Mark MI words

Driving around Canberra the last couple of weeks, I've been really impressed with how many stickers I've seen in the back of utes and trucks and stuff saying 'IT'S NOT WEAK TO SPEAK'. I'm so pleased that I'm starting to see this around and i want to dive in because I just want to give you my two cents worth on why I believe that speaking about your pain, about your hurt...

Falling down... failing... backsliding... whatever you want to call it does not make you weak. Falling down is a natural part of the learning process. So, it is with mental illness. The journey is not going to be in a neat line. There will be downs. There will be falls. but this does not make you weak. You ARE only weak if you DON'T get back up. Look how far you've come. You have fallen bu...

Falling down... failing... backsliding... whatever you want to call it does not make you weak. Falling down is a natural part of the learning process. So, it is with mental illness. The journey is not going to be in a neat line. There will be downs. There will be falls. but this does not make you weak. You ARE only weak if you DON'T get back up. Look how far you've come. You have fallen bu...

You know, when you talk to people about mental health, you’ll hear all kinds of takes about psychologists. Some folks absolutely swear by therapy and counselling, while others are more hesitant or even sceptical, maybe because of a bad experience or just different beliefs. It’s only natural—everyone’s got their own story and background that shape how they see mental health support. Let me share wh...

The Continuing Impact of Suicide The sad thing that I didn't understand when I attempted to take my life a number of years ago was that it wasn't going to end the pain. Sure, it would end my pain, and nobody knows what's next, so, for all intents and purposes, for somebody living with suicidal ideation, with the idea that they need a way out... ALL THEY REALLY WANT IS THE PAIN TO STOP....

Turning pain into purpose is a powerful idea. Many who struggle with mental health feel that difficult times are wasted, but these experiences can be given meaning. Finding purpose is more than just finding reasons to keep going—it's about discovering what makes life meaningful again. This journey is important for both those living with mental illness and those who care for them. Everyone can...

The Endless Treadmill: Coping with the Cycle of Failure Life with mental illness can often feel like a never-ending treadmill—a constant journey of perceived failure. Every time you turn around, it feels as though you’ve failed at something else. This sense of failure doesn’t always arise from specific events; sometimes it’s simply the feeling of not being healthy or “normal.” On today’s podcast,...

Sometimes the reality of living with mental illness is that it just sucks. There's no other way to put it. Sometimes, even though life might be going along well, things might be going well for you, you just wake up one day and everything's terrible. And you don't know why, and sometimes you feel like you've taken a huge backward step. I've experienced these moments quite a lot...

It's often challenging for someone living with mentalillness to recognise that their carers may also be experiencing pain. Managing symptoms can lead to self-focus, making it hard to see the struggles of thosewho help. Many say, "You don't understand what I'm goingthrough." Today, let's discuss the carer's role—mental illness affectseveryone involved, not just the ind...

When you have a mental illness every conversation you have can be a minefield. On the outside you're cool as a cucumber- but inside your mind is a tornado of self doubt, self-loathing and self recrimination. Every interaction is held with this ongoing sound track of self stigma. The truth is though, that you are entitled to an opinion- your voice does count. You are valid. SUPPORT US NOW. See...

Today we explore the complex challenge of caring for someone who no longer cares for themselves, highlighting the emotional difficulty in such situations. I'll use personal experiences of avoiding help due to fear of pain and discuss the persistence needed when the cared-for individual feels unworthy or believes no one cares for them. SUPPORT US NOW. See below for how. Check the website ⁠markm...

I’m doing something today that I never do. I’m going to talk about a subject not directly related tomental illness. I’m going to say something (that I am astounded to understand) will come at a cost. People WILL unsubscribe. Friends WILL unfriend me. But I cannot stay silent. I STAND WITH ISREAL. I support the Jews and their right to have a safe and protectedhomeland. But a conversation I had rece...

I've been watching a couple of people tell their stories just recently, and I've been wondering where the courage comes from for them to tell their story. Thats what we're going to discuss today on MMIW! SUPPORT US NOW. See below for how. Check the website ⁠markmiwords.com.au⁠ Buy the Shirts ⁠markmishirts.com⁠ Buy the book ⁠ https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09BC229P1/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&...

