Welcome, to the second edition of Shattering Stigmas!! I kind of cannot believe that the first one ever happened, so to be doing this for a second time… well, it’s pretty exciting, frankly! So thank you for reading this, and being so enthusiastic the first time, enough so to give me the courage to do it again!

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how I wanted to do this introductory post. Because unlike last year, you guys kind of know the drill. And if you’re curious about what happened last year, you can find all the posts right here

I decided that the route I’d take was a bit of an update- how things have been since last year’s event, what is new with me, and of course, what to expect in this round of #ShatteringStigmas!

Also, using Hamilton GIFs, because why not, right?

I try to keep the blog a happy, upbeat sort of place, so that you all have the warm fuzzies and want to come back again and play with me. Plus, it’s more fun that way. But life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, especially when dealing with mental health. I talked a lot in my intro post from last year about how things weren’t spectacular, and how I felt a little… wrong, given that my co-hosts were doing so well and had nuggets of insight to share and all that good stuff.

I will say that I was inspired by this event to try to find a good therapist. I will also say that I failed. And not for lack of trying. I had one who quit (not just on me, but on the profession in general) after a handful of sessions. Ironically, she went to work in a Barnes & Noble, so I guess I had more of an impact on her than she had on me 😉 The second was fine, but her office cancelled our appointments just about every time, so that wasn’t working. I haven’t given up though; I am still searching. I will search until I find someone. I will not give up.

Here’s something that no one tells you, but I am going to: Sometimes, admitting you need help, reaching out for help isn’t the hardest part. Sometimes, it is finding it. And that is when you cannot give up. You simply can’t. There is someone who will help out there, I have to believe that. And if you need help believing in that, we can talk about it together. I am saying this right now, loud and clear: If any of you ever, ever needs someone to talk to, I am hereI am not just saying that either- DM me on Twitter, send me an email, whatever. You never have to be alone, you never have to hold it in.

I hope, more than anything, that when 2017’s Shattering Stigmas rolls around, I’ll be able to give you the sunshine and rainbows that I so desperately want to give you- because I so desperately want to have that! But no matter, it will always be something I struggle with. There’s no quick fix, hell, there isn’t a fix at all. There’s hard work, and striving to ensure that the good days outnumber and outweigh the bad. There’s the ever present knowledge that each of you is fucking worth itIf you take nothing else from this, remember that. You deserve to be happy. 

 So, what to expect this time around? Glad you asked! 

  • Guest posts! Lots of guest posts from authors and bloggers, about a variety of things. Personal stories, book talk, recommendations, discussions… you name it, we have it!
  • A giveaway, of course! So that you can experience some of the phenomenal books out there about mental health, too!
  • We now have lots of blogs participating! So you can check out Novel Ink, The Fox’s Hideaway, Six Impossible Things,and  Of Wonderland for tons of posts!
  • I will be doing a big “Reviews in a Minute” about a bunch of books with mental health issues. The best part? They are all at least 3 stars, which means YAY for good representation!
  • Who knows. Come on, some things never change… like me flying by the seat of my pants when it comes to this stuff 😉

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Okay, this is a biggie, you guys! It’s an event-wide giveaway, but there will be FIVE (5) Winners! Four (4) International, one US only. Each of the tour hosts will be giving away a copy of ANY book featured in the event, so YAY! And I have a US prize to add in, because Penguin is awesome and sent me some books to review for the event (Finding Audrey, which will be featured later, is a paperback, and has a small pen mark on it because my pen slipped from the sticky flag- guys, I am NOT okay with this, and a brand new hardcover of All the Bright Places, which I reviewed here and now have an extra copy of, thanks, Penguin!!)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

And now, before I send you off, a few tiny housekeeping things! I love your comments, even more during this event. And I can promise you, I read EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. And I cherish them, because you guys give me the courage to do this. But posting every single day, managing it all, I can’t promise that they’ll all be responded to in a timely fashion. I am going to try! But please bear with me here, I am one person who is pretty overwhelmed at the moment. I love you guys extra for being understanding and awesome!

Welcome to #ShatteringStigmas, Round Two! What are some things you are most excited for as we get underway?

Posted August 15, 2016 by Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight in #ShatteringStigmas, Giveaway, Mental Health / 40 Comments

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40 responses to “Welcome to #ShatteringStigmas… Part TWO!!

