Blog
NAMI Keystone PA’s Blog features personal stories, press releases, news articles, and other content that provides information, insight, personal experiences, and more.
Personal Stories
Fighting a War in My Head
I was diagnosed in high school with depression and anxiety then later in life diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder. Looking back on my childhood, I can see the ways I was struggling then and the unhealthy coping skills I learned. Being diagnosed helped in some ways because it gave me a...
Get Up
Darrin Mosley Jr. is a York native who earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Slippery Rock University. Darrin, who majored in Dance and minored in Theater, can be found in various theater productions around Pittsburgh. Darrin also enjoys teaching the love of dance and performing to Pittsburgh youth.
To Thrive Instead of Just Survive
Trigger Warning: The following content contains light discussion of sexual violence. Sometimes I just stare at the wall. Sometimes I just stare at the wall and find myself in the Land of Make Believe. I can run, play skip, and dance, and no one will look at me like I'm the C word (crazy)...
Recovery is Possible
I haven't always struggled with seasonal change, it wasn't until the age of 35 in late autumn that I had my first struggle with seasonal change and I attributed much of this to my loss of work during winter months. I was self-employed as a home remodeling contractor and my workload peaked during...
A Man Who Chooses To Tackle the Battle
Men and Mental Health used to sound like an oxymoron. When I grew up it was "boys don't cry," or "suck it up," or my favorite "stop acting like a little girl," as if girls were the only ones who experienced different emotions. Now, I'll agree that showing your emotions is a sign of weakness to...
Whittling the Chip on my Shoulder
I often reflect back on my initial diagnosis, relapse and how far I've come beating a path to recovery. We all know the stigma associated with mental health. Being a man, particularly in Marine Corps during my initial diagnosis, carries a little extra weight. I'm the oldest son, biggest brother...
I am simply a man who struggles with depression, simple as that. Wow.
An oversimplification of my journey through mental health would be to say that every defining moment has been shaped by some form of avoidance or denial. When I was very young my parents got divorced, my mother sent me to a children's counselor and I, as an eloquent 7 year old, insisted...
Your Differences Are Your Superpowers
My name is Nick and I was born and raised in Bucks County, PA and attended college in Boston. I was and am always afraid that my technically invisible mental health diagnoses will be visible to those I meet, and worry that I will be judged on things that people can't see and that I can't control...
What I Wish You Knew About PTSD and Veterans
One of the biggest disconnects between civilians, and veterans and service members, is the myth that if we've been to war we have posttraumatic stress disorder. I understand how easy it would be to fall into that mindset; as often times, when veterans make headlines, especially national headlines...