Meagan, Author at Okay Now Breathe

It takes so much strength and courage to love someone with depression. Hopefully these 5 tips to help your partner with depression will help you.

5 Loving Ways to Help Your Partner Through Depression

Although I’ve lived with mental illness my whole life, I am not a medical professional. If you need help finding a mental health care provider, call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or visit BetterHelp to talk to a certified therapist online at an affordable price. This post contains affiliate links. You can read my full disclaimer.

CONTENT WARNING: This post mentions suicide.

I’ve dealt with depression for the last 10 years of my life.

On my clear days, I realize just how much of a difference there is between the real Meagan and Swallowed-by-Depression Meagan. On clear days, I feel love. I feel hope. I feel so much of what I lost along the way.

No matter what day, I always feel so much guilt towards my boyfriend for having to put up with me. Because one thing is clear: it takes a tremendous amount of courage and strength to be with me.

Whether you or your partner has depression, I hope that these next 5 tips will help you better understand the process of living with this terrible mental illness.

Meagan June 24, 2016

Depression

Why DIY Projects Help Fight My Depression

About a year ago, my mom announced that she was divorcing my dad. She moved out, but I tried my best to turn this life-changing experience into a positive one.

When I got the chance to redo the home I grew up in, I jumped at the opportunity. I turned to my big sister for help, and now we are slowly making the house we lived in our entire lives feel like home.

In doing DIY projects, I began to realize just how beneficial they have been for my depression. They actually make me look forward to something, and I am embracing the experience fully.

Here are the 5 reasons why DIY projects help fight my depression:

Meagan June 17, 2016

Anxiety Depression Mental Health

Top 10 Musicians Who Sing About Mental Health

If you don’t know me, music is a huge passion of mine. I’m always listening to it, dancing to it, or making up my own. Music is my therapy.

I’ve talked quite a bit about music and particular songs that help my different mental illnesses on my blog. I wrote out my depression playlist, as well as my anxiety playlist. I’ve even written about 15 songs to listen to if you’re in a relationship with someone who has troubles with their mental health.

Today, I’ll be giving you my top 10 musicians who create music about mental health. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I have turned to these musicians in my life.

Meagan June 13, 2016

Depression Mental Health Relationships

6 Ways to Help Someone Who Self-Harms

TRIGGER WARNING: There is talk about self-harm and suicide. Please proceed with caution.

It was probably a little over a year into my relationship when I first introduced my boyfriend to my self-harm addiction. I sent him a picture saying I messed up. He just thought my clumsy self got hurt again. He didn’t know that I was the one who did that to myself.

He’s been dealing with the worst of my addiction for a couple years now, and he still has a hard time understanding what I go through on a daily basis. But he is starting to understand that recovery is most likely going to last a lifetime.

He now understands that anyone who self-harms is going through serious turmoil in their heads. It is such a hard addiction to beat, and the best way to support us through it is to be there for us. Through it all.

Here are 6 ways to help someone who self-harms:

Meagan May 31, 2016

Relationships

20 Completely Free Date Ideas to Build Lots of Fun in Your Relationship

I’m a simple gal. I like my dates how I like my chocolate. Sweet and cheap.

Whether you’re going on a first date or celebrating your 20th wedding anniversary, dates don’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Actually, the cheaper the date, the more personal the date can be.

Some of the best dates me and my boyfriend have gone on have been completely free. They’re so memorable, and it just shows that our relationship was built on true mutual feelings instead of all the bells and whistles.

Meagan May 20, 2016

Anxiety Depression Mental Health

8 Common Misconceptions and Myths About Self-Harm

TRIGGER WARNING: This post mentions self-harm and suicide.

As I’m reaching further and further into the process of healing myself, I began to realize just how little information about self-harm there actually is. It seems like not a lot of research has been done on what actually goes on with a person during times of a self-harm episode.

Digging deeper, I’ve realized that there are more myths and misconceptions about this disease than there are actual truths. So naturally, I decided that I would compile them in a list and further dissect them.

Here are the most common lies you’ll hear about self-harm:

Meagan May 5, 2016