes who played great games that are no long available to view, their talent no longer archived and accessible for young or new fans. athletes who still don't have a league or are just getting one in 2024. athletes who took it upon themselves to create change for which they will never reap the full rewards.

[noballoonsinspace]

Misbehavior is not a reflection of merit Misbehavior is not a reflection of character Misbehavior is not a reflection of intelligence Misbehavior is not a reflection of work ethic Misbehavior is not a reflection of morals or values

Misbehavior is a reflection of well-being Misbehavior is a reflection of environment Misbehavior is a reflection of power dynamics Misbehavior is a reflection of support systems Misbehavior is a reflection of how someone is treated

“Bad” kids don’t misbehave hurting kids misbehave traumatized kids misbehave abused kids misbehave neglected kids misbehave scared kids misbehave lonely kids misbehave grieving kids misbehave stressed kids misbehave overwhelmed kids misbehave burnt-out kids misbehave

Its not a “tantrum” or a “fit” or a “bad kid” with “unacceptable behavior,” it’s a cry for help

When kids misbehave, stop “punishing” and “disciplining” and “reprimanding” them

When kids misbehave for the love of god just help them

And P.S. this basically applies to adults as well

[ididoktoday]

I bet you did the best you could today.

May you come to see that performance as the most any human could ever ask of you.

I bet you made the best choices you could with the information you have.

May you come to understand all the lessons the Universe has to teach you.

I bet you regulated your emotions with as much skill as you were taught by those who cared for you when you were young.

May you come to befriend your full spectrum of emotions and come to see them as helpful information that you engage with consciously and curiously.

I bet you cared for your body with as much love as you’ve been led to believe you deserve.

May you come to see yourself as deserving as much love as the whole Universe holds.

[yamishika]

There’s a conversation that needs to be had—one that’s uncomfortable but necessary, and one I've been struggling with how to open up about until now.

Over the years, I’ve noticed an alarming trend: mental illness and trauma being used as justifications for toxic behaviour.

I wonder if you have noticed the same?

Instead of mental health discussions centering around awareness, healing, and support, they are often hijacked by individuals who weaponize their struggles to excuse manipulation, cruelty, and attention-seeking.

Mental illness is real. Trauma is real. And the way people process them isn’t always healthy, which is completely understandable. But neither gives anyone a free pass to mistreat others, refuse accountability, or act superior.

~

From Awareness to Entitlement: The Dark Side of Online Mental Health Culture

From what I’ve witnessed, certain patterns have become disturbingly common in online spaces.

Such as:

Stacking multiple severe disorders—even when their symptoms contradict each other.

Constantly shifting between victimhood and superiority—one minute they’re “the most broken,” the next they’re “more intuitive and enlightened than others.”

Using trauma (even serious trauma like SA) to justify toxic behavior—as if being hurt gives someone the right to hurt others.

Turning mental illness into an aesthetic—romanticizing harmful symptoms instead of working toward healing.

Hijacking every discussion to make it about themselves—no matter how irrelevant their experiences are to the topic at hand.

Glorifying toxic mindsets—claiming that “revenge is healing” or that their suffering makes them special.

None of this fosters real awareness about mental health. Instead, it turns it into a competition of who has suffered the most rather than a conversation about growth and recovery.

~

How Does This Hurt Mental Health Advocacy & Online Spaces?

1. It Spreads Misinformation

When mental illness is widely misrepresented online, it creates a warped perception of real conditions, leading to harmful stereotypes.

For example:

Those with BPD = are automatically characterised as manipulative and abusive.

Those with DID = are characterised quirky and or entertaining.

Those who experience psychosis = are feared as dangerous or viewed as mystical.

And the list goes on.

These generalizations overshadow the reality of these conditions and make it harder for real sufferers to be taken seriously.

2. It Excuses Harmful Behavior

Trauma and mental illness can explain why someone struggles, but they do not and will never excuse cruelty, manipulation, or entitlement.

Saying, “I can’t help it, I have [insert disorder]” is an incredibly toxic and limiting mindset.

Of course, there are individuals who struggle with impulse control, dissociation, or cognitive difficulties that make self-awareness and regulation difficult.

This post is not about them.

This is about those who intentionally misuse mental health labels to justify manipulative or harmful behaviors without any desire to improve or acknowledge the impact on others.

Mental illness does not make someone incapable of change. Accountability is still necessary, and using a diagnosis as a shield from consequences is harmful to both the individual and those around them.

3. It Romanticizes Pain Instead of Encouraging Healing

When suffering becomes an identity rather than something to work through, people stop seeking ways to improve. Healing starts to feel like a loss rather than a goal.

And let’s be real—some people even intentionally worsen their condition. Whether that be:

Feeding into unhealthy behaviors,

Rejecting any form of treatment, or

Even exaggerating their symptoms—

At some point, their illness becomes who they are, rather than something they manage.