  1. Ruzaika

    I missed Round One of this wonderful event, but I’m glad I’m around to see everything you guys have come up with this year! Looking forward to all the wonderful posts, Shannon! Here’s to Shattering Stigmas!

    Ruzaika @ The Regal Critiques

  2. I love all the Hamilton references. 😀 I’m sorry you haven’t found a good therapist yet (it’s kind of hilarious that the first one is working at Barnes and Noble now haha), but I’m really glad you keep trying to find one!! I’m sure there’s someone you click with out there. 🙂 Excited to read the posts!

    • Thank you, my dear! Hamilton seems to creep his way into everything, yes? And seriously, how ridiculous is that!? I had only been seeing her for like, 5 or 6 weeks and she was like “yeah, I think I am over being a therapist” basically. What even!? This is my luck ?

  3. YAYYYYYY THAT THIS IS BACK!! *flails happily* I find this so so encouraging. And I also 100% hear you about trying to make one’s blog a happy place but actually struggling behind-the-scenes. Meeee. I chose to blog happy/positively, but life is definitely not all sprinkles and pinecones. (Wait. Pinecones are a happy thing, right?) So thankyou for organising this Shannon!! And I can’t wait to read all the wonderfulness that is coming. :’)

  4. I’m sure you have guest posts already lined up, but if you do this in the future, I’d love to participate! I have a LOT to say. 🙂 (Including about people who thought the mental illness in my book was made up … unless I chimed in that I had it.) 🙂

  5. Eveline

    I’m so sorry it’s been such a struggle for you to find a therapist. I’ve been in the system for 10 years, since I was 14, and in some ways it has really helped me. The past few years the focus has been on ‘maintenance’ and no longer ‘change’, because this is as good as it’s going to get for me.

    Ironically All the Bright Places is one of my favorite books ever, but it plunged me straight back into depression because of how accurate the descriptions were and it hit so close to home. It’s the only book I remember ever crying about. I hope mental health will find its way into more novels, maybe even on the sidelines instead of it being the main plot.

    Well, this was a really long comment. xD If you ever need someone to talk to, my DM/e-mail is always open for you. 🙂

  6. I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS EVENT SHANNON <3

    Also I really hope you find a therapist you like, because it has been long enough. And of course feel free to talk in the DM as usual! <3

  7. Larissa Holt

    This event is honestly one of my favorites in the blogging world and I cannot to say its importance. I cannot wait to read all of the guest posts by fellow bloggers and authors. It’s so important that these more difficult issues get discussed, not only to raise awareness of these issues that most certainly exist but also to provide those who may also be suffering from the same issues with a sense of community- in the way that they’re not alone. To me that is the most important thing and something that Staggering Stigmas really does provide.

    I love this and I love you <33 I'm sorry your therapist search isn't going as swimmingly as you would like. You're not alone there haha, it's been quite similar with my boyfriend. His first therapist went on mat leave and now the one he has is similar to your second one with all of the scheduling issues. Haha it really shouldn't be this difficult to find a good therapist omg, but yes you definitely shouldn't give up. And girl, I'm always here for you. Anytime- seriously.

    Cannot wait to see more from Shattering Stigmas and I'm still so mad at myself for never getting back to your email to be a part of it :s Cause I would have loved to. Curses at life for getting in the way during that time period.

  8. I love that you are doing this feature again. I look forward to all the posts. I really enjoyed it last year, and maybe I’ll get the courage to participate next year. I very much agree not to give up – find a great therapist! Honestly, I think we all need therapists of some kind. For some people, it’s a friend or writing or fishing, and for some they really need an actual therapist. I hope you continue on your journey and get what you need out of it.

  9. Truer words have never been spoken. The battle for mental health is definitely not easy, but there are things that can be done to make it easier to manage. I’m so proud of you for going out and seeking help and not giving up, even though it sounds like it has been a tough ride. I am always here for you Shannon, like you’ve been there for me.

    Wow, that turned out way more emotional than I intended

  10. I am so happy that you are doing this again. I think it’s an incredible opportunity to bring many issues to light that people may not think about all the time. I am happy to hear that you aren’t giving up on the search for a new therapist. I went to therapy for a couple of years a while ago. She was so incredibly helpful. I was lucky in that I found someone great pretty quickly. But sometimes it can take a bit to find someone with that perfect fit. They’re out there!

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