I’ll always remember the first panic attack that I experienced in reaction to my child’s mental health issues. Don’t get me wrong, I had already had many sleepless nights and terrifying, tear-filled moments. But never an actual panic attack. It was the first night of Rosh Hashana. Our teenaged daughter had been recently hospitalized for severe Read More …
Author: Anonymous Female
You came into my life when I was all of seventeen years old. You wreaked havoc on my simple and blissful existence. You overtook me, you controlled me. You unhooked my cart from the train of life. You ruined my plans, my dreams. Panic attacks, manic episodes, and confusion became part of my life. Psychiatrists, Read More …
The following poem was selected as one of the winners of this year’s Refuat Hanefesh Creative Expression Contest. Age group: high school. Message from the author: Trapped is a poem discussing the feelings of depression one faces and how one feels trapped within themselves Barely Breathing: suffocationA silent stone in jailThey won’t put me on probationI Read More …
Editor’s Note: This piece contains descriptions of the author’s Sexaholism symptoms in general terms, which some readers may find uncomfortable. Refuat Hanefesh believes that addiction is a critically important issue to shed a light on in the Jewish community, particularly this segment of addiction as it is seldomly discussed. We commend the author for sharing Read More …
I just recently turned 22. A birthday is always a good time to stop and reflect on the previous year and make goals for the coming year. And currently being in quarantine, I can’t help but remember where I was a year ago on my 21st birthday. The period around my 21st birthday was the Read More …
One year ago, I was covered with bruises and cuts that never seemed to heal. One year ago, I was living off of one hundred calories maximum per day. One year ago, I was weak, cold, tired, sore, and sad every moment of every day. One year ago, I decided to finally start to turn Read More …
Sometimes, a book can provide the clarity needed to understand one’s life. I discovered the story of my life in a thin children’s book, Are You My Mother? by P. D. Eastman As a child, Are You My Mother? was my favorite storybook. It was the one I would read aloud to my brother each Sunday Read More …
The mask I wear is a pretty thick one. My mask is so intricate that no one would ever perceive it to be a mask. I have never been able to take off this mask entirely. Even during the times that I have been able to peel sums of it off, those moments of liberation Read More …