Under Construction - MHWA Retreat

Those illustrations are amazing and chilling for their amazing accuracy. My daughter has paranoid schizophrenia and it's so like that - dark voices and visions that terrify her.

I definitely think mental illness is offset some by my creative gifts. It gives me a way to cope and process things. Often times it is the inspiration for my stories. I just this week wrote a story that featured an autistic child in it inspired by my son. Years ago, while living alone I wrote a short story that was later published called about about dealing with loneliness and depression.

I also do some painting (of paint by numbers lol), cross stitching and coloring which helps me with mindfulness. It all combines to keep me sane in a world that often feels insane.