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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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August Black Bear Prompt: How Are You Taking Care of Yourself?
August Black Bear Prompt: How Are You Taking Care of Yourself?
August is National Wellness Month
Michele Maize
Jul 31
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
Someone Unpacked My Baggage
Someone Unpacked My Baggage
Re-living the pain of addiction’s aftermath
Diane Ford
Aug 23
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Addiction Causes So Many Changes To The Brain Over Time
Addiction Causes So Many Changes To The Brain Over Time
Does it ever heal?
Patrick Meowler
Aug 23
I Was Chasing Life More Than Sobriety Itself
I Was Chasing Life More Than Sobriety Itself
What I feel after 600 days of sobriety
Manab J Kalita
Aug 23
The Last Time and The First Time I Saw His Face
The Last Time and The First Time I Saw His Face
My nephew’s life started as a miracle. I fear that it will end in tragedy.
S.M. Whiddon
Aug 23
From Psychosis to Possibility
From Psychosis to Possibility
A Journey of Recovery
Starting Afresh 65
Aug 22
The Weight of the Label “Alcoholic”
The Weight of the Label “Alcoholic”
Changing my perception of addiction
Sara
Aug 22
Away From Madness
Away From Madness
A poem about the reality of being stuck in a loop while healing
Love, Lisa
Aug 21
Let’s Pretend
Let’s Pretend
The death of love
Anurag Parihar
Aug 21
The Effect Punishing Someone's Disability Has on Them
The Effect Punishing Someone's Disability Has on Them
If they're disabled, they can't help it
Thomas Morison
Aug 21
Embracing Indifference: My Unexpected Key to Emotional Healing
Embracing Indifference: My Unexpected Key to Emotional Healing
How indifference became my shield from a chaotic childhood
Deanna Bugalski 💋
Aug 21
As a Recovering Addict, Visiting Portland Was Triggering
As a Recovering Addict, Visiting Portland Was Triggering
Stepping around addiction and through the homeless dilemma
Michele Maize
Aug 20
The Need to Hurry Can Cause Anxiety
The Need to Hurry Can Cause Anxiety
Especially for those of us who are planners
Nicole Dake
Aug 20
Trading Pen for Paperwork: The Struggles of a Writer-Teacher
Trading Pen for Paperwork: The Struggles of a Writer-Teacher
A teacher’s quest to reclaim her writing time
Shayla Renee 💖
Aug 20
When Getting Loaded Is No Longer Fun
When Getting Loaded Is No Longer Fun
How I choose to ‘get loaded’ in sobriety today…
TOM★LEU
Aug 20
The Transition From Short-Term to Long-Term Sobriety Is Exciting and Scary at the Same Time
The Transition From Short-Term to Long-Term Sobriety Is Exciting an...
How I’m finally able to grow up and moving on with my life
Patrick Meowler
Aug 20
Knowing When To Quit Alcohol
Knowing When To Quit Alcohol
If you love alcohol maybe it’s time to ask some grown-up questions.
Caryn Leach-Smith
Aug 19
What Does “Un-Alive” Really Mean and Why Is It Everywhere?
What Does “Un-Alive” Really Mean and Why Is It Everywhere?
The trending term has gained traction in online conversations as of late
Nagoh Creative
Aug 19
Metamorphosis: Transforming Pain into Purpose
Metamorphosis: Transforming Pain into Purpose
Where recovery ends, true living begins
Starting Afresh 65
Aug 19
Eulogy
Eulogy
To the ones who left us suddenly like the morning dew
Anurag Parihar
Aug 19
Alcoholics Anonymous No Longer Needs to Be Protected
Alcoholics Anonymous No Longer Needs to Be Protected
My choice to openly identify myself
Charles R. Lightner
Aug 19
Super Soul Summer: Using The Gift of Time
Super Soul Summer: Using The Gift of Time
Leaning into my quiet joy for self-care
Sandy Maximus
Aug 18
Beware: Victims Will Make Their Problems Yours
Beware: Victims Will Make Their Problems Yours
Their problems are not your responsibility
Thomas Morison
Aug 18
How Psychiatric Medication for Schizophrenia Healed My Mind and Wrecked My Body
How Psychiatric Medication for Schizophrenia Healed My Mind and Wre...
Mind mended, body broken
Starting Afresh 65
Aug 18
Loss Of My Life
Loss Of My Life
Taylor Swift, Addiction and Love
AND ALSO…
Aug 18
My Cousin Drugged Me
My Cousin Drugged Me
But he warned me first
Leila Johnson
Aug 17
Self-Care Becomes Extremely Difficult During Depression
Self-Care Becomes Extremely Difficult During Depression
Simple things like a shower become impossible tasks
Patrick Meowler
Aug 17
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