This is an empowering Anthology which is just an initial effort to raise Mental Health Awareness around the globe through words. It features a diverse range of voices from across the globe, with Poets and Writers sharing their personal experiences through poetry, stories, and reflections. The book aims to spread awareness about mental health, shedding light on struggles that often remain hidden. Each piece offers personal experiences, inspiration and motivation, encouraging readers to confront their own inner battles and embrace the journey of healing. With powerful, authentic voices, this collection fosters empathy, understanding, and the courage to have open conversations about mental health with compassion.

Neuroscience is saying we are energy, and consciousness is awareness of who we are and what our environment is. Awareness is consciousness that changes as we learn from experience. As we develop, consciousness in turn is changing our experience because the brain is plastic; it changes in response to awareness of self and environment. The question is, if we need to change experience, how do we do that? This book is about meditation as a tool to develop awareness to change experience. That occurs because of synchronicity of consciousness, experience, and plasticity of the brain. Meditation, as a personal art and neuroplastic exercise, is an internal technology of change. For this to happen, it needs to be understood as a process of the transformation of consciousness, an outcome of self-healing, and a method that connects the two. The method is meditation on goals. What is occurring through the process is the integration of reasoning with what was unconscious, intuition. We access intuition through mindfulness of goals as inspiration, the energy of intuition that is changing experience. As we self-heal there are different possibilities of meditation. Through self-healing, we achieve health and well-being. Through our empowerment and awareness of this occurring, we prevent mental illness. As we become aware of what has been causing change, vision is remembered. It has been forgotten but, the difference is that we are aware of it now. Narrative meditation is a method of visualization of goals. It is learned in stages on successively building on the method before. The state of meditation is a state of inspiration, of visualization of goals as experience. This makes meditation accessible. What makes it transformative is the healing of the aspects of self. What makes meditation inspirational is that vision is creating our experience.

Recovery from Depression Using the Narrative Approach explores people's experiences of depression, recovery and available treatments. The author explains how, by selecting a variety of 'narrative tools', such as talking therapies, yoga and complementary therapies, as well as conventional medical approaches, people can take control of their condition. By choosing more helpful narratives, they can gain a greater insight into depression, self-management and long-term recovery. Written with a range of professionals in mind, including doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, complementary therapists, community psychiatric nurses and talking therapists, this evidence-based book offers guidance on how to be an 'ally' in promoting patients' recovery.

This book brings together an Iranian Iran-Iraq War veteran and an American Vietnam War veteran, both mental health professionals, to exchange war stories and discuss self-help strategies for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They engage in forms of self-help therapy for treating PTSD. Each chapter contains an exchange of stories, a discussion of therapy in progress, and self-help assignments for readers.

This text explores spirituality and its relationship to mental health. It emphasizes the need to look inward and listen to the messages which are channelled through our beings, rather than dismiss these experiences as some form of "disorder". Part One considers spirituality as a reflection of the process of change. A brief overview of the contemporary history of spiritual inquiry in the field of mental health is provided. Part Two considers spirituality as a reflection of the process of meaning making. Part Three considers spirituality in terms of different forms of journey, including a consideration of the traditional concept of pilgrimage. Part Four considers the potential for healing that lies within even the most terrifying forms of madness. The book then concludes with a suggestion of the power of "waiting" and the rewards obtained by the careful, compassionate practice of life.

Mad, bad and sad. From the depression suffered by Virginia Woolf and Sylvia Plath to the mental anguish and addictions of iconic beauties Zelda Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe. From Freud and Jung and the radical breakthroughs of psychoanalysis to Lacan's construction of a modern movement and the new women-centred therapies. This is the story of how we have understood mental disorders and extreme states of mind in women over the last two hundred years and how we conceive of them today, when more and more of our inner life and emotions have become a matter for medics and therapists.

It has become a truism that we all think in the narrative mode, both in everyday life and in science. But what does this mean precisely? Scholars tend to use the term ‘narrative’ in a broad sense, implying not only event-sequencing but also the representation of emotions, basic perceptual processes or complex analyses of data sets. The volume addresses this blind spot by using clear selection criteria: only non-fictional texts by experts are analysed through the lens of both classical and postclassical narratology – from Aristotle to quantum physics and from nineteenth-century psychiatry to early childhood psychology; they fall under various genres such as philosophical treatises, case histories, textbooks, medical reports, video clips, and public lectures. The articles of this volume examine the central but continuously shifting role that event-sequencing plays within scholarly and scientific communication at various points in history – and the diverse functions it serves such as eye witnessing, making an argument, inferencing or reasoning. Thus, they provide a new methodological framework for both literary scholars and historians of science and medicine.

"Beyond Loss: Rebuilding from the Ashes" chronicles the extraordinary life of Onesimus Malatji, beginning with his challenging high school years marked by isolation and a lack of direction. Despite these early setbacks, Malatji discovers a passion for electronics and computers, which sets the foundation for his future endeavours. The narrative delves into his initial business attempts, from repairing computers to mastering graphic design, demonstrating his self-taught abilities and adaptability. As Malatji's journey unfolds, the book highlights the establishment of Loxion Onys Printing Agency, marking his first significant venture into the entrepreneurial world. His business evolves to encompass publishing and printing services, showcasing his ability to identify and seize new opportunities. The story captures the complexities of business partnerships, detailing both the challenges and successes Malatji encounters as he collaborates with others. Transitioning into the world of telecommunications, Malatji's story takes a turn, depicting his foray into this new industry and the setbacks he faces, including sabotage and partnership difficulties. Yet, his resilience shines through as he navigates these challenges, always emerging more knowledgeable and determined. A significant pivot in Malatji's career occurs as he embraces writing, a move that opens a new chapter in his life. The book celebrates his astounding accomplishment as an author of 147 publications, spanning e-books, hardcopies, and audiobooks, highlighting his global recognition and the impact of his work. "Beyond Loss: Rebuilding from the Ashes" concludes with reflective insights, offering lessons learned from Malatji's diverse entrepreneurial experiences. The epilogue focuses on the legacy he has built, not only in terms of business success but also in the enduring impact he has made on those around him and the readers of his books. His life story stands as a beacon of hope and a guide for anyone facing adversity, encouraging resilience, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of dreams.

Reports the work of a 20-year collaboration between 36 psychologists who have created and investigated a tool to elicit and analyze children's narratives. This tool is the "MacArthur Story Stem Battery", a systematic collection of story beginnings that are referred to as 'stems.'