Author Archives: JOSHUA BRIDGES

Dating with mental health issues is a struggle for most. I mean, we can go on and on in our heads with reasons why this is so hard. We need to make sure we are taking care of ourselves first before going down this road. If we are not pursuing this from a healthy, happy,Continue reading “DATING WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS”

A familiar touch brings up feelings forgotten, Making the barrier go rotten.How can I make the most of you, staring at pictures I never knew.Growing affections of something new.Playing a game, I never threw. Only time will tell. A lover’s poem will sell.Pieces of this broken heart mend well.Sold to the highest bidder, then farewell.Continue reading “ONLY TIME WILL TELL”

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For years my soul has been lost, not knowing where to go. I just wanted to find some peace, for someone to know. The feeling was overwhelming as I hid the pain behind my eyes every day. Waking up to put on this disguise that says I’m okay. Searching for freedom that has no address,Continue reading “THE LOST SOUL”

Brutal honesty is a strength that delivers the compassion needed to help others. If you cannot be honest in your story, you cannot give 100% of yourself when trying to help someone struggling. When I share, I am honest even when what I share may be embarrassing or looked down upon. If I cannot beContinue reading “BRUTAL HONESTY”

My mind struggles with thoughts of a silence that promises me freedom and the false hope of no pain and a permanent escape. Free from depression and self-hate. Oh, how I have longed to feel that I’m finally okay. That feeling of worthlessness haunts my every thought, clouding my better judgment, destroying anything good I’veContinue reading “DESTRUCTION OF SELF”

It’s normal to be down or depressed at times. But clinical depression is a medical condition. Do you experience a sudden change in mood or behavior? Do you catch yourself lashing out or getting confrontational for no particular reason? Maybe you are isolating, withdrawing from friends or family. Are your friends or family removing themselvesContinue reading “CLINICAL AND NON-CLINICAL DEPRESSION”

I struggle with this, and I heard from so many of you that you struggle as well. There are so many ways we can help ourselves with anxiety, and these are only five. There are tons of course, but these are just some helpful suggestions to get you started. Keeping busy throughout the day- IContinue reading “SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO BEAT ANXIETY”

THE BOOTH IN THE BAR It was late, maybe 11pm, work was hell and I needed a drink. I pulled into the corner bar near my hotel. I started my usual process of talking myself out of going in, but it never worked. I was by myself in North Carolina traveling for my job. AtContinue reading “THE BOOTH IN THE BAR”

Inspiration- the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. My inspiration comes from the people I have met, get to meet and the individuals who help me daily. The true heroes fighting for what’s right, who are not afraid to stand up and say, “this is aContinue reading “INSPIRATION”

Hey, mom just wanted to tell you how much I love you. You praised me in my ups, and you comforted me in my downs. I have been through hell and back, and you never left my side. You nursed every scrape and bruise, you wiped every tear, and you listened to every pain ofContinue reading “MOM”

I know you don’t understand the sickness that overcame me that took every sense of hope from my body. I didn’t intentionally want to be an alcoholic. I never meant to hurt you. If you felt unloved, know you are indeed the best thing to have ever happened to me. I wish I could sitContinue reading “TO MY CHILDREN”

I suffered from depression for four years. At that point in my life, every day was a struggle. I attempted to conceal my depression and wore a smile every day even though I wanted to die deep down. I didn’t want to live, but I knew I could never commit to killing myself. Eventually, myContinue reading “KELLY”

I had the great privilege of talking to a lady named Tammy, who is now one of our members. She had reached out to me over the phone, and we ended up talking for hours. Her story was so honest, and her struggles so real. I had to ask her if I could write aboutContinue reading “TAMMY’S STORY”

Every day was a struggle waking up trying to block out the sadness and disappointment of the night before. The never-ending drunken depression that consumed my life. Why am I still alive? I thought I drank enough not to wake up, so I didn’t have to live through another day. I sit in my roomContinue reading “THE MAN IN THE MIRROR”

Social anxiety is such a frustrating mental health issue. It affects many people in different ways. Feeling nervous in social situations is normal. However, if a person is suffering from social anxiety, these feelings intensify and disrupt their everyday lives. They may fear interacting with strangers, like going to a party or a large gathering.Continue reading “STRUGGLING WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY”

<p class="has-background-background-color has-background" style="font-size:24px;line-height:1.8;" value="<amp-fit-text layout="fixed-height" min-font-size="6" max-font-size="72" height="80"> If you or someone you know struggles with a mental health issue, we can provide some help. You can read some of our blogs and listen to our podcast, which would help you understand you\'re not alone, and maybe they will give you hope. There isContinue reading “HOW WE CAN HELP”

Spilling my heart on the carpet of your brain, hoping to leave a stain. Memories of pain, like a picture, stuck in a frame. All that’s left are tears and an empty bottle of shame. I lay on a cold floor, drunken and insane. Thinking if die, it will take away the pain. I wakeContinue reading “TEARS AND AN EMPTY BOTTLE”

Mental health is a major issue, but nobody wants to talk about it. Most people would rather ignore it and look the other way. People with a mental health issue tend to hide it. I know I did for a long time. I didn’t want to seem weak and looked down upon. I didn’t wantContinue reading “YOU ARE NOT ALONE”

Frustrating thoughts of how to get it all to stop. My mind is against me. It tells me I’m weak and shuts me out of reality with lies of a peaceful endless sleep. I lay in my so lonely bed, scared to sleep. If the dreams don’t get me, the memories will find me. IfContinue reading “GOD IM WAITING”