About
So, what is Grey Thinking?
This description, I have been dreading doing. I’m not 100% sure the form that this blog will take. Basically though, it’s a commentary on psych matters. Probably mostly eating disorders, anxiety, PTSD, health, nutrition, that kind of stuff… there might be other completely random stuff thrown in, I’m not sure. These are the published journal articles that I read, the crap that I see in the media, the books that I read, the websites I encounter, the conversations that I have with professionals and friends… most of which doesn’t belong on my personal blog because it’s contemplative of mental health rather than myself personally. That probably doesn’t help much… but at least you don’t think this blog is on cars or finances 
Hello.
I am a Peer Support Specialist (currently uncertified) for my local “behavioral health” center. I am “openly living with mental illness”, not to mean that I declare to all that I have a mental health diagnosis. Rather, I have dedicated my experience to educating others about recovery and reducing the stigma of mental illness. If I see a reasonable opportunity to share my experience I will do so.
I am searching for a list of 365 facts and/or myths of/about mental illness in general. I would like to find one to save myself time (I am kind of lazy) and to avoid running into the same information over and over again.
My intent is to print one fact or myth for each day of the year and wear it in an ID card holder in an effort to reduce the stigma of mental illness by educating myself, family, loved ones, friends, co-workers, strangers and the general public.
I am surprised that my search has not found something similar in a calender or other publication so far.
Will you please help by directing me to such a list? I would be very pleased and grateful if you may.
I discovered this blog by searching on ask.com for “calendar of mental illness” and found your writing to be refreshing. It is now on my favorites list. Thank you for being a beacon of reason and critique in a “Diagnosis Crazy” world (pun intended).
Sincerely,
Chadley McVeigh
As I’m sure you’re already aware, more than 11 million men and women in the United States struggle with an eating disorder. To raise awareness and understanding of these devastating diseases, Eating Recovery Center, a behavioral hospital focused on comprehensive treatment and sustainable recovery for eating disorders based in Denver, has developed this Blogger’s Guide to Eating Disorders (http://www.docstoc.com/docs/19664129/Bloggers-Guide-to-Eating-Disorders). This guide offers information and resources to support your stories about America’s deadliest mental illness.
As I’m sure you’re already aware, more than 11 million men and women in the United States struggle with an eating disorder. To raise awareness and understanding of these devastating diseases, Eating Recovery Center, a behavioral hospital focused on comprehensive treatment and sustainable recovery for eating disorders based in Denver, has developed this Blogger’s Guide to Eating Disorders (http://www.docstoc.com/docs/19664129/Bloggers-Guide-to-Eating-Disorders). This guide offers information and resources to support your stories about America’s deadliest mental illness.
Crystal (Eating Recovery Center)
Thank you for all your insight. I will definitely be referring back to this blog.
Saw your site on Twitter in the Health category and felt that it was a very good site to follow. Ivory Burke
Hi my name is Fernando and i saw your add on twitter, i think your company is ok, and i was treated for depression 2 years ago and i field that i still on, besides some people like me needs a blog like this one where Q & A are simple complicated more and less than the ussual.
Fernando Vazquez “elmojado”
Hi
(tips_info)
we are following you on twitter, but i could not reply to your message because you are not following us
I find you when i browses under health on twitter.
best regards
jonne
Hi,
I followed you on Twitter and you DM’d me asking how I found you. Well, first of all Twittre won’t allow me to DM or reply to anyone who isn’t following me, which seems ridiculous and so I don’t appear rude I’m posting here.
I followed you on Twitter because I am just looking out for Tweets which seem to have similar interests. I am a hypnotherapist and Coach specialising in health and wellbeing. I may have found you through following someone else’s followers, again looking out for similar interests.
Sorry this isn’t very helpful to find out how you are being found, but best I can do. new to Twitter and just seeing how it goes at the moment.
Best regards
Pam Paradise
Hi, I just started following you on twitter. You sent me a direct message asking how I found you and requested a direct message back. However twitter does not allow a direct message to be sent if the recipient is not also a follower. I’m sorry. I found you on twitter, with a PTSD search. I hope that helps!
