Why College is Important

   Did you know that the brain is not fully mature until around 25-27? I really wish the age of
a minor in the United States would be raised to at least 21. I hear that some states do have the
age of a minor set at 21, but this needs to be nationally, with another 2 years of school added
to the curriculum. That would mean that junior college would become a mandatory requirement.

   Who would have expected that my assumptions to be right? In a few previous posts I iterate
about raising the age of a minor, so that the child could learn that there is still a chance, before
age 25, to become a schizophrenic or be affected with another mental illness. Bipolar and schizophrenia are not the only mental illnesses out there. There is body dysmorphic disorder,
anorexia, bulimia, OCD, disassociative disorder- to name a few. They say that one
out of five adults have a mental disorder. They also say, that it is closer to one in four.
That's a lot of people.

   Not only should the age of a minor be raised, but families should keep childen home
until you know for sure that they can survive on their own. I would say that 25 is the new
18. Why would you set your child up for failure? Unless they can demonstrate they can
have gainful employment or even finish college with a degree and then look to become
independent if they want to leave sooner, need to be home. Boundaries are key. They
want to be alone, but then again adult children still need parental support and guidance.
Think about it as finishing school. Our children need us.

Young Adult Resources

Vocabulary ABC's

Surviving Mental Illness from the Inside Out

Where will this take us, if we can all agree?

How can we make this happen? Are we grown at 18? NOOOO!!!
So, why is it that we get kicked out, join the military, and are undersuccessful? 

Because!!! We have been set up for failure!!! We are not fully grown at 18, and you expect me to be adult about it? WHY?

Tired of high apartment prices? Think you can't leave your parents' home? Here is a link I would
like to include on this post as an addendumn. I have a new link on the side bar under blogs, it is

Affordable Housing List for San Diego

I hope you find the housing list informative and helpful.


 Vocabulary used in Mental Health


I have a dream... I have a dream that one day mental illness will be understood... be treated... be cured....
I have a dream that one day the age of a minor will be raised to the age of 21 with two more years of high school added on (pre-K to grade 14) I have a dream that one day when someone hears their diagnosis of mental illness, they will survive (many commit suicide when given a diagnosis of mental illness, because they see their future demolished) I have a dream that one day, the military will see that it takes a man to fight a man, not a boy to fight a man... I have a dream that one day the experts will agree to raise the age of a minor, because children at 18 are still yet to be grown... their brains are still growing... I have a dream that this plight will be mentioned in the history books. Share this if you agree. I found out that it takes about 700,000 signatures to get something on the ballot. That means that there have to be 700,000 registered voters that have signed the petition. It takes about 3X that much to practically guarantee the 700,000 signatures. 

Please share this if you are for raising the age of a minor to benefit future mental health. Thank you for your considerations.

and thank you for allowing me to dream.... thank you MLK

 I dream for everyone to have the college experience:
How to have college pay for itself

Did you know that if you are mentally ill?

 Just a minor note...but not a minor topic...

 Did you know that when you are arrested, that if you are mentally ill, they don't read you your rights? Because, if you are mentally ill, you have no rights...you have to prove that you should have those rights...most cannot...

 Mental illness does not stop there...if you are federally committed as being mentally ill, you have an umbrella of protection in court by law...you get a slap on the wrist for some infractions...unfortunately, this does not equate to sentencing...you just might spend years in a hospital for mental illness on a charge...such as disturbing the peace...you need to know a valuable question to ask when found in such situations...that question is, "What am I being accused of?" No, seriously, this is an important question that is not well known or at the top of the list of questions you think of if you get arrested as being too mentally ill for society...

Vocabulary ABC's

What To Do If You Are Being Held Back from a Promotion

     I don't know how to answer this actually. On one hand,

you can wait it out. On another hand, you can look for another job. Finally, if you have three hands...ha ha...you can hire a lawyer. I have done all three. 

     At the moment, I am being held back from a promotion. I feel as if it is being halted because I am disabled. I know I am more than qualified for the position and feel the initial stab of stigma. I wonder if I should hire a lawyer but the last time I hired a lawyer, the pressure was too great even for a seasoned fighter against stigma. I was working in Engineering at the San Diego Trolley. I hired a lawyer to help keep my job. Yet, after five administrative leaves in one year and a slap in the face psych eval was the last blood drop in my heart. So, I quit. The lawyer said that I should not have done that, but I felt that even he was not strong enough to take on the San Diego Trolley. (and he wanted more money up front which I did not have at the time)

     So, I am looking for another job. I am hoping someone will pick me up according to my achievements and not too stiff to have my disability hold me back. I have over 70 college classes under my belt. Two AA's in Psychology, one BA in Psychology and one minor in Counseling and Social Change. Also, I am in the process of acquiring a Masters Certificate in Restorative Justice Practices and Trauma Informed Care. I am only applying to places that require a BA and not much else and even they have problems with my disability. It hurts. I will be honest. I worked my butt off and I still get the, "oh you just weren't good enough for the position and we found someone more qualified". How many times have I heard that?

     If I were to hire a lawyer now...when my career is in its infancy, I will tell you, it is career suicide. And lord knows, I want to extend my reach not squash it. So, I wait. I wait for my promotion and I wait for that interview. In any case, I should hear something soon. Hopefully, it is what I want to hear. 

Vocabulary ABC's

Pass Program          Application for PASS

Fight the Stigma

How I Learned to Grow Where I am Planted

  I have always wanted to be educated. But I became educated in another fashion. I had to make a foundation before I could build. I had to start somewhere, so I started with High School Night School. My mother had agreed to babysit, but only if I was doing something productive. So, I took sign-language classes. Then I found out about ROP in San Diego. It was free trade-school. It sounded great, so I signed up for Cosmetology classes. It took a year on the waiting list, but I finally made it, and yes, my mother agreed to babysit again for this endeavor. It took a year and a half, but I made it. I am still a cosmetologist. I kept my license. But then I came down with carpal-tunnel.

 I flitted from one job to another, never staying very long. When my employers found out I was disabled, I was always asked to resign. I did not know my rights. So, I would resign, thinking that it was better than being fired. Then, I found out about apprenticeships and applied to become a trolley mechanic. They put me through classes at the local community college and I got a certificate. I am also an Electro-mechanic Journeyman-Lineman. It took five years, but even they pushed me out when finding out I have a disability. I was served with psych eval papers and was so insulted that I just said, that's it, I quit. After five good years of service.

 So, back on Social Security I went. I promised my family that I would stay on it this time. Well, I guess I was wrong. I found my calling. My calling as a Peer Support Counselor. I was still in school when I got the job. My current employer has always worked with me to get to the next level. So now, I not only have an associate's degree but now I also have a Bachelor's degree with a minor. But I didn't stop there. Now, I am in master's classes. To get a certificate. That always seems to be the starting point for me. 

 So, where I am at now, I am off of Social Security. I have a full-time job and I have personal transportation to get to and from work. I see a psychiatrist regularly. I take medicine regularly. And I am still in school, still learning to grow where I am planted. Thank you for your continued support of my blog. Here, I try to do my part to stop the stigma. Stigma is the tipping point for most of the mentally ill. It hurts. 

Vocabulary ABC's in Mental Health Circles

 Social Security PASS Program Info   PASS Application