Wading into the tall grass of our overgrown prairie field on a crisp autumn morning at Edelen Acres, I was after milkweed pods—those delicate, silky parachutes catching the low golden sunlight. Dressed in my favorite jade green sweater, I was so absorbed in capturing the light through my phone that I didn’t notice the quiet … Continue reading Traveling Seeds
Tag: Mental Health Warrior
Why I work for NAMI
"Your journey, Danei, has been nothing short of miraculous."
The Next Chapter
"Praise God, we made it to here," I say as I kiss my husband thank you for my morning coffee at our beloved Edelen Acres.
Remembrance
By Danei Edelen Charles wasn’t the first person to speak up when entering a room, but often times he was the last to leave, ensuring everyone had a listening ear. One of the things I love about being a NAMI presenter, is that you get to hear the other presenters’ stories. When Charles and I … Continue reading Remembrance
Celebrating Life
By Danei Edelen Nothing says spring like the feeling of fresh air blowing through our house on a warm spring day like the afternoon after the Georgetown Community Day at Georgetown Elementary. After two years of isolation, I think everyone was looking for an excuse to get out of the house and be around people … Continue reading Celebrating Life
Finding your tribe
Like everyone, Russia's invasion of the Ukraine horrified me. Heartbreaking pictures of families fleeing for their lives, shattered my perception of our fragile façade of civility. Suddenly, I felt shells going off inside my weary soul. “Not again,” my heart cried. As the tanks roll across the landscape of the Ukraine, our fragile emotional worlds … Continue reading Finding your tribe
Why stigma is lethal
The first-time suicide impacted me directly was when a friend of mine took his life. As a kid, he always cracked jokes and pulled pranks, and I got to watch him grow into a wonderful, dedicated man. I can still remember standing at work, wearing my green suit, when I heard the news. I was … Continue reading Why stigma is lethal
Unpacking depression
“I was told, ‘If you are depressed, you have no excuse’” my friend, who battles depression, said to me recently. “That is just mental illness stigma,” I replied. What is mental health stigma? Mental health stigma refers to societal disapproval, or when society places shame on people who live with a mental illness or seek … Continue reading Unpacking depression
Our Toughest Battle of the Day
My psychiatrist once said to me, "The most important issue for anyone with a mental health condition is sleep."
Why did he have to ask a stranger?
Losing the battle with my morning headache I awoke late one morning to see this email from a complete stranger, “My 26 year old daughter Mary* is back in the hospital… As a parent I feel so helpless. Thank-you for helping to bring it out of the shadows. My daughter would rather die than to … Continue reading Why did he have to ask a stranger?