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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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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
Learning To Live and Other Thoughts From a Suicidal Maniac
Learning To Live and Other Thoughts From a Suicidal Maniac
I never understood how people cope with life… until now.
Arielle Andrews
Jul 28
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How We Perpetuate Stigmatization
How We Perpetuate Stigmatization
With our own language (or lack of it)
Melissa Lemay
Jul 28
Why Am I Addicted To Self Sabotage?
Why Am I Addicted To Self Sabotage?
I am my own worst enemy
PatrickMeowler
Jul 28
I’m Afraid to Divorce Zoloft
I’m Afraid to Divorce Zoloft
He has a hold on me.
Over-50 Empress
Jul 27
Confessions of a Reckless Drunk Driver: Losing My License and More
Confessions of a Reckless Drunk Driver: Losing My License and More
How could I be so irresponsible?
Wesley van Peer
Jul 27
The Parts He Doesn’t Remember
The Parts He Doesn’t Remember
Discovering our disconnect in sobriety
KaliLou
Jul 26
Returning After Losing Myself For 20+ Years
Returning After Losing Myself For 20+ Years
Being loved is priceless. But at what cost?
DearJC
Jul 26
I Saw Myself in an Aggressive Dog — And Finally Understood Our Struggles
I Saw Myself in an Aggressive Dog — And Finally Understood Our Stru...
Hypervigilance and the quest to love and be loved
Ellen Eastwood
Jul 26
The Search
The Search
Wanting what’s just out of reach
Julio Angel Rivera
Jul 26
Depression Is an Epiphany
Depression Is an Epiphany
The answer lies in the impermanence of life
Pablo Andreu
Jul 26
What Happens to Our Body If We Don’t Sleep?
What Happens to Our Body If We Don’t Sleep?
The Curious Case of Randy Gardner: The Man Who Volunteered to Stay Awake the Longest
HealthAnalyst
Jul 26
I Used Visualization To Overcome Alcohol and Nicotine Addiction
I Used Visualization To Overcome Alcohol and Nicotine Addiction
Keeping the one emotion stronger than my need to drink/smoke plastered across my mind made me keep walking past the bar/shop
Chandrayan Gupta
Jul 25
I Am a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist. Here Is What I Know About OCD
I Am a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist. Here Is What I Know About OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder comes in many shapes and sizes. It cannot be prevented, but there are effective treatments to manage the…
Dr Emmanuel Ogamdi
Jul 25
Death is a Sunset
Death is a Sunset
The long rays illuminate what was shadowed by pain
Emmilie Whitlock
Jul 25
Being the Adult Child of an Alcoholic
Being the Adult Child of an Alcoholic
One daughter's truth on the lasting impact of an alcoholic parent.
Dawn D
Jul 25
How to Respond to Gaslighting
How to Respond to Gaslighting
Don’t let other people twist the truth
Thomas Morison
Jul 24
I’m 48, And Estrogen Has Changed My Life
I’m 48, And Estrogen Has Changed My Life
I have tried it all.
Melissa Steussy
Jul 23
The #1 Reason Why You’re Not Staying Sober
The #1 Reason Why You’re Not Staying Sober
Because it’s the #1 thing nobody wants to talk about…
TOM★LEU
Jul 23
What’s The Deal With California Sober?
What’s The Deal With California Sober?
Is it safe or dangerous for someone with addiction problems?
PatrickMeowler
Jul 23
The Sudden Death of My Friend Shook My World Upside Down
The Sudden Death of My Friend Shook My World Upside Down
But his suicide taught me important lessons I’ll carry with me forever
Carly Newberg
Jul 22
When a Perceived Threat Feels Like Anxiety
When a Perceived Threat Feels Like Anxiety
It’s most likely a trauma response
Melissa Steussy
Jul 22
Letting Go of the Past and Learning From Our Mistakes
Letting Go of the Past and Learning From Our Mistakes
What can you do to prevent the bad event from happening again?
Thomas Morison
Jul 22
Blang Blue Berry Buch
Blang Blue Berry Buch
I didn’t go to the dentist for 16 years
Oscar Rhea
Jul 21
Why I Find Gypsy Rose Relatable
Why I Find Gypsy Rose Relatable
How Life After Lock Up makes me think of my mother
AND ALSO…
Jul 21
I’ve Gained A Day A Week Sober
I’ve Gained A Day A Week Sober
Why didn’t I realise this earlier?
Jordan Katherine
Jul 21
There’s Less Drama in My Life Since I’ve Been Sober
There’s Less Drama in My Life Since I’ve Been Sober
Less drama does not mean boring by any means.
Carole Olsen
Jul 21
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