Ashley L. Peterson
Bio
Mental health blogger | Former MH nurse | Living with depression | Author of 4 books: A Brief History of Stigma, Managing the Depression Puzzle, Making Sense of Psychiatric Diagnosis, and Psych Meds Made Simple | Proud stigma warrior
Stories (56/0)
Manufacturing Pathology
Mental illness stigma often takes the form of dismissing the experience of those living with mental illness, but it can also take a subtler form. When normal emotions like sadness and anxiousness are spoken of as if they are on par with mood or anxiety disorders, this can result in those illnesses being viewed as just a common occurrence who importance is exaggerated. Many people lack the vocabulary and knowledge to be able to to distinguish between occasionally feeling depressed and having a depressive disorder, or occasionally feeling anxious and having an anxiety disorder.
By Ashley L. Peterson5 years ago in Psyche
Too Curmudgeonly to Couple?
One of the Wiktionary definitions of curmudgeon is "an ill-tempered person full of stubborn ideas or opinions." According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, it's a "crusty, ill-tempered, and usually old man." I'm not a man, and I'm not particularly old, either, although at just shy of 40 I'm pretty old by societal standards to be single and never married. But does that mean I'm too old to ever be consciously coupled?
By Ashley L. Peterson5 years ago in Humans
An Introvert with Contradictions
I've always been an introvert. Being alone is what feels easy, what feels good. It's how I recharge depleted internal batteries. Yet I live in a society where extroversion is the expectation. People are supposed to be social creatures with large groups of friends who enjoy attending social functions. I'm not that person, and I've gotten to a point in my life where I no longer have any interest in pretending to be that person.
By Ashley L. Peterson5 years ago in Humans
My Guinea Pigs Are My Therapists
It's well known that service animals are beneficial and therapeutic for people with disabilities, but they can also be extremely helpful for mental health. I'm the mom to four guinea pigs, and I also struggle with major depressive disorder. While most people probably wouldn't think of a guinea pig as a therapist, they've done a great deal for me in multiple ways.
By Ashley L. Peterson5 years ago in Petlife
Is It Okay to Disclose Mental Illness at Work?
If you have a mental illness and work at either a paid job or a volunteer gig, chances are at some point you'll be faced with the question of whether to disclose your mental illness at work, and if so, how much. While employers may not be legally allowed to discriminate, the possibility of negative repercussions is still very real.
By Ashley L. Peterson5 years ago in Psyche
- Top Story - November 2018
Barriers to Mental Health Care for Mental Health ProfessionalsTop Story - November 2018
The sad truth is that there are often considerable barriers for anyone to access mental health care. There are also some unique barriers that those who work as mental health care providers must face. As a mental health nurse, this has made things extra complicated for me when seeking out treatment.
By Ashley L. Peterson5 years ago in Psyche
The Gendering of Mental Health
We live in a highly gendered society. Certain roles, behaviours, and experiences may be seen as typical of one gender but unacceptable in the other. Those who do not conform to gender norms and expectations, including those who identify as transgendered/queer/two-spirited, are met with fear and negative judgment. So what does this mean for mental health, both now and in the past?
By Ashley L. Peterson5 years ago in Psyche
Is There Really a "Post-Abortion Syndrome"?
Reversing Roe is a documentary recently released on Netflix that looks at the attempts that have been made over the years to challenge the United States Supreme Court's decision on abortion in the Roe v. Wade case. It mentioned something referred to as "post-abortion syndrome," a spectrum of adverse mental health effects that occur following an abortion. As a mental health professional myself, I knew that this isn't a diagnosis in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5), but I was curious to know more. While I support a woman's right to choose what happens with her own body, my focus here is not whether abortion is wrong or wrong, but rather whether post-abortion syndrome has been established as a legitimate phenomenon. I will use the term abortion to refer specifically to induced abortions rather than spontaneous abortions (i.e. miscarriages).
By Ashley L. Peterson5 years ago in Psyche