“It’s Not Your Journey” chronicles a 2 year period the where, author, Rebecca Lombardo, discusses her bouts with bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety, self-injury, and recovery from a suicide attempt, while overcoming the loss of her brother and mother. Mrs. Lombardo’s book sheds light on what living with mental illness actually looks like in contrast to the negative depictions seen on mass media. And while yes, there are descriptions on the symptoms of mental health disorders, like for example, depression (e.g. anger or irritability, concentration programs, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness), through her experiences you “see” what that looks like day to day.
Author Rebecca Lombardo
Her novel provides, in addition, encouragement to her readers keep on pursing their dreams and goals despite living with mental illness. I, myself, who struggle with mental illness have been inspired to stay strong and be best self, no matter what situation or person is against me…even if it’s my own mental illness. I highly recommend to book to anyone who lives or doesn’t live with a mental health disorder. It’s sure to make laugh, cry, and empower you and/or those with/without mental illness. I highly recommend you read it!
*I received a copy of this book free in exchange for an honest review
Like comic book/superheroes? Want to know about your mental health and mental health in general? Why not have both? Like I mentioned in my previous post “Superheroes and Mental Health”, sometimes you could understand human behavior behind these masked/unmasked heroes, because they represent the throes of humanity. The sites I’m about to introduce YOU to are two great sites that I find do a great job at intertwining mental health awareness and the world of superheroes together:
The Arkham Sessions: Batman: The Animated Series
Pop Culture Hero Coalition
Superhero Therapy
Under The Mask: A Deeper Look at Heroes and Villains
Superhero Therapy
Superhero therapy, ran by Dr. Janina Scarlet, a licensed clinical psychologist, uses various forms of pop culture such as comic books and videos games along with evidence based practices such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help individuals achieve optimal mental health. As being refugee and being bullied herself, she decided to use her pain to help others by attaining her Ph.D in Neuroscience and clinical psychology and of course, her love comics/pop culture to create “superhero therapy”. She has contributed her knowledge of behavioral health in various books like “Star Trek Psychology”, “Doctor Who Psychology”, “Game of Thrones”, “Captain America Vs. Iron Man: Freedom, Security, Psychology,” “Dark Side of The Mind: Star Wars Psychology,” and “Psych of the Living: The Walking Dead.” She is about to release a new book titled, “Superhero Therapy: A Hero’s Journey Through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy” coming out in the U.S. August 1st this summer (out already in the U.K.).
In addition to that, she contributes to the Saga comic series, aids Veterans with PTSD and other mental health disorders. She is also a curriculum creator for the “Pop Culture Hero” organization and website. For more information on her, her site, her works, and contributions, click on the websites below:
Under The Mask: A Deeper Look at Heroes and Villains
“Under the Mask” created by Dr. Andrea Letamendi “uses fictional heroes and villains to discuss mental health awareness”, while reducing the stigma and misconception toward achieving optimal mental health while still being able to nerd out!
Using her degree in clinical psychology (and love of pop culture, comic books, especially Batman) her sites goes health topics like, “panic attacks”, “PTSD”, “recovery and rehabilitation” and “bipolar disorder”.
While promoting mental health awareness, the website also aims to bring about “awareness and knowledge of psychology” and “strengthen and broaden the public impact that scientists and academics have about important scientific discoveries” through topics like “sports psychology”, “relaxation therapy”, the “recovery oriented model”, “positive psychology”, “neuropsychology”, “ethics and morality”, “cognitive psychology” and “electroconvulsive therapy.”
If you want to know more about her and her works in clinical psychology and pop culture, look at the links below:
This weekly series by Dr. Letamendi and Brian Ward gets into the psychological views of Batman: The Animated Series, while still providing educational and comical views of the iconic Batman Heroes and villains.
Co-host Brian Ward
The show does use other characters of the DC Universe to further explain mental health and world of psychology. Here are a few topics/characters they discuss:
The Arkham Sessions, Episode 102 “Joker’s Millions”
The Arkham Sessions, Episode 101 “WonderCon 2017: The Psychology of Animated Series
For more information, click on the link below (you can also download them via podcast; very fun and informational stuff. Trust me):
The “Pop Culture Hero Coalition” is a non-profit organization that “stories from TV film, and comics to make a stand for real-life heroism over bullying, racism, misogyny, LGBTQ, bullying, cyber-bullying and other forms of hate”. They have a team and have partnerships with non-profit (Random Acts and To Write Love On Arms, and the United Nations Associations of the United States of America: San Diego Chapter) with various organizations that discusses crucial information on how we can make this nation, this world a better place. Two of people who are a part of the Pop Culture Hero Coalition, team include the two doctors I mentioned earlier, Dr. Letamendi and Dr. Scarlet.
They have also made visits to various schools and conventions around the country (I’ll tell you about the one I saw at this year Wonder Con) to discuss about pertinent details that is essential to living a great and optimal livelihood. For more information, click on the link below:
Living Resiliently Blog 