Hi, I couldn’t send you a direct message, error message from twitter, kept coming up.This was the only way I could think of returning your direct message to me. I found your site searching health on the web. Being in and out of therapy for years now, found your info of interest to me. Thanks for letting me follow, hope it’s still okay.
I receive your request for a response to me following you on twitter. However, I am unable to respond directly because you are not following me.
I am a PhD student in psychology and I have been doing research on my own that I want to work on outside a university setting.
I found you under the health tab on twitter. I am interested in mental health issues. I have done some interesting research if your interested in establishing a correspondence.
John Clark
I found you on twitter with a search for health/eatingdisorders. I am interested in recovery from addiction/mental illness and am enjoying reading your site. Please check out my blog at the address above – it presents the concept that recovery is attained by delving into the urge that drives addiction. Let me know your thoughts.
Val
You DM’d me on twitter but I couldn’t respond as you are not following me. I found you on someone else’s page and was interested in checking out your website further. We focus on improving the self confidence of individuals by using the skills we have learned from our own experiences with issues such as rape,depression,eating disorders,etc. Check us out! http://www.uptownimageconsulting.com and our twitter is twitter.com/myskinwithin
Thank you!
You DM’d me too and I found you through twitter/health. I’m interested in all the grey matter and found your site a good resource for mental health which I’m passionate about.
My son has schizoaffective disorder and aspergers syndrome which, for me, makes life very interesting and somewhat chaotic from time to time.
I trained as a counsellor years ago and am now veering my support towards those who are in recovery of mental illness. When I get my site updated I’ll include your link if you like http://www.xtraspirit.com
My twitter is http://www.twitter.com/xtraspirit
Cheers!
Lindsey
I’m just beginning to get active w twitter. I’m a life coach and am interested in mental health. I could not respond to you ‘directly’ because you need to follow me in order for me to directly respond to you.
Hello Grey Thinking,
Just like almost everyone above I could not respond to your request because you need to follow me. I think it would be good if you do so for we share a common interest: The Human Brain!
Hans
Sokrates Voice Analysing
Twitter: SokratesKnows
Aloha greythinking….I am responding to your request as to how I found you….you are listed in Twitter as a health resource….
Looking forward to reading your comments/tweets.
Peace,
Sean
thank you for your note. We found you by searching using terms relating to mental health resources.
A Brilliant Madness is a mental health support group, whose mission is to provide support for people who are doing every thing within their power to help themselves.This site is for those who are active in their healing process.
My name is Amber Harris and I’m working with Discovery Health on an important and timely initiative. May is Mental Health Month, and almost all of us have been impacted by mental illness — through a family member, a friend, or even a personal struggle. According to the National Institute of Mental Health:
An estimated 26.2% of Americans 18 and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year.
Mental disorders are the leading cause of disability in the U.S. and Canada for ages 15-44.
The burden of mental illness on health and productivity in the U.S. and throughout the world has long been underestimated. Data reveals that mental illness, including suicide, accounts for over 15% of the burden of disease in established economies (more than that caused by all cancers combined).
Six Nights of Understanding
In order to help end the stigma of mental illness and educate viewers, Discovery Health will dedicate May 2-7 (Psych Week) to an in-depth look at a variety of rare and common mental disorders — from anxiety disorders to the rare case of a child born schizophrenic — as seen through the eyes of the people who live with them.
View the full schedule: http://health.discovery.com/tv/psych-week/episode-guide.html
Watch a preview of the week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GV0rT_UAGQw
Online
Discovery Health is also helping to spread understanding about mental illnesses online with:
Video and resources on the Psych Week site on DiscoveryHealth.com: http://health.discovery.com/tv/psych-week/
@Disc_Health’s Mental Health Twitter list (http://twitter.com/Disc_Health/mental-health), with great information from a variety of resources
Making it easy for you to “Bring Change 2 Mind” (http://www.bringchange2mind.org) and share information and resources. Join us on May 1st and dedicate your Facebook status or tweet in honor of Mental Health Month:
Facebook: May is Mental Health Month. Help end the stigma of mental illness by making this your Facebook status & sharing these useful resources: http://bit.ly/9HtaMy
Twitter: May is Mental Health Month. Help end the stigma of mental illness by RT’ing this & sharing resources. http://bit.ly/9HtaMy
Sneak Preview
Get a jump start on the understanding and preview one or more of the specials from Discovery Health’s Psych Week:
The Woman with 15 Personalities
Born Schizonphrenic
My Strange Addiction
If you would like to screen any of the above, please let me know so I can add you to our online screening room.
