YAB GAB - ON THE BLOG

September is hydrocephalus awareness month. Hydrocephalus is a chronic, neurological condition that is caused by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the cavities (ventricles) of the brain. Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear liquid that protects the brain and spinal cord. Most children and adults who have hydrocephalus (like me) have a valve placed in their head called a shunt that drains the fluid directly into their abdomen or heart. Out of the twenty-six surgeries I have had, many were shunt malfunctions. My hydrocephalus was caused by a brain bleed I had at birth. I was born three months early. Another challenge was I had two shunt replacement surgeries within a short period before I began ninth grade. That was a very challenging because it made the start of my high school experience more difficult than others. Living with hydrocephalus is particularly challenging during certain weather conditions like rain or storms because I get awful headaches. Having a condition lik...

Suicide. A 3 syllable, 7 letter word that is not talked about. The moment it’s mentioned people turn the other cheek. They become uncomfortable and honestly believe it will cause suicide. Suicide isn’t a contagious word. It is a word that starts a conversation. A conversation that opens eyes to the reality of the pandemic of the final symptom of depression which is suicide. This word is preventable. This word deserves equality, love, and compassion just like any other symptoms of an illness. Over 12 years of my life I battled with this. I battled with endless hopelessness, a product of institutionalization in and out of psychiatric care watching the horrors of a broken system. The shame and stigma surrounding me led to barriers in my own healing, and setbacks that were life threatening. Suicide seen as attentioning-seeking, a choice, and selfish which is the very conversation used to talk about mental health. Those statements promote silence in the already internal battle that 1 in 3...