Emily Rachelle Writes

When it comes to mental illness, I like to be the champion. The advocate. The information bank just waiting to enlighten and educate you. A source of awareness, a spark for understanding. But the whole world of mental illness and living with one is just as new to me as it is to many of the people I'm trying to help understand. I'm still learning, and now that I'm back at school, it feels like a crash course. And I think a lot of people with mental illnesses can relate.

Recently I discussed mental illness with a good friend. She compared mental illness to a broken bone, gesturing to her leg. "You can see the broken bone, there's something that needs to be fixed." But think about internal bleeding. Can you see that? Or lung cancer. Is that outwardly visible? Not until scans or tests are done are many illnesses and injuries visually noticeable. We first notice symptoms, then seek out the cause, and treat from there to alleviate symptoms and prevent further problems. Why is mental illness any different? As research and technology in this area improve, we see more and more proof that brains affected by mental illness are physically and chemically different from healthy brains. There are plenty of symptoms of mental illness. Why don't we look for them? Notice them? Mental illness, untreated, can lead to complications as bad as the inability to complete basic daily tasks or even death. Why don't we seek out treatment before these...

Until your friend stands and looks you in the eye explaining why mental illness isn't the same as physical illness... Until your professor refuses to let you make up an exam and get full credit after missing a medicine dose caused a missed class session... Until your school requires you to get a three-page sheet on disability filled out in order to accept that your mental illness is real... You don't understand. Not until it happens to you.

Good evening, my lovely readers. Or morning, depending on where you are in the world. I wrote this earlier this week with a plan to post it once the Twilight  review series was over, but I think I need to share it now. I'm writing a follow-up post, too; make sure to subscribe so you don't miss it if you're interested. I'm a writer. And I'm a blogger. As such, I do a lot of reading and a lot of blog-following, because you can't write something until you've read a lot of that something by other people. As often happens when I read book blogs, I ended up following rabbit trails on and off GoodReads one night. Somehow, I ended up reading a lot of reviews of books and a lot of articles about the same topic: the evils and lies of psychiatry.

When I chose "wild" as my One Word for 2015, I wasn't expecting quite what I got.

My wish for you for tonight's that you know My thoughts are with you wherever you go And I don't know you well, but I've seen you around You're in a dark place, that much I can tell

Right now, I'm touring the blogosphere promoting my new book of poetry, Rain In December . But here at home on my own little blog, I'm celebrating both my new book and the national month of poetry by sharing a poem by moi each week. I hope you all enjoy, lovely readers! I am your someone Through your haunting pain See me seeing you and Breathe again

On Fear: 11/26/2014 Becoming a professional writer scares me. I think that's why I chose education [major] at first. I mean, everyone talks about the uncertainty of the writing industry and how hard it is to make a living and "don't quit your day job." People always need more teachers. Mom and grandma were teachers, too. I was following the family footsteps, you know? But now [English Lit major] I'm being just me in a brand new world and I'm so afraid of failing or going broke and being just another average Millennial story. I'm not afraid of being a terrible writer. I'm afraid of being an average one. Ho-hum, three stars, not worth ranting over but not worth my money either. I'm afraid of being forgotten.

On Friends: 11/24/2014 Tonight I shared yesterday's entry [ read it here ] with my small group and Jordy prayed over me. Then when we came back to the dorm from Payne's [local restaurant] Morgan prayed over me. And then Rachel and I talked for a long time... I told her I am bi, and I told her about the girls I've liked. She was so supportive. She hasn't had these same homosexual feelings but she was so supportive. She said I'm not gross or creepy and stuff like that and she said she's not weirded out and she doesn't think of me differently and we're still the exact same friends.

To readers who know me or my family personally: I understand this series is personal and controversial in nature. I'd like to kindly request that any questions, concerns, or private comments be made directly to me rather than my family members. Thank you! On God: 11/19/2014 "The big You is in love with the little me... and I don't know what to do with that."

On My Bisexuality:  11/13/2014 Why is it wrong? Why is something simultaneously so pure and so passionate wrong? Why is it that what I feel so deeply and personally and sincerely is violation of an ancient law by which I am supposed to live my life? Who says this is wrong? Well, God says.

As many of you lovely readers heard, I have a new book coming out! Yay! This is a bit different from Sixteen , though. It's a book of poems called Rain in December.  There are many themes in the book -- ranging from love to depression to friends to the weather -- some of them more prominent than others. Although there aren't as many poems about certain topics in my book, those that are in it were very significant in the book's coming about and the stories behind them are stories I haven't shared publicly before but feel I need to now. So starting today I'd like to share journal entries and other thoughts and stories leading up to the release of Rain In December . I request for this journal series this month that parental permission and guidance be sought out for readers under sixteen.

As announced last week, I have a book of poetry coming out! The release date is March 31, and of course it will be followed by a blog tour. The release actually coincides perfectly with national poetry month in April. Of course, you don't want to hear all my pesky details right now. We all know what you're here for: shiny new cover art!

Good morning, my lovely readers! Today we have the lovely Tessa Emily Hall here on tour with her debut novel, Purple Moon.  Take it away, Tessa! About the Book Selena's life isn't turning out to be the fairy tale she imagined as a kid. That hope seemed to vanish long ago when her dad kicked her and her mom out of the house. This summer might finally hold the chance of a new beginning for Selena ... but having to live with her snobby cousin in Lake Lure, NC while waiting for her mom to get out of rehab wasn't how Selena was planning on spending her summer. She soon begins to wonder why she committed to give up her "bad habits" for this. Things don't seem too bad, though. Especially when Selena gains the attention of the cute neighbor next door. But when her best friend back home in Brooklyn desperately needs her, a secret that's been hidden from Selena for years is revealed, and when she becomes a target for one of her cousin's nasty prank...