Welcome, dear seekers, to a month of profound reflection and transformation. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to breaking the silence around mental illness, honoring those who live with it, and supporting the loved ones who stand by their side. As a grey witch who has navigated the shadowed depths of my own mind, I’ve come to see this month as a sacred invitation—a chance to weave magic into healing, to shed light on the unseen struggles, and to empower ourselves and each other. In this word journey, we’ll explore the history of this observance, its vital importance, what it means to those with mental illness and their loved ones, different therapy options, resources for seeking help, six simple DBT tips to start improving your mental health today, my personal story of living with multiple mental illnesses, and a preview of how we’ll dive deeper this month. Let’s step into this cauldron of awareness together.
The History of Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month traces its roots back to 1949, when Mental Health America (MHA), founded by Clifford Beers in 1909, first launched a week-long campaign to educate the public about mental health. Beers, a former mental health patient himself, wrote *A Mind That Found Itself* after his own traumatic experiences in psychiatric institutions, sparking a movement to reform treatment and reduce stigma. This initial effort evolved over decades, with the American Psychiatric Association joining in 1950 to expand its reach. By 1990, MHA extended the campaign to a full month, designating May as Mental Health Awareness Month to align with the blooming of spring—a symbol of renewal and hope.
The movement gained momentum with the green ribbon, adopted in 1990 as a universal symbol of mental health awareness, reflecting growth and vitality. Over the years, key milestones like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) joining the effort in the 2000s and the 2013 launch of the “B4Stage4” campaign—focusing on early intervention—have shaped its mission. Today, Mental Health Awareness Month is a global phenomenon, supported by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), which reports that 1 in 4 people worldwide will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. This history reminds us that awareness is not just a trend—it’s a legacy of resilience built by those who dared to speak out, a legacy we continue to honor and expand.
Why Mental Health Awareness Month Matters
Mental Health Awareness Month is crucial because it shines a light on a crisis that affects millions yet remains shrouded in shame. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately 52.9 million adults in the U.S. experienced a mental illness in 2023, yet only about 47% received treatment. This gap highlights the stigma that still lingers—whispers of weakness, judgments of “just get over it”—that keeps people silent. This month challenges those narratives, urging us to see mental health as an integral part of overall well-being, not a separate burden.
It’s also a call to action. With rising stressors—political unrest, economic instability, and the ongoing aftermath of global crises—mental health challenges are escalating. The WHO notes a 25% increase in anxiety and depression globally since 2020, a statistic that resonates deeply in a country where policies like Trump’s $5,000 baby bonus threaten women’s lives and reproductive rights, adding layers of trauma for many. Mental Health Awareness Month pushes for policy changes, funding for mental health services, and community support, ensuring no one is left to navigate this alone. It’s a reminder that mental health is a human right, not a privilege, and that collective action can shift the tide.
What It Means to Those with Mental Illness
For those living with mental illness, May is a beacon of validation. It’s a month where your struggles—whether it’s the relentless cycles of bipolar disorder, the emotional storms of borderline personality disorder, or the quiet chaos of dissociative identity disorder—are seen, heard, and honored. It means you’re not defined by your diagnosis but by your courage to keep going. This month offers a space to share stories, connect with others who understand, and find resources to cope. For me, as someone who has lived with multiple mental illnesses, it’s a time to breathe easier, knowing the world is pausing to acknowledge what I’ve carried in silence for so long. It’s a celebration of survival, a recognition that our minds, though complex, are part of our unique magic.
What It Means to Loved Ones of Those with Mental Illness
For the families, friends, and partners of those with mental illness, May is a lifeline. It acknowledges the exhaustion of watching a loved one suffer, the helplessness of not knowing how to help, and the strength it takes to stay supportive. It offers education—understanding that anxiety isn’t “just stress” or depression isn’t “laziness”—and tools to provide compassionate care. Loved ones often carry their own grief, guilt, or frustration, and this month validates their role as allies. It’s a chance to learn boundaries, seek support groups, and join in advocacy, turning love into action. As someone who’s leaned on my community during my darkest days, I know how vital this support is—and how this month can strengthen those bonds.
