Melanie Lockert remembers checking the traffic for her blog, Dear Debt, and feeling shocked at the results.
Someone had found her site by searching, “I want to kill myself because of debt.”
Lockert started Dear Debt in January 2013 after spending the previous year feeling depressed about her student loans. She posted monthly updates about her efforts to pay off $81,000 while working temporary hourly gigs before she landed a role running communications and planning events for a nonprofit. Along the way, she was open about her mental health struggles and how they were tied to her debt.
She had created her blog as a way to stay positive while she paid off the debt. But looking at the search terms that brought readers to her site made her recognize that her accountability stretched far beyond herself.
“It gave me an instant sense of purpose,” Lockert said.
She had attended counseling the previous year, after negotiating with a graduate student clinic to pay $5 per session while she was underemployed. She knew how much her debt affected her outlook.
She read up on the link between debt and depression. She saw she was far from alone.
“I found out that people who die by suicide are eight times more likely to have debt,” Lockert said. “From the emails I get, I know that debt is really affecting families and their mental health and their ability to find joy.”
People with debt are three times more likely to suffer from depression, according to a 2013 study published in the Clinical Psychology Review.
Lockert wrote a short post for people with debt who were feeling hopeless.
“You are not alone,” she declared. “You are not a loan.”
Still thinking about those search terms, she wrote another post.
“I want to jump through my computer and give you a hug,” she wrote. “Shake you and say your life is worth so much more.”
Then, she started getting emails from people who were desperate and afraid.
What Happened When She Wrote a Letter to Her Debt
A few months into blogging, Lockert wrote her first breakup letter to her debt.
“Dear Debt,” the letter reads. “You do not define me. My worth is more important than the value of your number. Love, M.”
Month: July 2018
STAY — Patricia J Grace
The tendency to run every morning from feelings has been much of what my life was like. Staying, going deeper, like catching someone running by and grabbing their T-shirt, stay put. Don’t be afraid. Yet life is scary, not knowing day to day what will be, more so, facing the quagmire of thoughts within. Yet […]
I have a serious mental illness and I don’t want to die young — Shedding Light on Mental Health
No one ever said having bipolar disorder is fair. Not only does it take years to find the right combination of medications, it also takes a great deal of time to sort out how to best take care of ourselves. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is we must learn how to advocate for […]
via I have a serious mental illness and I don’t want to die young — Shedding Light on Mental Health
Friday Quote
“Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation.” – Nelson Mandela.
Emotionally Equipped
DonorsChoose.org
Mrs. Orozco has a new project! Donate to Technology Matters! to help her classroom.
I want to share the type of projects teachers are doing in our school district today for the leaders of tomorrow. I included the book list, you may want to purchase some books yourself.
Emotionally Equipped
My students need fictional books over social issues and emotions to let them laugh while learning to solve their own problems, use better behavior, and develop healthy relationships.
My Students
As a teacher in a Title I elementary school I serve students with a low socioeconomic status. My students are faced with several challenges both in and out of the classroom. Despite the many challenges they face, I am aiming to increase Social/Emotional intelligence, the understanding of feelings, and using them to inform actions.
Children who exhibit healthy social, emotional, and behavioral adjustment are more likely to have good academic performance in elementary school.
The sharp distinction between cognition and emotion that has historically been made may be more of an artifact of scholarship than it is representative of the way these processes occur in the brain (Barrett and others 2007). From the minute they walk in the door of my classroom I focus on their potential and growth while they are with me. I may not be able to control their home lives, but I can certainly guide/influence their experiences during the school day.
Donors will be helping bring Children’s Fiction Social Issues Emotions Feelings Books in my classroom to help build
Social-emotional development including the child’s experience, expression, and management of emotions and the ability to establish positive and rewarding relationships with others.
My Project
As a teacher, I feel it’s important to recognize that social intelligence is different from just “getting along” with others or following rules. The books that I have selected will help students be able to find solutions during conflicts with others, demonstrate respect for the feelings of others, and adapting to different social situations.
Social/Emotional intelligence is the understanding of ones feelings and using them to inform actions.
Although there is some disagreement about the exact terminology to use, social and emotional intelligence both refer to the ability to understand your own and others’ feelings and emotions and then to use this understanding to inform your decisions and actions.
Socially/emotionally intelligent people solve interpersonal problems quickly by understanding what is upsetting others and being empathetic to these concerns. They tend to recognize when they’ve said something that made someone uncomfortable and know what makes others “tick.” Socially/emotionally intelligent people are able to thrive in many different relationships and settings because they quickly learn the social rules.
Where Your Donation Goes
Could More Mental Health Counseling Improve School Safety?
Could More Mental Health Counseling Improve School Safety?
The school shooting in Florida earlier this year caused a new round of discussions about gun safety, although Republicans in the General Assembly say they would rather talk about other ways to make schools safer.
One of those ways is to look at mental health in the classroom.
Virginia schools need more mental health counselors. That is one of the conclusions of a select committee assembled in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida.
