Welcome to my little space! I’m Meloney, a thirty year old mom of 3-turned-writer from the Caribbean, known for my deep thoughts, dark sense of humor, and excessive use of gifs. I am not the typical Caribbean blogger, nor do I want to be. There are many things I want this space to be, but first and foremost it’s about furthering the discussion about mental health. The more we talk about it, the less power it has over us. At least, it’s been that way for me.
Why start a blog about mental health?
After my third child was born and I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, it wasn’t the sort of news anyone wanted to hear. Can you say life-changing? I can! It hasn’t always been pretty, and it’s definitely been a learning experience – maybe the most important one of my life.
Does the chronic mental health condition that has now plagued my life seem like an impossible feat to overcome? That was my perception of it, too — until I stepped up among my peers, sharing my story and inviting others to do the same. Why? Well, it’s pretty straightforward. The general attitude towards mental illness in the Caribbean is informed by our cultural beliefs and biased and archaic misinformation. This pervasive stigma toward mental illness within the Caribbean has conditioned us to prefer to suffer in silence, rather than seek help for our mental illnesses. Well, look out folks because this millennial is determined to change that.
I know talking about mental health makes you want to clench your butt and grind your teeth. But with a good dose of humor, I’ll help ease the tension of such a serious topic. (BTW this is the part where you unclench). This is as much about sharing my story as it is about hearing yours. I hope that you will be part of this journey with me. In time, I hope I get to hear (and share) your stories too.