And the Next Will Be Revealed

May is Mental Health Month for Mental Health America. There are a lot of things you can do to help other than make donations. My personal way of seeing someone help is when they take the time to learn and understand Depression, especially if you have a family member, friend, or colleague in your life that is suffering. It took my parents over 12 years to finally understand the depths of my illness and they are STILL learning. It's a very hard thing to grasp because you don't want to see anyone in the deep throws of a clinical depression episode. But it's something you have to learn, deal, help, and give hope. So what I wish for this May is for all of my friends and my Dad(who still has a really hard time with it), to take a few extra hours and learn about this subject. It's actually fascinating and highly interesting to see how the brain works differently on each individual human being. Thank You.

"Whenever someone sorrows, I do not say, "forget it," or "it will pass," or "it could be worse" -- all of which deny the integrity of the painful experience. But I say, to the contrary, "It is worse than you may allow yourself to think. Delve into the depth. Stay with the feeling. Think of it as a precious source of knowledge and guidance. Then and only then will you be ready to face it and be transformed in the process."

"You don't have to control your thoughts; you just have to stop letting them control you."

"It is never too late to be what you might have been."

“Depression is nourished by a lifetime of ungrieved and unforgiven hurts”

"A lot of people don't realize that depression is an illness. I don't wish it on anyone, but if they would know how it feels, I swear they would think twice before they just shrug it."

"Depression can seem worse than terminal cancer, because most cancer patients feel loved and they have hope and self-esteem."

"In the dark there is no seeing of the light. It eats at you until you feel as though you can no longer walk or breathe. It comes out of no where and there is no control in your mind to save you from these demons. But in the end, after what could be 3 months to many many years, you wake up one day and hope comes through....just when you had given up. The sun shines again, dreams come back in full swing, and you are the strongest person on this earth." -S. Hollock

When you do make it out of a depressive episode, the alive you feel is different than anyone else's. You have been to hell again and somehow you and God found a way to make it back to see the wonderful heavens. If I could have one wish it would be that no one would ever have to go through what I have but in another way I wouldn't have become the person I am and love today. There will be a day when the blackness returns and giving up seems like the best doing, but you have to remember the heavens that you will reach when you wake and see the light again.

Peace&Hope
S
**If anyone has any questions or just absolutely anything they would like to tell me that they have gone through, please feel free to message me. Getting it out helps and finding that person who understands is one in a million. I love you all.

You Want a Piece of Me

Hey loves!!!! So as you know I'm moving and well I had already sold half my closet on eBay but due to my spending problem that good amount of money made went straight to designer dresses and bags. My bad. But this time I'm turning it all around.

So have you ever wanted a piece of me??? Well now if your chance! Click on the link below to view what I have dug up from my awesome closet the second round.

http://myworld.ebay.com/snhollock

And yes I do know it's disgusting that I have these many things with tags still attached! It's the true Confessions of a Shopaholic!

http://myworld.ebay.com/snhollock

Make sure to click on 'VIEW ALL ITEMS'

Think of it as a "Wow I get a great LBD and it's going to a good cause!"

Peace&Love

S

Make Love Not War

I suppose I am the only liberal here in Pittsburgh because all I have heard were negative accusations being made about Healthcare Reform bill that was passed as of last evening. Maybe you have to be me to see why I am so happy, not just for myself, but also for my fellow Americans who have pre-existing conditions and do not have healthcare.

Let's just start with this.....I don't follow anyones lead in who I choose to vote for. It's my vote and it's sacred to me. Just as I believe your votes are sacred to you. I do not wish to cause a big stir when I NEVER bring up politics around my friends. I don't need anyone telling me what's right and what's wrong. I have a mind of my own and I decide things using this. My Father is a Republican and my Mother is a Democrat. Besides my mother, the whole entire rest of my family are Republicans.

I could go out there and say that since my mother and I have been attached at the hip ever since I was born up until today, that possibly she persuades my decisions. But believe me, she doesn't. I grew up surrounded by the arts from a very young age. But I'm not even going to say that that swayed my decision to become a Democrat. I became a Democrat because it's ideals and goals are closer to my thinking and liking.

I couldn't have been happier when Obama was elected President of the United States! What a great moment in history! There are several things on my list of making the world better and it starts with EVERYONE being treated as equals. I still don't believe African Americans or women get treated fairly all the time and that needs to change. NOW! Also I am a hugeeee activist for Gay Rights and I see no change. This is HUGE to me. That needs to change very soon but there are STILL soo many homophobic and racist people in this nation that it disgusts me. We are all the same inside and should all be treated the same on the outside, no matter what your color or sexual preference.

Onto the Healthcare Reform

I have a pre-existing illness. It's no ones business so I don't need to put it out there but I will. It took me, since college, four years to get a job with decent healthcare. So for four years I went without. Working a full time job with two side jobs on top sometimes. I was sick and couldn't afford to go to the doctors all the time so a lot of work that my doctors and I did was basically over the phone. It was ridiculous. When I did get health insurance, I was very excited, but I did notice the copays for the certain treatment I needed were through the roof. And then I had to get help seriously this time so I took my 30 days of inpatient care and was then forced to apply for Medicaid on day 31. Basically one of the workers came into my room and asked me a bunch of questions and applied for me. When I was well enough to leave, I still had my prior health insurance from my former job to sustain for a month. I was very worried about what was to happen next. After all that hard work am I not even going to be able to go to my aftercare? And what about all the medications I needed(okay only 5 and with me only trusting the back in the day meds, mine are all basically on the $4 list).

And for some odd reason, God had answered my calls for help and I was granted medicaid. It really was a gift from God. A governmental healthcare that I don't know how I got but I did. Now I could go to all the aftercare I wanted and not have to worry about copays or prescription costs. I felt soo blessed.....kind of how I feel right now knowing I will never have to go without healthcare again.

Some of my friends that share my illness or similar illnesses, were not as lucky as I was. I have one dear friend that has been applying over and over for medicaid for over a year. Everytime-DENIED. When I told her the news of this last night she was just thrilled. This is only 1 person. How many this healthcare reform will save is limitless!

Nancy Pelosi put the reform into great words last night. Even stating that now one can "go after your dreams, start up your small business." We no longer have to take jobs we hate just because they have good benefits for ourselves and families. In my line of work(performing arts), I barely EVER have health insurance and now I will.

To end this, just as I stated in the beginning, I love everyone. I am a genuinely nice person and wish the best for everyone. All I want for everyone is to be equal and insured. I'm not pushing my way of thinking on anyone and I wish you do not insult my way of thinking. I am soo happy that in 4 months those without can have what some take for granted. I would and will be more than happy to extend my taxes to insure that every American citizen has healthcare. We're all in this together and the more we work together, ignoring race, gender, and sexual preference, the more we will accomplish and succeed as a nation.

I love you all!!!

Peace & Love
S

Measure Your Life In Love

Just a quick reminder to all......please don't forget to participate in this weekends cause that is very near and dear to my heart. The great cause is called TWLOHA-"to write love on her arms", is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire and also to invest directly into treatment and recovery.

To Write Love On Her Arms Day is a day where anyone can write the words love on their arms, to support those who are fighting against depression and those who are trying to recovering. On this day, just write love on your arms, and show it off, other people will ask why you have love written on your arms, and you tell them you are supporting to write love on her arms day, and how its benefiting a non profit organization helping stop depression, and make love the movement.

Thank you guys sooo much and please upload your photos up to "And Who Are You Again" and we'll make a special section!

Below is the link and please rsvp attending. It would mean the world to me.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=210328952677

Peace & Love to all......xoxoxoxo

S