“School safety is more than just the shootings like at Parkland,” says Delegate Mike Mullin, a Democrat from Newport News and a member of the committee. “It’s the day-to-day bullying that affects and destroys young lives and emotions. A lot of that could be caught much more early on, and our schools could only get safer because of it.”
One way to accomplish this goal is to lift a cap on support staff in Virginia schools, a recession-era restriction that was created at a time when people were concerned that teachers were being crowded out by the growing ranks of support staff.
Republican House Speaker Kirk Cox says mental health counselors should also be able to focus on counseling instead of administrative duties. “So maybe one of the areas where we need to do more with school counselors is to free them up to do what that job is. Some of them do a lot of school testing, and they do other things,” Cox says.
The superintendent of New Kent County Public Schools, for example, says his mental health counselors spend almost half of their time on logistical duties, like facilitating standardized tests.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
Psychiatric Hospital Stay 2001 Part Two
Journal Entries
I can only have visitors from 7-8 pm and no way Gramps can drive that late. My brother and fiancé brought my grandparents one night. I was thrilled until the goodies they brought were taken away. Fuming, I almost checked out.
I have to share a room, the worst is we don’t have a bathroom in here. I feel so much anger, violated, isolated and lonely.
In the Recreation Hall has one television with a bad angle housed in plastic. Most of the over medicated blankly stare at whatever is on.
I see the doctor in the morning which means ECT will not start until Wednesday. The lab work and test were fine, I have no idea what day my first ETC is on. If I keep to my plan, the delays have me staying till January 1st. He gave me the AA lecture and I heard the nurses talking about me. What the hell happened to the Privacy Act? My Psychiatrist knows how much I drink, I ask him often if drinking affects my meds.
12/18/2001
In military fashion we rolled out of bed at 6:30, people were putting make-up on, whatever floats their boat. My bed was a rock with two pebbles for pillows. How can you sleep when staffers come in every two hours. I know this is a jail. They search rooms everyday at 3:00, giving me the same lecture about how beneficial group sessions are.
A friend is taking care of pets and getting mail, probably staying there. I wish he would come see me, bring some magazines and let me know what Christmas cards have arrived. He has no concept of mental illness and chooses to avoid all attempts to explain why I’m here.
It’s hard to comprehend how people wear an imaginary badge for the number of times they have been here, totally sad. In the 5 by 5 smoking area outside you here lots of bullshit. Lost souls looking for any affirmation the hospital can spit out.
I stay in bed all day adjusting pillows to read, no comfort to be found. The sun shines in the window and the door is closed, privileges are great. Today was the first day I could go to cafeteria, nothing different from what was brought to me while on suicide watch except Coke instead of water.
12/20/2001
I question why I’m here when looking around, people have given up and if left alone will probably not make it. Sick, yes I’m very sick but know how good my life is. I’ve been here since Monday and now getting first treatment. The standard for ECT is only three treatments a week.
I don’t care for the doctor and it’s mutual. Unlike his other zombie patients I ask questions, will not budge until get answers. My meds are not changing, scary to think how quick I would join the over medicated. One lady was taking one of the same meds as I do, it’s a stimulant and must be taken before noon. She was taking at 5:00. She was too afraid to say anything to the doctor. No wonder she has to take sleeping pills at night.
Thank goodness I have voicemail Christmas wishes from friends. It’s not fit for Santa in here. I miss Sasha and Truffel’s so much. No one to play with them. What type of friend won’t call back to fill you in on the kids, he likes them so I don’t worry about their welfare. I want to get better and get home before end of year.
12/21/2001
My first ECT treatment went well, the usual some jaw pain and headache. I worked hard on the doctor to give me a weekend pass, insurance companies don’t like the in and out paperwork he says. I want to hold my kids, they need to know I’m coming back. Treatments start again Monday. My mind is twirling, maybe I’ll check out Friday, only four treatments…..do feel better. I know, it’s not enough but this place is making me worse.
I want a new job, feel successful again, meet new people, have fun, a drink and make money. Meeting a nice man in the new year is icing on cake, I’m ready to laugh and enjoy life.
12/22/2001
There are an extra 10 people here for a day program. Did laundry and read, a busy day for me. HaHa.
Melinda
Continued……
Friday Quote
Postpartum Depression I
Thanks for sharing. Melinda
“Mothers cannot give from a depleted source. Every mother needs emotional, mental, physical and spiritual validation, nourishment and support. When a mother is respected and well cared for, she, and her whole family, will benefit.”
I think this has been the post I’ve mostly put off. There is a lot of things that happened, that it scares me a bit to see it typed out. This was a time for me where I didn’t know how strong I could be until I had no other choice.
When my first daughter was born, I was 19. I instantly fell in love with the idea of having a little person of my own, so I wouldn’t feel so lonely. My pregnancy wasn’t planned or meant “to trap” anyone. I used every method possible to prevent from becoming pregnant, but nonetheless she came and she brightened my world. Soon after I gave birth to…
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Birthday Card From Husband This Morning
At 55 this is romance? Have a great day! M
lookingforthelight.blog 