We hope you’ll join us in continuing to enlighten others about mental health this May and beyond.
Thank you,
Amber
Amber Harris ● Manager, Digital Communications ● Discovery Communications
amber_harris@discovery.com ● Office: 240-662-5235 ● Mobile: 240-678-9184
Web: http://www.discoverycommunications.com ● Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/discoverycomm
i found you on twitter’s list of topics of interests
….I am responding to your request as to how I found you….While trading forein currency and reading a site chronicneurotoxins.com …I paused and opened a twitter account ( 1st time ever) just looked around at some things of interest and found you…I’m sure it’s the ADD in me! lol… I’m very interested in brain function optimization..thanks, Kosta Mercuris
Wondered if you were somehow interested in neuroscience (the brain) and also a fan of Grey’s Anatomy? I’m a therapist and a budding ecommerce merchant just getting started on Twitter. Being a digital immigrant I am learning how to use all this new technology, well maybe not so new, but new to me, to promote my ecommerce businesses. The Resistance Chair is one and buckwheat pillows is another. Sorry about not using the DM but – alas – you are not following me – yet :0)!
Hello there!
Glad to have found you in Twitter. I searched under the health issues. I am a Christian Life Coach as well as Pastoral Counselor while I complete my PhD in Psychology, your posts are of great interest to me, thank you!
Hi,I followed you on Twitter and you DM’d me asking how I found you. Well, first of all Twittre won’t allow me to DM or reply to anyone who isn’t following me, which seems ridiculous and so I don’t appear rude I’m posting here.I followed you on Twitter because I am just looking out for Tweets which seem to have similar interests. I am a hypnotherapist and Coach specialising in health and wellbeing. I may have found you through following someone else’s followers, again looking out for similar interests.Sorry this isn’t very helpful to find out how you are being found, but best I can do. new to Twitter and just seeing how it goes at the moment.Best regardsPam Paradise
+1
Greetings,
As mentioned above by others, I was unable to DM you back on Twitter as requested so I am posting a reply on here instead.
In answer to your question, I browsed suggestions on ‘health’, and there you were!
I have a direct interest in the subject matter you cover, more specifically anxiety disorders and depression.
Keep up the good work,
Regards,
Paul. (AW73)
Hello from Harare, Zimbabwe, where I try to ‘save’ teenagers from themselves, found greythinking per chance on Google. Great site, please keep it up. Modern and fresh. Thank you!
P.S. Same thing on Twitter – was not able to direct reply you!
Hi. like others onTwitter.. because you don’t follow me, I couldn’t respond directly. I am interested in how the brain works and use Right Brain Therapy to help my participants to find truth and healing. I am a Certified Heart Recovery Minister under the supervision of House of Myrrh Ministries. I’m not a licensed therapist, but we use Truth Ministry and are always striving to learn more about how the mind works and how it processes trauma.
As someone still struggling with weight/eating issues, I have enjoyed reading your posts.
Thanks, Kathy
Hi,
I am interested in your site because I am a psychotherapist in Austin TX. I also lead groups and conduct workshops in Austin currently, and I am planning to offer workshops in other areas of the globe. You can look at my links below to see what I’m doing. If you think this would benefit your followers, please tweet about my work.
Thank you,
Lynne Arial, MA, LPC
http://www.AustinOnTrackCounseling.com
http://www.meetup.com/Getting-Free-Circles-in-Austin/calendar/13974106/
http://www.meetup.com/Getting-Free-Circles-in-Austin/calendar/13995300/?from=list&offset=0
http://twitter.com/catharsisrocks
Hello from Debbie in New Market, VA …cannot seem to “direct reply” you because u r not following me! New to this stuff, don’t really get the concept of “following someone” but I think I AM Following You! I’ve been reading many replies and threads from your site and decided that I too fit the bill of “Perfectionist-Procrastinator” to the point extreme I’m afraid. But, that’s life, when you’re told all your life that you’re expected to be an achiever, a success, good at what ever you do-well you find yourself trying to live up to the expectations of those raising you. I’d love to break this cycle of ‘just do your best’, ‘it’s good enuff for government work’, ‘it’s the best you can do in the time allotted’, ‘don’t try to be perfect, just get it done’, messy room, messy house, messy desk, BEST PROCRASTINATOR of the AGES-that’s me!
