Daisies and Bruises

 ONE SHOT, TWO SHOTS, THREE SHOTS .....  Who doesn't love a glass of wine with a friend or a cold beer on a hot day? A glass of red wine while cooking dinner on a Friday evening? A glass of champagne to celebrate a promotion or a birthday? I guess these are all pretty common events or occasions that would allow one to consume alcohol, no big deal. But what if that one glass of wine with a friend turns into 2 bottles, some cocktails and a couple shots in a dingy bar with random men hitting on you and then having to bribe some cops on the way home so that you don't get arrested for DUI? doesn't sound like your average, healthy, Wednesday afternoon, now does it? Now what if you wake up the next morning and you are surprisingly NOT hungover? but instead, you hate yourself, you feel guilt and shame, you look in the mirror and see a disappointment and feel completely and utterly lost within yourself? Even more toxic if you ask me.  Well, that was me not very long ago.  I w...

13 Reasons Why the F@#!k  "The following episode contains graphic depictions of sexual assault & drug abuse, which some viewers may find disturbing. It is intended for mature audiences. Viewer discretion is advised"  But is this enough? Has this become just another way for Multi-million dollar corporations to cover their own asses? Do they really care about the audiences trauma or triggers while watching? Have these companies become so blind to the fact that the trauma they so easily portray are real life traumatic events and triggers for real people?  I started watching 13 Reason why during it's Season one inception in 2017. I was fascinated by the idea of a series tackling real life struggles of teenagers, young adults and even parental figures and teachers. Finally a show that can shed light on very pressing issues, right? The show covers some very serious topics: suicide, Bipolar disorder, homophobia, depression, bullying, gun violence, substance abuse and sexual ...

  TAKE ONE Getting diagnosed is one thing, getting medication, the RIGHT medication, is a whole other ball game.  I remember my best friend telling me about her back and forth with medication until they found the right one for her. I kept thinking about her during my session with my Psychiatrist. All I could think about was if I would be lucky enough to get the right medication on our first try. Delusional or Optimistic? I don't know.  I was prescribed a 25mg of medication A. To be taken once a day for a week and then 50mg for the next three weeks. I was told this would help me with my PTSD symptoms, my BPD symptoms and my anxiety, sounds like a big win to me. It was like a dream, I hadn't gotten an anxiety attack at all, in the entire month I had been taking medication A. But something else was changing, I was changing.  Everybody knew me to be talkative, bubbly, optimistic and encouraging. If you asked me how my day was I could easily tell you, and I would enjoy sp...

  Freedom in Expression "Freedom"; what do you think of when you hear this word? Some may think of ending a toxic or abusive relationship, some may think of getting out of their small home town and seeing the world. For me, freedom is held in my diagnosis and reclaiming my life. Freedom is sharing my story.  My name is Elöise. but my loved ones call me Lö. I was born, raised, and currently live in South Africa.  I was raised by two beautiful souls and am blessed to have a wonderful older brother who. to this day, teaches me so much about life.  I want to share my story with as many people as I can. I am not alone, WE are not alone. Our diagnosis does not make us who we are. Our diagnosis effects us on a day to day basis, but it does not MAKE us. We are more than our diagnosis, we are #MoreThanOurMeds.