And that’s where things get really dangerous.

Instead of encouraging healing, mental health spaces become places where people are praised for how much they suffer rather than how much they grow.

4. It Turns Online Spaces Into Toxic, Draining Environments

Instead of being places for support, mental health spaces often devolve into:

Excessive and inappropriate trauma dumping—where personal struggles are unloaded onto others with no regard for boundaries, leaving them feeling obligated to listen out of fear of seeming insensitive or uncaring.

Gatekeeping suffering—where people compete over who has it “the worst.”

Never-ending drama—where people spiral over who is more valid instead of how to get better.

Instead of fostering real progress, these spaces become echo chambers of dysfunction—and no one actually gets better.

~

The Biggest Issue: When Serious Trauma Is Used to Justify Anything

One of the most concerning things I’ve noticed is how people use their trauma to manipulate others. I’ve seen individuals use their past experiences to:

Guilt-trip others into supporting them, even when they’re toxic.

Shut down accountability by saying that questioning them = attacking a survivor (whether said outright or implied).

Weaponize their trauma against other victims—as if their pain gives them the right to dictate who gets to speak.

But the more trauma is used as a shield against criticism or a tool for attention, the less meaning it holds.

People start becoming desensitized—losing patience with those who turn trauma into a performance. Over time, it just becomes a buzzword or a red flag in conversations, something people avoid to steer clear of drama.

As a result, those who genuinely want to speak up barely get the chance. No one wants to listen anymore—not because their stories don’t matter, but because others have already exploited the platform.

And because of this, the seriousness of trauma gets lost in all the noise, making it harder for real conversations to happen.

Before I go further, I just want to clarify something important:

No one is denying that trauma is real and deeply impacts people. But being hurt does not give someone the right to hurt others.

This is a conversation we need to have, not to shame, but to encourage real healing.

~

The Damage Being Caused to Real Mental Health Awareness

Now onto my final points on why excusing toxic behaviors under the guise of mental health is so damaging:

• It Makes People Skeptical of Actual Sufferers. When too many people fake or exaggerate conditions, real sufferers face more scrutiny and disbelief. Those with the likes of say BPD, PTSD, or psychosis etc already deal with stigma—this just makes it worse.

• It Makes Real Sufferers Doubt Their Own Struggles. So many people with mental illness already struggle with imposter syndrome. They wonder, “Is my pain valid? Am I even sick enough to count?”

When exaggerated, performative portrayals become the loudest voices, and those with quieter struggles start to feel invisible.

• It Discourages People from Seeking Help. If trauma is treated like an identity rather than something treatable, people start to think that healing = losing who they are.

• It Turns Suffering Into a Status Symbol. Instead of encouraging healing, online spaces become a race to the bottom over who has suffered the most.

~

Final Thoughts

Mental illness and trauma deserve to be taken seriously—and that’s exactly why they should never be used to justify toxic behavior.

Conversations about mental health should be about genuine education, support, and healing—not a free pass to be cruel, manipulative, or entitled.

If we want mental health spaces to truly help people, we need to be willing to call out harmful behaviors that weaken the integrity of these conversations. Enabling toxicity in the name of mental health doesn’t protect sufferers—it hurts them.

This isn’t about blaming people who struggle. Everyone has difficulties, and healing isn’t easy. But true support means fostering growth, accountability, and honesty.

Growth—encouraging people to work toward healing, not remain stuck. Accountability—recognizing that struggles explain behavior, but don’t excuse harm. Honesty—having real conversations about mental health without distortion or performative suffering.

Mental health advocacy should always be about helping people move forward, not keeping them trapped in cycles of toxicity.

This post isn’t about invalidating trauma—it’s about holding people accountable for how they treat others, regardless of their struggles. Thank you for reading. I hope this post has given you something to think about and take away.

[voicesforvoices]

How I Got My Family Back While Staying Sober | Episode 121

[uncanny-tranny]

Anger is such a normal part of recovery, and I wish it were normalized. I think it is genuinely harmful to depict recovery as this era of your life that only sets you free and makes you euphoric, and there will never again be a cloud in the sky because you have Ultimately Healed.

It's the fucking opposite sometimes. Recovery can feel violent, because the things you are recovering from are often (though not always) violent. It is so common to feel white-hot rage, grief, catharsis, elation, numbness - in essence, a whole host of emotions that aren't pretty, or aren't simple little categories to be neatly boxed and sorted and understood by the "normals."

Those recovering: Your emotions are real, and they aren't bad. You aren't a bad person for how you are processing and healing. You, however, aren't alone. You are doing so fucking well, no matter what it is you are healing from or for. I genuinely hope you can be proud of that.