scapergal
Hi
I’m a neuroscience graduate student and your tweets were recommended as I was setting up my twitter account because I was interested in Health Topics, specially in Mental Health. I you have any questions, please do not hesitate in contacting me.
Hi – Paddy lund here. You sent me a DM on Twitter. Could not reply to it, as i think you need to be following me or something to do that. Anyway, in response to your question, i found you on a search for organisations working in mental health, as this is my focus and passion with my busines, krysallis.
best wishes
Paddy
Hi,
I’m replying in response to your direct message via Twitter. I had the same problem as Paddy and couldn’t reply via Twitter.
My reason for following you is that I work with the government. As a public servant, I have to deal with all kinds of people. I am a school educator (M.A.) with a B.A. in Social Work. So, I am very interested in how the human mind works and it is related to my E-commerce in which I strive to offer products to help people achieve a sound body, mind and spirit. It’s still in construction but up and running.
Take care and spread the word around about my website.
Justo
Hey there. I’ve been following you on Twitter for a while and I just thought I’d stop by and say hello. My name is Katherine. I write Postpartum Progress, the most widely-read blog on postpartum depression. Hope this comment doesn’t seem strange — I’m just trying to be better about reaching out and meeting the fellow psych bloggers I enjoy. So, good day to you and thanks for what you do!
Hi,
I found you on Twitter, and was interested in knowing more about you. I am really interested in how the human mind works, as a writer and lay counsellor.
Blessings and Happy Holidays
Vip
Vip,
Great to have you reading!
Hey!
Are you okay? I ask because I have noticed you haven’t updated your blog in a while.
I hope everything is alright.
Take care,
Kristina
Hi Kristina,
Thanks for the concern! I’ve had some medical issues that I’ve had to deal with recently (not eating disorder-related), so I’ve been MIA. Getting back into the swing of things, though!
I appreciate the thought! Take care, too.
grey
I just joined up with Twitter and started following you. I went through all previous tweets and here (also) to find updated information on PTSD/cPTSD. Your information from 2007 left me aching for more!!
Although it is 2011 now, there still seems to be to many people self-diagnosing and using it as a crutch for PTS symptoms. Most of my current information is from a web-site in Australia (which is very good) and not from the research in the United States. Could you help me out? BTW, hope you are feeling better now!
Hi Christy —
Thanks for following GT on twitter! I’ll try and increase my focus on PTSD… it’s definitely a big interest of mine. Is there anything in particular that you’re looking for?
Thanks,
grey
Hi Greythinking!
I am a 17-year-old high school senior in upstate New York. I was anorexic a few years back, and still struggle with disordered eating and food issues from time to time, though it’s been gradually getting better. Ever since official recovery from my eating disorder, I’ve wanted to help others with similar struggles. I really admire the work you’re doing on this blog, so I wanted to share my related new project, website The Shapes Of Sexy. It is a forum, blog, and resource site for topics surrounding eating disorders, body image, self-image, and self-love. http://www.theshapesofsexy.com
I certainly hope you will check it out if you have an opportunity to!
Kit –
Good for you for using your recovery to help/inspire others! I looked at the No Makeup Day post, and it reminds me of something similar that Constance Rhodes did for the True Campaign. I think she has another challenge going on now, actually. It might be something to check out.
Thanks for reading GT
I have quoted your blog extensively in an article that will appear soon in the European Eating Disorders Review: CAN EATING DISORDERS BECOME “CONTAGIOUS” IN GROUP THERAPY AND SPECIALIZED INPATIENT CARE?
if you wish I can send you a copy, that however cannot be distributed because of copyright
Re: Walter van der Eycken article on contagion in groups. As a researcher and observer I sometimes noted that non-eating disordered young people with borderline personality features would adopt eating-disordered symptoms. Very few of them became “successful” with their adopted disorder as they quickly discovered they could not starve themselves for very long, but others who adopted binge-vomiting managed to make themselves quite ill. It looked as though it was difficult for the therapist in the group to prevent the borderline personalities from dominating once they started talking about the extreme behaviours they had adopted, so they were usually excluded from that stage onwards. [This was in Adelaide, South Australia].
