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June at Black Bear

June at Black Bear

No prompt this month
Go to the profile of Michele Maize
Michele Maize
Black Bear Submission Guidelines—Updated 2024

Black Bear Submission Guidelines—Updated 2024

And becoming a writer with our publication
Go to the profile of KiKi Walter
KiKi Walter
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?)
Go to the profile of KiKi Walter
KiKi Walter
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
Go to the profile of Michele Maize
Michele Maize
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Am I Better?

Am I Better?

Or am I just sober?
Go to the profile of Chris Bunton
Chris Bunton
I Don’t Actually Want to Die and I Never Did

I Don’t Actually Want to Die and I Never Did

Suicidal thinking, survival and sharing your experience
Go to the profile of odawni
odawni
Not Everyone Will Understand That You’re an Alcoholic in Recovery

Not Everyone Will Understand That You’re an Alcoholic in Recovery

Balancing the borderline of boundaries
Go to the profile of From the Mind of Michael Cline
From the Mind of Michael Cline
The Space Between Who We Are and What We Do

The Space Between Who We Are and What We Do

A letter to my friend who gave too much and is finally taking something back.
Go to the profile of Edward Foster
Edward Foster
Sobriety Is Harder Than Active Addiction

Sobriety Is Harder Than Active Addiction

There’s a reason why we fall
Go to the profile of Varun Joshi
Varun Joshi
You Can Either Get High Or Get To Work

You Can Either Get High Or Get To Work

The decision to replace drugs with art
Go to the profile of Sawyer Phillips
Sawyer Phillips
A Moody Kid

A Moody Kid

Reflecting on the roles of childhood and generational trauma in addiction
Go to the profile of T. J. Brearton
T. J. Brearton
The Single Thing You Can Do Today To Prevent Teen Overdose Deaths Tomorrow

The Single Thing You Can Do Today To Prevent Teen Overdose Deaths T...

Are you ready to save lives?
Go to the profile of Lauren Grawert, MD
Lauren Grawert, MD
I’m Angry at My Sister for Dying

I’m Angry at My Sister for Dying

It’s easier than guilt
Go to the profile of Not Even Wine With Dinner
Not Even Wine With Dinner
Gray Mornings, Heavy Nights: A Short Reflection on Depression

Gray Mornings, Heavy Nights: A Short Reflection on Depression

Words from the inside of something hard to explain
Go to the profile of Violet SK
Violet SK
Why Self-Help Books Made Me Miserable

Why Self-Help Books Made Me Miserable

Chasing happiness through endless advice — and losing myself in the process
Go to the profile of Madison Clarke
Madison Clarke
When Life Gives You Second Chances

When Life Gives You Second Chances

After nearly dying, I stood at the precipice and leaped toward change.
Go to the profile of Becca CO 🌵
Becca CO 🌵
I Cried for Five Hours, but I Didn’t Relapse

I Cried for Five Hours, but I Didn’t Relapse

A small win that kept me going
Go to the profile of Varun Joshi
Varun Joshi
Terrors of My Third Relapse

Terrors of My Third Relapse

Coming up on six months sober, again
Go to the profile of Shannon
Shannon
When Soothing Music Transports Me Back to My Dark Night of the Soul

When Soothing Music Transports Me Back to My Dark Night of the Soul

Music can take us places, but the memories aren’t always good
Go to the profile of Joe Guay - Dispatches From the Guay Life!
Joe Guay - Dispatches From the Guay Life!
I Got Evicted for Smoking Weed, and I Ended up Here

I Got Evicted for Smoking Weed, and I Ended up Here

Ultimately, where I am now is better than where I was
Go to the profile of Thomas Morison
Thomas Morison
How Simple Prayers Improved My Connection With God

How Simple Prayers Improved My Connection With God

My simple prayers helped me most
Go to the profile of Rev. Dr. Michelle Pederson
Rev. Dr. Michelle Pederson
The Soundtrack to Survival

The Soundtrack to Survival

How songs from the past helped me connect with joy and create a new kind of harmony
Go to the profile of Deanna Bugalski 💋
Deanna Bugalski 💋
The Silent Signs That Told Me I Needed Therapy — And How I Ignored Them

The Silent Signs That Told Me I Needed Therapy — And How I Ignored ...

It’s not about breakdowns or big crises. Sometimes, the real triggers are quieter, hiding in everyday habits we brush off as “normal.”
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Shaant
But Soon, It Was Over.

But Soon, It Was Over.

The only thing that’s left is the manuscript.
Go to the profile of Ruby Noir 😈
Ruby Noir 😈
Welcome to the Un-Life

Welcome to the Un-Life

What benzodiazepine PAWS looks like
Go to the profile of Helen Olivier
Helen Olivier
Generalized Anxiety Disorder: What It Is and How to Spot It

Generalized Anxiety Disorder: What It Is and How to Spot It

You’re not just the anxious type
Go to the profile of Sandy Chang
Sandy Chang
I Was Never Enough for Him

I Was Never Enough for Him

Unheard, Unseen, and Occasionally Unhinged
Go to the profile of Now & Nostalgia
Now & Nostalgia
Showing an Interest

Showing an Interest

Just entirely the wrong type
Go to the profile of Mike Hickman
Mike Hickman
💙 Augmented and Alternative Communication: How to Bridge the Communication Gap 💙

💙 Augmented and Alternative Communication: How to Bridge the Commu...

The world would be better if more people made Spider-Man gestures to the nonverbal, Marvel-loving, autistic kid in the lunch line
Go to the profile of 💙 Musings of Twenty Somethings 💜
💙 Musings of Twenty Somethings 💜
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