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See What’s on the Inside In the musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the protagonist Quasimodo has physical deformities and has been forbidden by his villainous master from ever leaving the bell tower of Notre Dame Cathedral. His lifetime of profound isolation leaves him longing for just one day out among the people. He has […]
Kirsten Barraclough
Let’s Be Clear
Let’s Be Clear Have you ever had someone tell you an inside joke that you didn’t understand? Have you felt like an outsider because other people were laughing and all you could do was laugh along or look confused? It feels frustrating to not understand something that other people seem to understand. Humor is built […]
We All Need Support
We All Need Support Have you ever considered joining a support group? It can be a place to make connections with people who have similar experiences to yours. As you hear about others’ journeys and what worked and did not work for them, you can get ideas for what might work for you. Many of […]
Connections Matter
Connections Matter Every human being goes through times when they feel isolated from others, if not physically, then socially or emotionally. There is a basic human need to connect, to feel part of something, to feel like we belong somewhere, to not feel like we are missing out. For those with mental health issues or […]
Get in the Driver’s Seat
Get in the Driver’s Seat I have never liked goal setting. I think it’s because I hate not measuring up. It feels more comfortable to not make goals than to be disappointed in myself for not following through on them. It is a dangerous cycle because I end up achieving nothing. So why when I […]
Take A Chance
Take a Chance There is a well-known board game called Risk, in which players attempt to conquer the world by occupying all 42 territories on the board. Each player has the same number of total armies, but they need to distribute them wisely. The strategy of the game involves choosing which armies to put where, […]
Decide to Make Decisions
Decide to Make Decisions In the United States, another Independence Day has recently passed. Independence can be a difficult thing for those with disabilities. My own disabilities are mainly physical; therefore, I need help with many activities of daily living. In this respect, I will never be entirely independent. But, it is important for me […]
Building Your Resilience
Building Your Resilience To be resilient means to be able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions, or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed. Nobody wants difficult things to happen to them, but they’re going to happen. Being resilient will help you through your challenges. How do you build your […]
Creation and Mental Health
Creation and Mental Health Written by Kirsten Barraclough I started to become aware of my own mental health after I graduated from college. I became paralyzed by my own weaknesses and fears when I realized my career goal wasn’t what I wanted to do after all. Now what? I over-analyzed everything, which resulted in a […]