Hey there… I didn’t see an email address where I could contact you, so I thought I’d try this.
I came up with the concept of a blogger book club a while back, and am going to launch it in a few weeks. We’re going to start with “Eating In The Light Of The Moon” by Anita Johnston. Basically, every member reads a chapter a week, and posts their thoughts on their own personal blog. The Blogger Book Club blog (http://bloggerbookclub.wordpress.com) will link to each post so people can navigate. Hopefully it will generate some good conversation, motivation, and encouragement.
Just wanted to see if you’d like to join it, and/or tell your readers. If you joined, that would be awesome… I really love everything you write!
Hi, I connected with this blog from Twitter because I was delighted to see an informative, yet readable blog concerning mental illness. I am bi polar and I guess always have been, but It really adversely affected me in the last 7 years. Many “mental illness” blogs write either from a why me perspective or a very difficult to understand psychological basis (and I’m a lawyer and I don’t understand them). Your blog and what I’ve read on Twitter goes to the everyday life of the matter and this I like. When I can figure out how to follow this blog, I will.
Pam
Pirate Knitting
Pam,
Great to have you reading! You can add grey thinking to your RSS reader to follow. I plan on setting up an email subscription option in the near future, if that would help.
Best,
grey
I’m contacting you because I have a few ideas for an article that, in my opinion, would be very fitting for your readers.
The format of the article would be as follows:
Length: >= 400-600 words.
Delivery: Formatted HTML file with pictures and relevant supplementary resources, ready for publishing.
Copyrights: 100% original and not published anywhere else; the article will be for the exclusive use of your blog.
Would it be fine if the article body contained one, entirely relevant link to my website, which would add even more value to the article?
I really love to write, so I’m absolutely ready to prepare the article for you and send it for your approval within the next few days; I’m sure you will like it and we’ll get it to work, but should you decide not to publish I will just stash it in my private collection for later use – no harm done!
Let me know if this is something you would be interested in.
Kind regards,
Alyssa
Dear Grey Thinking,
As the media intern for a non-profit focusing on mental health advocacy, I recently came across your organization in my online search for mental health resources and believe there is an excellent opportunity for cross-promotion between our Web sites.
Peers Envisioning and Engaging in Recovery Services, or PEERS, is a consumer-run agency that is leading the innovative Social Inclusion Campaign in Alameda County, California. The mission of the campaign is to promote social inclusion of and end stigma and discrimination against individuals with mental health issues.
One way we hope to promote social inclusion is by asking members of the community to make a personal commitment to end mental health stigma. By taking the “Stigma Stops with Me” Facebook pledge on our website (http://www.peersnet.org/pledges/makepledge) or on our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/pages/PEERS-Peers-Envisioning-Engaging-in-Recovery-Services/82259569303), you will be bringing people together to combat mental health stigmatization and advocate for the betterment of the community as a whole. We also welcome any friends, family, or colleagues you have who may be interested to pledge as well.
In addition, we are interested in placing your link and logo on the PEERS Web site as a “Community Partner” at http://www.peersnet.org/partners. In return, we would appreciate a PEERS logo and link placement on your site if you are able.
Thank you, and I look forward to the opportunity of working together!
Hello,
I am Dr.Ashish Bhattacharya (M.D medicine),a consultant physician in Aurangabad,Maharashtra,India.
I could not reply to the message you left for me in my Twitter account as there was no mail id to respond
to and I could not message you from Twitter as you are not following me.
I am glad that I am following you on twitter and you were suggested by Twitter as I am following Harvard Health,
which is following you!This is because we share similar interests.
Again it has been a pleasure following your posts on Twitter.
I wish you the very best in your commendable efforts
Dr.Ashish Bhattacharya
Aurangabad
bhatta_agd@yahoo.co.in