Illness

I’ve never wanted to die

Olivia Epley5 Comments

Olivia Epley

Founder of Millennial Girl, Interrupted, a senior in a small Connecticut high school. I've been through many treatments and recoveries and am eager to share the lessons I've learned!

Latest posts by Olivia Epley (see all)

    I’ve never wanted to die. Sure, I’ve tried to kill myself. I’ve done so three times, and with varying degrees of severity. But I never was fully committed, though I was as committed as anyone can be. Let me explain. The first time I tried to kill myself is an occasion that I don’t like… Continue reading I’ve never wanted to die

    News & Media

    6 Books That Will Enhance Your Understanding of Mental Illness

    Olivia EpleyLeave a comment

    Olivia Epley

    Founder of Millennial Girl, Interrupted, a senior in a small Connecticut high school. I've been through many treatments and recoveries and am eager to share the lessons I've learned!

    Latest posts by Olivia Epley (see all)

      By now, if you’re a recurrent visitor, you’ve probably seen the short list of books I keep perched on the front page of this site. If you haven’t, every book there will be on this list, so no need to click out. I thought it might be worthwhile to expand upon it, as well as… Continue reading 6 Books That Will Enhance Your Understanding of Mental Illness

      Eating

      Anorexia and PTSD

      Olivia Epley1 Comment

      Olivia Epley

      Founder of Millennial Girl, Interrupted, a senior in a small Connecticut high school. I've been through many treatments and recoveries and am eager to share the lessons I've learned!

      Latest posts by Olivia Epley (see all)

        This week, the 25th of February through the 2nd of March, is National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. It’s also the last week during which I won’t be glued to my phone, hungering for college acceptance emails, but for the purposes of this site I’m going to stick to writing about eating disorders instead of fretting… Continue reading Anorexia and PTSD

        Illness

        When Discussing Suicide

        Olivia Epley6 Comments

        Olivia Epley

        Founder of Millennial Girl, Interrupted, a senior in a small Connecticut high school. I've been through many treatments and recoveries and am eager to share the lessons I've learned!

        Latest posts by Olivia Epley (see all)

          A girl in my area recently died by suicide, and it’s all over my local news as well as town Facebook pages and friends’ posts. My heart aches as I think about what her family is going through. I’m not going discuss the girl specifically- the local news and my neighborhood is doing plenty of… Continue reading When Discussing Suicide

          Videos

          VIDEO: My Mental Illness Timeline: A Descent into Suicide and a Rise into Recovery

          Olivia Epley2 Comments

          Olivia Epley

          Founder of Millennial Girl, Interrupted, a senior in a small Connecticut high school. I've been through many treatments and recoveries and am eager to share the lessons I've learned!

          Latest posts by Olivia Epley (see all)

            Below is a copy of the original transcript for the following video. In it, I discuss my mental health timeline from childhood through my first hospitalizations. Please be warned, there is lots of discussion of self harm and suicide, as well as a brief picture of blood. If those will be upsetting to you, please… Continue reading VIDEO: My Mental Illness Timeline: A Descent into Suicide and a Rise into Recovery

            Relationships

            What’s Hardest About Being the Parent of a Mentally Ill Young Person? That’s really the wrong question.

            Helen Epley2 Comments

            Helen Epley

            Latest posts by Helen Epley (see all)

              On a really tough day last month, feeling nearly desperate about a major problem I was having at work, I wallowed for hours in helpless fear and anger.  Finally I reined myself in by briefly imagining that these feelings are what my mentally ill daughter goes through perhaps every day to some degree and some… Continue reading What’s Hardest About Being the Parent of a Mentally Ill Young Person? That’s really the wrong question.

              Relationships · Uncategorized

              Loneliness (Olivia)

              Olivia Epley2 Comments

              Olivia Epley

              Founder of Millennial Girl, Interrupted, a senior in a small Connecticut high school. I've been through many treatments and recoveries and am eager to share the lessons I've learned!

              Latest posts by Olivia Epley (see all)

                I’m at my most vulnerable when I'm lonely, by far. Most of my family members are introverts, and can go long, long periods of time without needing human interaction. My sister and father are especially like this, as are many of my extended family members. My mother and I- me to an extreme- are reliant… Continue reading Loneliness (Olivia)

                News & Media

                Pete Davidson and Socially Acceptable Mental Illness

                Olivia Epley1 Comment

                Olivia Epley

                Founder of Millennial Girl, Interrupted, a senior in a small Connecticut high school. I've been through many treatments and recoveries and am eager to share the lessons I've learned!

                Latest posts by Olivia Epley (see all)

                  Over this past weekend, I perceived one of my fundamental understandings of mental illness to be challenged. I watched as someone posted about their active suicidal ideations on social media, bare for all to see, and got a near-unanimously positive reaction. Every article, tweet, comment section that I read was heaping on the comfort and… Continue reading Pete Davidson and Socially Acceptable Mental Illness

                  Illness · Relationships · Uncategorized

                  2 Well-Meaning Things NOT to Say to Struggling Friends

                  Olivia EpleyLeave a comment

                  Olivia Epley

                  Founder of Millennial Girl, Interrupted, a senior in a small Connecticut high school. I've been through many treatments and recoveries and am eager to share the lessons I've learned!

                  Latest posts by Olivia Epley (see all)

                    In general, it’s better to say something than to say nothing at all. When I was in middle school, I didn’t understand this. I saw friends struggling in the sixth and seventh grade and I froze. I figured that if I said anything to them, they’d be triggered (this, before “triggered” was such a buzzword)… Continue reading 2 Well-Meaning Things NOT to Say to Struggling Friends

                    Treatment

                    4 Ways to Just Get Through the Moment

                    Olivia EpleyLeave a comment

                    Olivia Epley

                    Founder of Millennial Girl, Interrupted, a senior in a small Connecticut high school. I've been through many treatments and recoveries and am eager to share the lessons I've learned!

                    Latest posts by Olivia Epley (see all)

                      You’ve just been broken up with. You have a huge test tomorrow. You failed that huge test you had yesterday. Your OCD or anxiety is flaring and everything is closing in on you, or threatening to burst. You feel a panic attack bubbling and brewing. You may have self harm urges or suicidal ideations. What,… Continue reading 4 Ways to Just Get Through the Moment