STORYTIME
(This is not my dog, although I wish she was!)
Hello there! My name is Danielle, and I am the creator of the Discovery Journal. As a fellow human being, I understand the struggles of living with severe mental illness. Though I have made great progress in managing my mental health, I still have tough days. It has been quite the journey to get where I am now, filled with years of trial and error.
But let's not forget, that mental health is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes endurance, patience, and self-compassion to navigate the ups and downs of our minds. That is why I created the Discovery Journal. My inspiration came from a dear friend who was also struggling with their mental health. I saw myself in them and wanted to offer support without interfering. Thus, the Discovery Journal was born.
JUST IN CASE YOU WANT TO SEE MY FACE.
I know all too well the debilitating effects of mental illness. My OCD was present from childhood, but it wasn't until my teens that anxiety became a constant in my life. I tried various methods to manage it, from CBT to meditation and even anger management. But it wasn't until I discovered the power of journaling that I truly found self-understanding and confidence to fully communicate.
Therapy was a difficult commitment for me at a young age, and I struggled to find a solution that worked for the way my brain was wired. When my anxiety reached its peak during university, I found myself unable to leave my bedroom or participate in social activities. Fortunately, I had a strong support system of understanding individuals who also had experience with mental illness around me. With their help, I learned that managing anxiety is not a one-size-fits-all approach. I was able to personalize the techniques I had learned over the years to fit my unique needs and thought process.
As someone who thrives on structure and routine, anxiety robbed me of these coping mechanisms. It was a constant and unwelcome presence in my life, capable of turning my day upside down in an instant. However, I came to realize that anxiety was not a part of my identity.
It was something that affected me, but it did not define me. Journaling became my tool for regaining a sense of self without the weight of anxiety.
My journal entries were clear, logical, and served as a way to monitor my emotions and identify triggers. It was like having a Fitbit for my mental well-being, providing me with concrete facts to build upon and improve my overall mental health.
