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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.
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Depression
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July Black Bear Prompt: Loss and Grief
July Black Bear Prompt: Loss and Grief
Tell me about how loss in your life affected your mental health
Michele Maize
Jun 29
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
My 100 Day Alcohol-Free Goal
My 100 Day Alcohol-Free Goal
Meet Kobe
Lisa Yates
Jul 16
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Welcome to Grief Club: You Won’t Enjoy Your Stay
Welcome to Grief Club: You Won’t Enjoy Your Stay
Exploring the depths of loss and finding a new normal
Deanna Bugalski 💋
Jul 16
The Day She Died I Really Wanted to Drink
The Day She Died I Really Wanted to Drink
And for the first time in years, I feared for my sobriety…
TOM★LEU
Jul 15
One Evening, of So Many Evenings, with an Addict
One Evening, of So Many Evenings, with an Addict
Inside these walls
Anne Spollen
Jul 15
My Cat is a Recovery Superhero
My Cat is a Recovery Superhero
He has mastered radical acceptance
Andy Spears
Jul 15
One Year Ago, I Finally Walked Out On Alcohol
One Year Ago, I Finally Walked Out On Alcohol
Sobriety isn’t always beautiful but it's very empowering
Blake Shields
Jul 15
Are Drug Users Inherantly ”Uncool”?
Are Drug Users Inherantly ”Uncool”?
Drug users do not deserve violence and hostility
Thomas Morison
Jul 15
Chey: The Gentle Spiritual Badass
Chey: The Gentle Spiritual Badass
How the universe sent in a healer who would become a friend
AND ALSO…
Jul 15
When Your Mother Can’t Love You
When Your Mother Can’t Love You
It’s like death by a thousand paper cuts
J.C. Anne Brown
Jul 15
When I Was Raped at Fourteen, My Brother’s Response Broke Me
When I Was Raped at Fourteen, My Brother’s Response Broke Me
I’d be in my 40s before learning about the ‘Dissociative Disorder’ that occurred when six boys took my innocence
Marcia Abboud
Jul 15
Living with Invisible Depression
Living with Invisible Depression
A personal story about coping with what others cannot see
Hannah Kensaku
Jul 15
My Experience Living in Low-Barreir Mental Health Housing
My Experience Living in Low-Barreir Mental Health Housing
How mental health housing was not good for my mental health
Thomas Morison
Jul 14
I Never Realized I had Trauma
I Never Realized I had Trauma
Until I told someone about it
PatrickMeowler
Jul 14
It’s Wine O’Clock Somewhere!
It’s Wine O’Clock Somewhere!
How clever phrases make drinking less dangerous.
Bernadette E Wallace
Jul 13
“No Matter What, Things Will Be Good.”
“No Matter What, Things Will Be Good.”
My story of overcoming seven years of depression and managing bipolar disorder with the help of a mantra.
Henrique Centieiro & Bee Lee
Jul 13
Accountability vs Cancel Culture
Accountability vs Cancel Culture
How social justice has helped me in my sobriety
AND ALSO…
Jul 12
Five Myths Pro-Marijuana Activates Say
Five Myths Pro-Marijuana Activates Say
The truth of the matter is somewhere in the middle
Thomas Morison
Jul 12
I Quit Smoking Weed After 24 Years
I Quit Smoking Weed After 24 Years
I thought I couldn’t live without it
Leila Johnson
Jul 11
Grieving the Complex Relationship With My Dad
Grieving the Complex Relationship With My Dad
Memories of love and conflict.
Leon Macfayden
Jul 11
What the Question, “Are You Mad at Me?” Really Means
What the Question, “Are You Mad at Me?” Really Means
My story and advice for others
Carly Newberg
Jul 10
I Found My Therapist in the Walmart Bathroom
I Found My Therapist in the Walmart Bathroom
I couldn’t believe she was there
Andy Spears
Jul 10
‘That Smell’ of Addiction
‘That Smell’ of Addiction
And the odor of denial…
TOM★LEU
Jul 10
Airing my Family’s Dirty Laundry
Airing my Family’s Dirty Laundry
Mine and my mother’s addiction got really out of hand, like the rest of our lives.
Emy Bracco
Jul 10
I Rejected my BPD Diagnosis for 3 years
I Rejected my BPD Diagnosis for 3 years
It was the worst choice I ever made.
Kayt Margaret - W.W
Jul 10
Negative Thought Patterns
Negative Thought Patterns
And how to stop them
Melissa Steussy
Jul 10
Surviving Suicide: 6 Months Since Losing You
Surviving Suicide: 6 Months Since Losing You
Your suicide marked an end to your life on earth and, hopefully, to your suffering, but it was the start of a lifelong journey for us.
Rachel Rhodes
Jul 10
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