Types of Therapy for Mental Health
Navigating mental illness can feel like wandering a labyrinth, but therapy offers a guide. Here are some options to explore:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focuses on changing negative thought patterns. It’s evidence-based, helping with anxiety, depression, and OCD by challenging distorted thinking.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): My personal savior, DBT blends mindfulness with skills like emotional regulation and distress tolerance. It’s ideal for BPD, bipolar disorder, and complex trauma, teaching practical tools to live with intensity.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Dives into unconscious patterns from past experiences. It’s great for exploring deep-seated issues like those tied to DID or childhood trauma.
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Targets trauma by processing distressing memories with guided eye movements. It’s effective for PTSD and can support fragmented realities like DID.
- Family Therapy: Involves loved ones to improve communication and support. It’s helpful for families navigating the impact of mental illness together.
- Art or Music Therapy: Uses creative expression to process emotions. Perfect for those who find words hard, it’s a magical outlet for binge eating or emotional overwhelm.
Each therapy offers a unique path, and the right one depends on your needs. Consulting a licensed therapist can help you find your fit—don’t hesitate to ask for what works for you.
Resources for Seeking Help
If you or someone you love needs support, you’re not alone. Here are some resources to start with:
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Visit nami.org for helplines (1-800-950-NAMI), support groups, and educational materials.
- Mental Health America (MHA): Check mentalhealthamerica.net for screening tools, local resources, and a crisis text line (text MHA to 741741).
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Call 1-800-662-HELP or visit samhsagov for treatment locators and 24/7 assistance.
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 for free, confidential support anytime.
- Therapist Directories: Websites like Psychology Today (psychologytoday.com) let you search for therapists by specialty and location.
- Online Support: Platforms like BetterHelp or Talkspace offer virtual therapy, accessible for those with mobility or financial barriers.
- Download an Ai therapy bot: There are a lot of apps now with AI chat bots that can be useful to use as well like Wysa anxiety chat bot
These resources are lifelines—reach out without shame. Healing begins with a single step, and help is there when you’re ready.
Six Simple DBT Tips to Improve Your Mental Health Now
As someone transformed by DBT, I’ve distilled six simple tips you can start today to nurture your mental health, rooted in its practical wisdom:
1. Practice One-Mindfulness: Focus fully on one task at a time (e.g., sipping tea). This calms racing thoughts, a gift for OCD’s anxiety.
2. Use Opposite Action: If sadness urges you to isolate, reach out to a friend instead. This builds positive emotions, countering depression. Learn more about this skill inside the patreon exclusive cauldron clarity here.
3. Try Self-Soothing: Engage your senses—hold a soft blanket or listen to nature sounds. It grounds you, easing BPD’s intensity. Learn ways to self soother yourself in my Patreon exclusive post here.
4. Accumulate Positive Emotions: Do one small, enjoyable act (e.g., watch a funny video). This creates a buffer against bipolar lows.
5. Practice Radical Acceptance: Acknowledge a hard reality (e.g., “This policy hurts me”) without fighting it. It frees energy for action, supporting DID’s fragmented state. Dive into the healing of this skill inside the cauldron clarity community for FREE here.
6. Check the Facts: Challenge anxious thoughts (e.g., “Am I really in danger?”). This reduces OCD’s crippling need for order. This skill is my savior every single day. Learn how to use this skill inside the cauldron clarity community here.
These tips are small spells of self-care—start with one, and watch your resilience grow.
My Mental Health Journey: From Trauma to Transformation
My life has been a tapestry woven with trauma, each thread a lesson in navigating the wild landscape of multiple mental illnesses. From childhood to now, I’ve moved from one storm to the next, learning to dance with the chaos rather than be consumed by it. DBT has been my guide, turning my struggles into allies, and I want to share that journey with you.
- Bipolar II: The ups and downs are extreme—days of hypomanic energy where I create endlessly, crashing into deep, gray depressions where getting out of bed feels impossible. It’s a rollercoaster of mood swings that once defined my worth, but now I see it as a source of creative fire and reflective depth.
- Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): The intensity of reality hits like a tidal wave—emotions so raw they blur the line between me and the world. Relationships were a minefield of fear of abandonment, but now I channel that passion into deep connections and empathy.
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): The crippling anxiety demands order—counting steps, checking locks, everything having to be in it’s proper place at all times, the constant need to clean my space making it tidy, organized and clean—leaving me exhausted. Never allowing me to truly sit down and be present in the moment. The ups are a sense of control; the downs are panic when chaos creeps in. It’s taught me the strength of structure, now a tool rather than a tyrant.