[chronicsymptomsyndrome]

Please take kids seriously they are actually people. sentient intelligent beings believe it or not. they know when they’re being blatantly lied to.

They might not understand it, but they know when grownups are being shady.

They know.

Please stop acting like it’s inconsequential if you lie to them or ignore them or dismiss their thoughts and feelings. It’s not. It stays with them forever.

Please take kids seriously.

[ivygorgon]

AN OPEN LETTER to THE PRESIDENT & U.S. CONGRESS; STATE GOVERNORS & LEGISLATURES

Act Now: Save Public Transit from Extinction!

2 so far! Help us get to 5 signers!

I am writing to highlight the critical state of public transit in the United States and urge your support increased investment in this essential service. The challenges facing public transit—under-investment, over-reliance on car ownership, and racial disparities—have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is imperative that we take bold action to address these issues for the benefit of our communities and our future.

Investing in public transit is not merely a matter of convenience; it is a necessity for tackling climate change, advancing equity, supporting essential workers, and fostering economic recovery. The largest source of carbon emissions in the U.S. stems from transportation, and increased investment in public transit can significantly reduce this impact. Furthermore, public transit plays a crucial role in providing equitable access to jobs, schools, and services, especially for those who cannot afford or do not have access to private vehicles.

With over 2.8 million essential workers relying on public transit, our pandemic response and economic recovery hinge on the strength and viability of our transit systems. According to studies, sustained investment in public transportation yields substantial economic returns, with every $1 billion invested annually resulting in approximately $5 billion in additional GDP.

I commend initiatives like the Green New Deal for Transportation and efforts by organizations such as the CHARGE coalition to electrify and expand public transportation. These initiatives are pivotal in shaping a more sustainable and equitable transportation system for all Americans.

Therefore, I urge you to support emergency relief funding for public transit and join the movement to rebuild and improve our public transit system. This is not just an investment in infrastructure; it is an investment in our collective future.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your support in advancing policies that will ensure a robust and accessible public transit system for all.

📱 Text SIGN PZHBAF to 50409

🤯 Liked it? Text FOLLOW IVYGORGON to 50409

💘 Q'u lach' shughu deshni da. 🏹 "What I say is true" in Dena'ina Qenaga

[orbitalsockets]

Sometimes I feel like I'm failing at life and I'm so behind other people my age. But then I have moments like tonight that really make me celebrate being alive. I'm not big on all the tiktok trends but the one like "I'm enjoying life because my world didn't end when I was 16" is so real. I'm here - Comfy in a bed I own, eating McDonald's at 10pm because I wanted to, in an apartment in my name before I go to bed to get ready for a job I genuinely enjoy doing and can help people in - because my world didn't end every time catastrophe struck and I was for sure it would be curtains for my story. I'm enjoying the small things because I didn't let the big things take me out, and I feel like we should all be proud that we're still here to enjoy late McFlurries and small successes that our younger selves dreamed about to stay alive

[psychebubbles-anwesha]

[mbjacobs368]

Tour guide to the psych ward

Hello I’m your resident tour guide to the psych ward.

You can check in but can’t check out.

For the newbies:

You cannot have q-tips, finger nail clippers, or razors.

Personal hygiene is required but optional.

No matter what anyone tells you there is no caffeine in the coffee.

Snacks are scheduled but often late or early.

Meals are served at a set times but often late. Once you had one meal the next one is very soon after.

TV time is whatever is on the TV and who has the first choice of channels.

If you want to request a different channel ask a staff member and hopefully your neighbor doesn’t mind the new option. If not best of luck reasoning with them. Change is hard.

Bed time is usually around 10 pm. You cannot come out of your room until at least 7:30 am. Even though we’re all adults here don’t except to be treated like one. Often the case but not always.

Medication is your right to refuse but you will be punished for not taking your prescribed medication. Not that it isn’t good for you. But most patients are not educated on what your taking. It’s up to you when you’re discharged to look it up.

This is a general conclusion of our tour of the psych ward. If you have any questions or complaints contact the patient advocate. The number is typically available on a wall or somewhere accessible. But don’t except to get a response. The patient advocate is not typically available because of constant complaints from the residents on the psych ward and the staff and doctors don’t typically believe you because well your on the psych ward after all. We’re here for a reason.

Until the next time enjoy your visit. Hopefully the food is good.

[voicesforvoices]

Empowering Change: Gabby Kozinski's Inspiring Journey | Episode 124

[uncanny-tranny]

Part of harm reduction is recognizing that abstinence or sobriety, whenever these terms are applicable, is not the inherent goal for so many people. Forcing complete abstinence or sobriety can absolutely be detrimental, which is why we must not idealize either one or force it on people. It should be an option, yes, but that does not mean it is the only option or the only option worth pursuing.