Discussions surrounding suicide are often avoided and considered difficult to address. Despite the discomfort associated with this topic, it is important that it remains part of our conversations. Recently, there has been increased attention to the appropriate use of language when discussing suicide, commonly referred to as "safe talk." There is a paradox in these discussions: while advocates emph...

You may be caring for someone who is exhibiting suicidal behaviours. Your natural (and normal) instinct is to want to fix them. This is wrong. You cannot fix the issues your loved one is going through. Your 'job' is to listen, to love them and try to get them to seek help. If you take on the burden of being responsible for their behaviors and decisions, The sad fact is that you are going t...

I recently discussed why I openly talk about suicide and believe it should be part of public conversation. There are several reasons, but three stand out: reducing stigma, addressing the silence that contributes to the issue, and recognising that we can't solve a problem if we don't understand it—open discussion is essential for understanding. SUPPORT US NOW. See below for how. Check the w...

The other day I found out that a friend of mine had died and for the last couple of days I've been clearly trying to digest it. I've lived overseas in the days before Facebook, and I have had these really intense personal friendships for a very short amount of time. Friendships that aren't documented in any way. No selfies or social media posts. I'm the sort of person who has frien...

I was asked today why I tell my lived experience story. It is not that people will feel sorry for me, nor is it a pity party. I tell my story to encourage others who suffer like me to know that mental illness is not the end of your story. Mental illness may be a bump in the road, but it does not have to be your identity! You can have a full life after mental illness! SUPPORT US NOW. See below for...

I'm never going to pretend I have all the answers. And in truth there are a million keys to resilience but there are 2 things that I have learned that keep me on the road to recovery... whatever that means. They are Patience and Purpose. I must have patience to know things will change; and a purpose to help keep me moving forward. SUPPORT US NOW. See below for how. Check the website ⁠markmiwor...

In this next chapter of BUMWIPER, I'm going to talk about things that I've never really spoken about out loud. I'm not a hundred percent sure how I'm going to get through this, but I want to try. SUPPORT US NOW. See below for how. Check the website ⁠markmiwords.com.au⁠ Buy the Shirts ⁠markmishirts.com⁠ Buy the book ⁠ https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09BC229P1/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&...

The book continues with a discussion of what it's like to work with Autistic people. The challenges, the victories and ultimately the impact that it had on me. SUPPORT US NOW. See below for how. Check the website ⁠markmiwords.com.au⁠ Buy the Shirts ⁠markmishirts.com⁠ Buy the book ⁠ https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09BC229P1/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=shattered+the+book&qid=1627454085&a...

Sexual abuse. In our righteous haste to protect the innocent we can leave the innocent accused with lasting scars and stigma. This is how. SUPPORT US NOW. See below for how. Check the website ⁠markmiwords.com.au⁠ Buy the Shirts ⁠markmishirts.com⁠ Buy the book ⁠ https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09BC229P1/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=shattered+the+book&qid=1627454085&sr=8-14⁠   #ShatteredT...

I went to work one day and for hours my client tried to kill himself. Chapter 5 of my book BUMWIPER tells this story. SUPPORT US NOW. See below for how. Check the website ⁠markmiwords.com.au⁠ Buy the Shirts ⁠markmishirts.com⁠ Buy the book ⁠ https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09BC229P1/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=shattered+the+book&qid=1627454085&sr=8-14⁠   #ShatteredThePodcast #Podcast #S...

I started writing BUMWIPER before I was hurt. I started writing it while I was still working in the disability profession and at was working at a fairly high level. I was about to become a network manager. I was a behavior modification expert. My skills were highly sought after and for all intents and purposes, this was going to be my life, working with people with disabilities. Then I got hurt, a...

When I first began writing BUMWIPER, over 20 years ago, i was a different man. I set out to write a book about the oft mis-understood world of caring for people with disabilities. It was going to be a lighthearted, self-deprecating look at my job and how I reacted to it. Now I see it as something different entirely. It is in many ways naive. It is immature. And it was untruthful. I did not underst...