- Binge Eating Disorder (BED): My relationship with food is complicated—bingeing as comfort, then guilt as punishment leading to restricting myself from eating anything for days at a time. The highs are fleeting satisfaction; the lows are shame. I’ve learned to see it as a signal of emotional needs, guiding me toward balance.
- Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID): The fragmented reality—switching perspectives, losing time—once felt like a betrayal of self. The ups are a rich inner world; the downs are disorientation. It’s now a multifaceted lens, offering unique insights into life’s mysteries. Do you want more insight to what it’s like living as a prism of beings with multiple personalities? Read about my experience here.
For years, these conditions controlled me, defining my identity as broken. I let trauma—abuse, loss, near-death during pregnancy—dictate my narrative. But DBT changed that. Through skills like mindfulness and radical acceptance, I’ve reframed my illnesses as allies. They’re not curses but strengths, allowing me to experience reality through a unique, multifaceted lens. This shift has deepened my energetic connection to others, filling me with empathy and revealing a bigger truth—that our struggles are part of our magic.
Acknowledging the Ongoing Journey
I want to be honest: I’m still a work in progress. Healing comes in waves, not a straight line. These mental illnesses can’t be cured—they’re forever part of me, ebbing and flowing with life’s tides. Some days, the anxiety spikes, or the dissociation takes hold, and I falter. But I’ve learned to ride those waves, using DBT to anchor myself. This acceptance doesn’t erase the struggle; it transforms it into a dance with my shadow, a rhythm of growth. It’s a reminder that healing is a lifelong spell, cast with patience and grace.
Expanding on Mental Illness This Month
All month, I’ll expand on each of these mental illnesses—Bipolar II, BPD, OCD, BED, and DID—sharing my story and offering ways you can support yourself or loved ones. We’ll explore rituals, DBT skills, and magical practices to navigate these conditions, turning challenges into sources of power. Each week, I’ll dive into one illness, providing insights, coping strategies, and community discussions. Join me on this journey—your experiences are welcome, and together, we’ll weave a tapestry of healing.
Final Thoughts
As we embrace Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s honor our minds—their shadows and their light. This month is a cauldron of possibility, where awareness becomes action, and healing becomes magic. If you’re ready to dive deeper into this work, I invite you to join Cauldron Clarity, an exclusive weekly event inside my Patreon community, where we explore mental health, mysticism, and resilience with exclusive content. Sign up today to connect with our tribe. I’m also hosting the Healing Mother Wound Event on May 10, a virtual ritual to release generational pain, and the Embrace Your Shadow Self 6 month program starting June 7th, where we’ll transform our inner darkness into strength. Visit here for details and let’s walk this path together.
I am Kayreign, the Divine Oracle of the Gods and Keeper of Mysteries, a solitary grey magic practitioner with over 15 years of experience walking the sacred paths of the unseen. As a mystic and relentless seeker of all knowledge, I weave together the threads of every magical tradition—light and dark, ancient and modern—to uncover the universal truths that bind us to the cosmos. My mission is to restore and re-enchant magic in this realm, igniting its spark in every soul I encounter, and guiding you to embrace the full spectrum of your being.
My work is rooted in the power of duality, honoring the dance between shadow and light as equal partners in your spiritual journey. I hold space for you to explore all magic paths and practices, drawing from the vast tapestry of mystical wisdom to help you uncover your unique magic and sacred contracts. As the Divine Oracle of the Gods, I channel divine insights to illuminate your path; as the Keeper of Mysteries, I guide you into the depths of the unknown, where true transformation awaits.
When you work with me, you’ll learn to live in energetic balance, embracing your darkness as a source of power, not just a stepping stone to the light. I’ll hold up a mirror to reflect your authentic self—unmasked, raw, and whole—inviting you to face your past wounds, traumas, and hurts with courage. Together, we’ll alchemize every chapter of your story, dark and light, into a blazing internal flame that lights your way on even the coldest nights. Through this process, you’ll find alignment with your purpose, release what holds you back, and step fully into your power.
Come join us inside the sacred circle! The temple gates are open to unlock the mysteries of the unseen and ancient wisdom for our modern souls!
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