Published in Invisible Illness·1 day agoMember-onlyGhosting Corporate AmericaCorporate success comes at a price, taking a heavy toll on those who suffer from depression and PTSD — I don’t understand the concept of a mid-life crisis. My whole life has been one giant crisis. I don’t own a home, have never been married, and have never had kids. I’ve seen a lot of doctors, own one of those giant pill boxes labeled with the days of the…Ghosts6 min readGhosts6 min read
Published in Invisible Illness·Dec 4Member-onlyDepression Cleaning InstructionsAnother day of struggling with tasks that become giant elephants on my back when dealing with my depression. — I find it very difficult to perform tasks that other people find “standard” or “daily” when I’m depressed. Brushing teeth. Paying bills. Cleaning the house. Here is a helpful formula I have come up with that enables me to take care of that pesky cleaning when I am feeling down. …Depression4 min readDepression4 min read
Aug 18, 2020Member-onlyHow the Contact Center in the Sky Supports Our Work-from-Home LifeIn this pandemic age of remote work and living, we can feel cut-off from human help when we need it most! Virtual contact centers embracing cloud technology are coming to our home-office rescue while respecting quarantine for their employees. Fraud alert on my credit card, a cryptic medical bill, an…Apple6 min readApple6 min read
Published in Invisible Illness·May 31, 2020Member-onlyRace-Based Trauma Is Real and It MattersOver 40% of the enslaved people brought to North America entered through Charleston. Historic signs on our buildings do not acknowledge this crime against a population. It’s time for Black Lives to Matter. — The Carolopolis plaques in Charleston proudly claim that our city was established in 1670, and denote a property’s historic background. They can be found all over town on beautifully preserved homes and properties. They do not mention the slave labor that went into the millions of bricks hidden behind the…Black Lives Matter4 min readBlack Lives Matter4 min read
Published in Invisible Illness·May 29, 2020Member-onlyWhen Me, Too Becomes Speak, TooI was sexually abused as a child, and turned in my perpetrator 29 years ago when I was 21 years old. No one listened. Now I’m being asked to do it again. — My therapist was surprised to learn that my rapist cousin shot kittens. Her look of distress deepened when I related the words he used when he described to me all the people in our family he wanted to rape. “The things I would love to do to them, if only…Metoo8 min readMetoo8 min read
May 25, 2020Member-onlyWhy Didn’t They Believe? A MemorialA silent battle is being fought every day against sexual abuse. This article is written in remembrance of my cousin–a fighter, a victim, beloved. The soft cry of a mourning dove takes me back to days growing up on a farm in Iowa. I don’t have many memories of my…Survivor2 min readSurvivor2 min read
Published in Invisible Illness·May 23, 2020Member-onlyMental Hospital Dropout–Failing Some Tests Does Not Make You LessIn the COVID-19 era, we might become strong finding out where we don’t belong. — During these pandemic days, we all have plenty of time to reflect on our biggest successes and failures in life. Successes are great, but ruminating on them can be a little depressing. Will I achieve an educational dream equal to attending Stanford University? Seems unlikely now that grad school is…Mental Health5 min readMental Health5 min read
May 17, 2020Member-onlyShopping for a VirusThe state of South Carolina is open for business, and it’s back to work in the service industry as mask-less shoppers crowd the streets. I’m wondering what it will feel like to be sick with COVID-19, and how long it will take to become infected after I return to work…Pandemic3 min readPandemic3 min read
May 15, 2020Member-onlyQuarantined in a One-Way Video Interview with a RobotNot only are we isolated from people in our real human lives, we are now quarantined on camera! Interviewing during the pandemic adds an extra fun factor of complexity. We’re all a little more nervous. We have been furloughed or laid off. Jobs are more scarce. How many interview opportunities…Quarantine7 min readQuarantine7 min read
May 13, 2020Member-onlyHow PTSD and Depression Made My Pandemic More ProductiveYears of fighting numbness, fear and emotional breakdowns have paved the way for my pandemic success. I sprang out of bed today at 5am to start my day. My dog, Jane Austen, glared at me through half-closed eyes. After firing up the stove and brewing some instant coffee, ok, I…PTSD7 min readPTSD7 min read
