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Black Bear
At Black Bear, we share informative articles and personal stories about struggling with mental health and substance use disorders.
Mental Health
Depression
Anxiety
Addiction
Alcoholism
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Black Bear October Prompt: What Scares You?
Black Bear October Prompt: What Scares You?
Anxiety breeds many mental health disorders
Michele Maize
Sep 30
Black Bear Submission Guidelines—Updated 2024
Black Bear Submission Guidelines—Updated 2024
And becoming a writer with our publication
KiKi Walter
Jan 5, 2023
What Does the Name “Black Bear” Mean?
What Does the Name “Black Bear” Mean?
(And what does it have to do with mental health and addiction?)
KiKi Walter
Dec 23, 2022
Black Bear Is Now Part of the Boost Nomination Program
Black Bear Is Now Part of the Boost Nomination Program
Looking for high-quality personal stories about mental health, addiction, and sobriety
Michele Maize
Feb 1
Silence Is Not Always Golden
Silence Is Not Always Golden
How depression feeds off silence in the worst possible ways
Jessica Ann
Oct 11
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My Sister’s Little Secret: She Drank Herself to Death
My Sister’s Little Secret: She Drank Herself to Death
How humans are better than we think at hiding secrets
Not Even Wine With Dinner
Oct 11
My Life: The Journey Of A Teenage Alcoholic
My Life: The Journey Of A Teenage Alcoholic
Episode One — When did it all begin?
Eric Rench, aka AVJoe
Oct 11
NO Means NO: A Man’s Lust Mustn’t Decide the Fate of a Woman’s Life
NO Means NO: A Man’s Lust Mustn’t Decide the Fate of a Woman’s Life
We are sending humans to Mars, but we can’t ensure women’s safety in their workplace or a safer future for our girls. What kind of progress…
Purbita Chakraborty
Oct 9
I Was Living a Life That Wasn’t Right for Me
I Was Living a Life That Wasn’t Right for Me
Anxiety led me to self-acceptance
Krista Rausin
Oct 9
A Major Hurricane is Headed Straight For Me
A Major Hurricane is Headed Straight For Me
On acceptance, control and staying sober
Xanadu Allen
Oct 8
Trying to Keep My Head Above Water
Trying to Keep My Head Above Water
Being an alcoholic and bipolar, I am facing life challenges.
Carole Olsen
Oct 8
Do We All Have Impostor Syndrome?
Do We All Have Impostor Syndrome?
And how do we get past it?
Patrick Meowler
Oct 8
My Latest Anxiety and How I’ve Been Dealing with It
My Latest Anxiety and How I’ve Been Dealing with It
Facing difficult situations in life
Barbara Carter
Oct 8
Those Closest to Us Can Influence Our Ability to Cope with Anxiety
Those Closest to Us Can Influence Our Ability to Cope with Anxiety
Circumstances and people can help or hinder our path to healing
Joy DeSomber
Oct 8
A Sobriety Milestone at 30,000 Feet
A Sobriety Milestone at 30,000 Feet
2,065 Days of Living Clean and Sober
Barb Besteni
Oct 7
You Never See a Hearse Pulling a U-Haul
You Never See a Hearse Pulling a U-Haul
10 Reasons to get rid of your sh** and stop buying more sh**.
Not Even Wine With Dinner
Oct 7
So Tired! But Not Tired
So Tired! But Not Tired
I Am Weary
Bernard
Oct 7
Clinical Depression Is No More Your ‘Fault’ than Is Being Gay
Clinical Depression Is No More Your ‘Fault’ than Is Being Gay
You did not choose to be depressed, right? So why feel guilty? And where, exactly, lies the ‘fault’ in either, anyway?
Chandrayan Gupta
Oct 7
“Hooray, I’m Back to Therapy Again!” Says No One
“Hooray, I’m Back to Therapy Again!” Says No One
First trauma healing, now limiting beliefs — the work is always worth it
Frances Hickmott
Oct 7
How I Went From Having “Foreigner Fear” to Becoming an Expat
How I Went From Having “Foreigner Fear” to Becoming an Expat
It was easier than you think
Not Even Wine With Dinner
Oct 5
Sickened by Blue Lights in the Asda Toilets
Sickened by Blue Lights in the Asda Toilets
They represent a callous disregard for the plight of local addicts
Grace Delphia
Oct 5
I Remain Undaunted
I Remain Undaunted
Post-addiction Struggles and How I Overcame Them
From the Mind of Michael Cline
Oct 5
When a Friend Becomes an Energy Vampire 🧛🏻♂️
When a Friend Becomes an Energy Vampire 🧛🏻♂️
The need to protect your mental health from unhealthy relationships
odawni
Oct 5
11 Months and Counting
11 Months and Counting
We’re at the finish line.
AND ALSO…
Oct 5
My Mental Health is Floundering at 33 Months Sober
My Mental Health is Floundering at 33 Months Sober
But it’s still preferable to drinking
Alison Gee
Oct 4
It Isn't Your Fault You are Mentally Ill
It Isn't Your Fault You are Mentally Ill
Especially when it comes to PTSD, events in your environment cause changes in your brain function
Nicole Dake
Oct 3
How Video Games Are Helping Me Stay Sober
How Video Games Are Helping Me Stay Sober
And finally enjoy something!
Patrick Meowler
Oct 3
The Slow Suicide of Drinking Yourself to Death
The Slow Suicide of Drinking Yourself to Death
Somehow I clawed my way out unlike my family members
Michele Maize
Oct 3
My Anxiety Vanished When I Removed The Golden Mask
My Anxiety Vanished When I Removed The Golden Mask
It felt like I was stepping into myself, embodying a long-neglected authenticity.
James Lloyd
Oct 3
Why Do We Prefer to Break Each Other Down Instead of Lifting Up?
Why Do We Prefer to Break Each Other Down Instead of Lifting Up?
A personal experience from living in a society where demotivating words are more prevalent than encouraging smiles
Anne Bonfert
Oct 2
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