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Center for Disease Control: Body and Mind

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Center for Disease Control: Body and Mind

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A health website for ages 9 to 12.

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Welcome to the BAM! Body and Mind Classroom Resources for Teachers portal. This page contains a variety of information and resources for teachers of grades 4-8 to use in the classroom and help students make healthier lifestyle choices.

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centers for disease control and prevention

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Welcome to the BAM! Body and Mind Classroom Resources for Teachers portal. This page contains a variety of information and resources for teachers of grades 4-8 to use in the classroom and help students make healthier lifestyle choices.

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A website for teenagers in crisis.

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TeenCentral is a help and support website for teens. Teens can submit their story, access mental health content, tools, and help hotlines.

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Apps for Health and Wellness

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Here you'll find professionally-reviewed mobile apps and tools to help you look after your health and wellbeing.

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A safe place to post your feelings

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I need you to hold on. And choose to keep going.
I don't remember when I was doing okay. My dad was an alcoholic, he was abusive. I remember being 8 years old, making dinner for my younger siblings because no one would come home for days on end. I have had broken bones and countless bruising from my father and when I started the 6th grade, I was raped. For 4 months back to back, my uncle was doing this to me and I feared telling anyone because I actually thought he'd kill me. I have struggled with suicidal thoughts since then, the day he left I tried to commit suicide, I was 12, but I woke up the next morning and felt like trash, but was still alive, I held onto this secret until I was in 8th grade, when I finally told someone who told my parents (having no idea how abusive my dad was) my dad beat me and told me it was my fault, then had me lie to the cops about what happened. I struggle with self harm in many ways. I was a mean kid because acting out was the only way I could cope with emotions, and I figured if I was going to go home and be in trouble regardless, I might as well have a good reason to deserve it. I started struggling with substance abuse my sophomore year of high school, and then when I came out as Bisexual my junior year I got kicked out and I lived in my car. I have found so many people who care about me more than anything but living is still the hardest thing I've ever done. I have developed an eating disorder and am fighting back and forth with my sobriety continuously, and I see the hurt I am doing to everyone during this. I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and ptsd and On 3/13/2021 was my last suicide attempt and when I woke up in the hospital and saw how badly I destroyed everyone who believes in me and cares about me so much. I made a decision to stop surviving and start fighting. I am not okay. By any means. But people are counting on me to wake up tomorrow. Someone is ALWAYS counting on you to wake up. And someone needs you even if you don't know who yet. You deserve as much as I do, to see the day where you can look back and say "I DID THAT". You didn't deserve anything but you do deserve to heal. And slowly I am learning that by putting in efforts to help others because I find so much joy in that, and making art. You will one day be someone's survival guide and be who you needed. You deserve recovery, take it from me because I am proof that it is possible. I love you.

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I need you to hold on. And choose to keep going. I don't remember when I was doing okay. My dad was an alcoholic, he was abusive. I remember being 8 years old, making dinner for my younger siblings because no one would come home for days on end.

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A safe place to share your story

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At 21, I was in college and enjoying the social scene but starting to see cracks. This little thought kept popping into my head. Am I going to be okay? Is life going to more complicated than I had always imagined?

At 22, college was coming to a close and I was starting to ask myself that question more often. A lot of times, I imagined myself as that deeply flawed character at the beginning of a movie that you're rooting for but know it's not going to end well. But there were exciting moments thinking about the possibilities of the future and time doesn't wait for you to catch up.

At 23, I was going out nightly, doing lines of coke until 5 am, and then coming into work at 8 am after a quick shower and possible wardrobe change. And I would think sometimes, "maybe this is happiness and I just don't know it."

At 24, my career started to take off, I was working 24-7, and people were starting to notice me. The impact of no sleep hadn't kicked in and I was happy when I thought about how hard I had worked and where I was going.

At 25, I was living in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Chicago, working obsessively, drinking heavily, abusing my own adderall prescription, and cutting myself in the shower. I started asking myself "where the hell is this going?"

At 26, things took off again. I moved up higher in my career, built a network people would kill for, and I became lonely even when I was with people. I was well respected, crossed the 6-figure barrier, but I was numb to everything.

At 27, I got bored and needed to feel progress so I entered management, added more stress to an already active life, and went into machine mode. I don't even remember most of that year. Imagine someone who had a secret dumpster of problems taking on the stress and anxiety of an entire team of people.

At 28, I had people waiting outside of my office from all around the company looking to get my advice on everything from their current project to career strategy. I drove to work at 6am and left at 11pm most days. I was on a diet of adderall and wine. At one point, it felt like a part of my old personality was gone, maybe even dead. The part of me that would hang out and shoot the shit disappeared. I found parties weird and uncomfortable. How does one relate?

At 29, I started falling into deep, week long depressive states. There were mornings where I physically couldn't get out of bed to get water or pee. I just laid there, sometimes slipping in and out of a blurry sleep state, now blacking out without drinking or doing drugs. And every time I'd come back stronger, make bigger plans, and regain my footing.

This was the point where I started talking about my mental health issues. When people watched me boom and bust, they knew something was going on. It started with me explaining the anxiety I felt inside. When I felt more comfortable, I talked about the depression. For some reason depression is harder for me to communicate - it feels more like weakness. It makes people have to worry about me. I hate feeling like anyone needs to worry about me.

And for a select few, I even told them about the cutting. Nothing makes people more terrified than knowing you're in enough pain to harm yourself. It's interesting - you don't even have to explain why you do it. They know immediately that you feel so dead, you need to bleed to feel alive. And that most likely makes you the most complicated person they've ever met. But you learn how much they love you. And that they need you, too.

It doesn't get better over night and I'm never going to be the guy you look at and go, "wow, he lives such a balanced life." But talking to your family and friends in combination with mental health professionals will help you move the needle in the right direction. Medication helped, too.

And at 30, I'm optimistic. Removing the burden of hiding how I feel has been a big weight off my shoulders. I can now focus on working through those feelings instead of putting my energy into hiding them. Going through this process, I've allowed myself to be vulnerable and it subsequently lets people do the same, especially other men who have been too ashamed to talk about mental health.

You start to think, "maybe I can help people and not be the victim." That's a great feeling.

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At 21, I was in college and enjoying the social scene but starting to see cracks. This little thought kept popping into my head. Am I going to be okay? Is life going to more complicated than I had always imagined?

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Dial 988

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We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.

988

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Stock photo by iStock.

The 988 Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States. We're committed to improving crisis services and advancing suicide prevention by empowering individuals, advancing professional best practices, and building awareness.

About The Lifeline

Anyone could be struggling with suicide. Find more specific resources below.

I'm Struggling With Individuals with Neurodivergence

We understand that every struggle is different. Experience the stories of people like you, and how they overcame crisis to find hope and recovery.
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First, you'll hear an automated message featuring additional options while your call is routed to your local 988 Lifeline network crisis center.

We'll play you a little music while we connect you to a skilled, trained crisis worker.

A trained crisis worker at your local center will answer the phone.

This person will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and get you the help you need.

988 Lifeline Center calls are free and confidential, and we're available 24/7.

Show What Happens When You Call The Lifeline

Everyone Plays A Role In Suicide Prevention

Get in touch

Call the Lifeline

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Skip to main content We can all help prevent suicide. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. 988 ¡Los servicios de texto y chat de 988 Lifeline ya están disponibles en español!

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Use these questions to help you decide if you need help.