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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
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
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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
When burnout becomes your normal
When burnout becomes your normal
Photo by Ben White on Unsplash
Bridget
Aug 17
When Jealousy Becomes Toxic
When Jealousy Becomes Toxic
Don’t hate others for what they have; be inspired
Thomas Morison
Aug 16
A Surprisingly Common Addiction That No One Talks About
A Surprisingly Common Addiction That No One Talks About
“Friends” and “Sex and the City” saved me in my desperate times
Purbita Chakraborty
Aug 16
How A Cup Of Tea Saved His Life: The Power Of Parental Mental Health
How A Cup Of Tea Saved His Life: The Power Of Parental Mental Health
And the effect this has on their children.
Dawn D
Aug 15
How James Arthur's Song “Train Wreck” Helped with My Anxiety
How James Arthur's Song “Train Wreck” Helped with My Anxiety
I am not completely healed but I am better than I was 2 years ago
Oluwatobi Adebayo
Aug 15
The Agony of Writing
The Agony of Writing
And the effects on our mental health
Strawbridge
Aug 15
Taking Care With Taylor
Taking Care With Taylor
Music that feeds my soul… and my writing.
Ruby Noir 😈
Aug 15
What’s the Root of Narcissism?
What’s the Root of Narcissism?
Let’s get to the bottom of this all-popular label
Joseph Dalton
Aug 14
The Evolution of My Self-Care Through Three Radical Life Changes
The Evolution of My Self-Care Through Three Radical Life Changes
Self-care has never been a selfish act, but it’s more than self-love.
James Lloyd
Aug 14
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