I read that it was tradition to do an introduction post here on Steemit, so here goes.
My name is Lindsay. I was born in 1995 making me a member of the Millennial generation. Recently I received my BA in Psychology. I also suffer from GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder), which have made it really hard for me to integrate into society.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder is a severe anxiety disorder that interferes with day to day life function causing unnecessary feelings of fear or rapid thoughts. It can cause irritability, lack of sleep, lack of concentration, and makes it almost impossible to do anything in society the way society is designed.
PTSD is a disorder people often associate with Veterans. They are the reason we have learned a lot more about the disorder, but it can be found in anyone who has experienced a traumatic event. This can include being abused, being in war, or being in an accident. The best definition can be found on the Mayo Clinic website as “a disorder in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event.” It can last from months to years. The symptoms include flashbacks, nightmares, unwanted memories, and often heightens pre-existing anxiety and depression.
I was diagnosed with both of these disorders about five years ago. This past year I was also diagnosed with Depression, which I had never been diagnosed with before. You may be wondering why I am sharing this information as a part of my introduction? As I have gone through therapy in this last year my therapist recommended I begin writing about the reality of living with mental illness. I plan to use Steemit for sharing some of my thoughts and experiences living with these disorders, and the struggles that are found in trying to integrate into society, in hopes that writing will help with the healing process.
I am not a medical professional, but I do have a lot of personal insight regarding anxiety disorders from living with them daily. I also learned much about them while obtaining my Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Maine, Presque Isle. Someday, as a counselor or in a professional capacity, I hope to help others who struggle with these disorders. For now I am hoping that my posts will allow others living with mental illness to know that they are not alone, and maybe my posts will help break some of the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Thank you for taking the time to read this introduction. I look forward to your feedback and writing more in the future.
Links are provided below to give more information on the disorders listed above:
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Generalized anxiety disorder
Clinical depression: What does that mean?