Crazy for Life

Anxiety

Zooming Out Can Ease Anxiety and Depression

Victoria Maxwell on March 31, 2024

A Personal Perspective: I wasn’t broken or stupid because I couldn’t see what was going on. The flight-or-freeze response was my nervous system’s innate wisdom to keep me from harm.

A Personal Perspective: I wasn’t broken or stupid because I couldn’t see what was going on. The flight-or-freeze response was my nervous system’s innate wisdom to keep me from harm.

Bipolar Disorder

Are You a Bipolar Rocking Chair or Bipolar Swivel Chair?

Victoria Maxwell on March 25, 2024

A Personal Perspective: When I finally understood that I was a rocking chair, it meant I could celebrate my unique aptitudes and skills and manage my bipolar more easily.

A Personal Perspective: When I finally understood that I was a rocking chair, it meant I could celebrate my unique aptitudes and skills and manage my bipolar more easily.

Depression

Ask This Question to Reduce Your Anxiety and Depression

Victoria Maxwell on March 10, 2024

When I’m doing the two-step avoidance dance, the key is avoiding turning on myself, which would only fuel the fires of anxiety and depression. Instead, I ask myself this question.

When I’m doing the two-step avoidance dance, the key is avoiding turning on myself, which would only fuel the fires of anxiety and depression. Instead, I ask myself this question.

Psychosis

Forgiving Yourself After Psychosis

Victoria Maxwell on December 31, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Psychosis thrust me into a frightening state beyond my control, and the upheaval was humiliating. Forgiving myself was an important step toward healing.

A Personal Perspective: Psychosis thrust me into a frightening state beyond my control, and the upheaval was humiliating. Forgiving myself was an important step toward healing.

Career

The Silence Surrounding Mental Illness at Work

Victoria Maxwell on December 23, 2023

Are you struggling with your mental health at work? Read on to pick up tips to start discussing it safely.

Are you struggling with your mental health at work? Read on to pick up tips to start discussing it safely.

Creativity

"Crazy for Life" Rules for Writing

Victoria Maxwell on December 1, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Some of my rules for writing are good rules for life, too. Take what you like and crumple up the rest (that’s actually a good rule to follow too).

A Personal Perspective: Some of my rules for writing are good rules for life, too. Take what you like and crumple up the rest (that’s actually a good rule to follow too).

Anxiety

How to Grow Glimmers and Feel Less Anxious

Victoria Maxwell on October 1, 2023

A Personal Perspective: While a trigger can feel like a gloomy cloud, a glimmer is a mini-moment that creates an itsy-bitsy mood shift.

A Personal Perspective: While a trigger can feel like a gloomy cloud, a glimmer is a mini-moment that creates an itsy-bitsy mood shift.

Self-Help

I Ditched Self-Help and Found Glee in Orange School Supplies

Victoria Maxwell on August 30, 2023

A Personal Perspective: My involuntary psych ward stays scared me into being hyper-focused about any changes in my mood. With recovery, I find joy in the silliest simple things.

A Personal Perspective: My involuntary psych ward stays scared me into being hyper-focused about any changes in my mood. With recovery, I find joy in the silliest simple things.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

A Complex PTSD Diagnosis: What a Relief

Victoria Maxwell on July 29, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Complex PTSD makes sense of all the times I feel my insides are on my outsides, when I feel like a 5-year-old instead of the 56-year-old I am.

A Personal Perspective: Complex PTSD makes sense of all the times I feel my insides are on my outsides, when I feel like a 5-year-old instead of the 56-year-old I am.

Depression

5 Tips to Help Lift Depression, Anxiety and Sluggishness

Victoria Maxwell on June 27, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Paying attention to the first signs of fatigue, anxiety and overall ‘uuggghhh-ness’ is the first step towards regaining my well-being.

A Personal Perspective: Paying attention to the first signs of fatigue, anxiety and overall ‘uuggghhh-ness’ is the first step towards regaining my well-being.

Depression

3 Tips to Embrace Routine to Reduce Anxiety and Depression

Victoria Maxwell on May 30, 2023

A Personal Perspective: We've all heard it before. Routine is key to good mental health. Read on for three tips to sustain routines that boost your mood.

A Personal Perspective: We've all heard it before. Routine is key to good mental health. Read on for three tips to sustain routines that boost your mood.

Hypomania

Is It Safe to Trigger or Extend Hypomania?

Victoria Maxwell on April 29, 2023

A Personal Perspective: When hypomania comes, I don’t panic anymore. I take advantage of it without coaxing it to stay longer because that can court disaster.

A Personal Perspective: When hypomania comes, I don’t panic anymore. I take advantage of it without coaxing it to stay longer because that can court disaster.

Depression

I Let a Fellow Psych Ward Patient Give Me a Haircut, Almost

Victoria Maxwell on March 31, 2023

A Personal Perspective: I'm in the psych ward, wearing those god-awful-hospital-sanctioned cotton pants. I’m already depressed; this doesn’t help.

A Personal Perspective: I'm in the psych ward, wearing those god-awful-hospital-sanctioned cotton pants. I’m already depressed; this doesn’t help.

Psychopharmacology

Things You Shouldn’t Say to a Person With a Mental Illness

Victoria Maxwell on March 21, 2023

A Personal Perspective: A light-hearted look at well-intentioned advice.

A Personal Perspective: A light-hearted look at well-intentioned advice.

Psychosis

My Psychotic Reality Feels Real to Me

Victoria Maxwell on February 18, 2023

A Personal Perspective: I was talking to my therapist at 2 am. "I have a baby in my stomach. I need to get it out." But I wasn't pregnant. I was, however, psychotic.

A Personal Perspective: I was talking to my therapist at 2 am. "I have a baby in my stomach. I need to get it out." But I wasn't pregnant. I was, however, psychotic.

Depression

Tips to Navigate Deep Winter Depression

Victoria Maxwell on January 25, 2023

Personal Perspective: Everyday activities help pass the time as seasonal depression makes its way out of our systems.

Personal Perspective: Everyday activities help pass the time as seasonal depression makes its way out of our systems.

Depression

Fighting for My Life

Victoria Maxwell on December 29, 2022

A Personal Perspective: “Did you know 'therapist' is actually 'the rapist' if you break it up?” There, that would get this psychotherapist going. But nothing.

A Personal Perspective: “Did you know 'therapist' is actually 'the rapist' if you break it up?” There, that would get this psychotherapist going. But nothing.

Psychosis

This Is My Brain on Psychosis

Victoria Maxwell on December 10, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Something was happening to me. In my belly. Something foreign. I needed to get it out or find out what it was, at least.

A Personal Perspective: Something was happening to me. In my belly. Something foreign. I needed to get it out or find out what it was, at least.

Humor

Why I Use the Word "Crazy"

Victoria Maxwell on October 1, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Yes, I'm an advocate for mental health and I use the word "crazy." So what?

A Personal Perspective: Yes, I'm an advocate for mental health and I use the word "crazy." So what?

Psychopharmacology

Mental Illness and the Process of Acceptance

Victoria Maxwell on September 30, 2022

A Personal Perspective: My acceptance started when people were willing to discuss what prevented me from believing I had a mental illness or needed medication.

A Personal Perspective: My acceptance started when people were willing to discuss what prevented me from believing I had a mental illness or needed medication.