Vivienne, What's With The Semicolon Thing?

 


**Content Warning: suicide, suicidal thoughts**

Moving on from self-care and therapy, I want to switch it up a little. Have you seen those little semicolon tattoos and pins that people have? Ever wonder what's up with that? Spoiler, it isn't to show you're a grammar nerd. In grammar, the semicolon connects two sentences that are each full thoughts; something that's quite useful in certain cases. (See what I did there? hehe)

The semicolon movement, Project Semicolon (find them on Instagram), however, expands on that. In 2013, Amy Bleuel started a nonprofit organization to raise awareness and encourage those with mental illnesses, self-harm, suicide, and addictions. Why the semicolon though? Their slogan is this: "A semicolon represents a sentence that author could've ended but chose not to. The author is you and the sentence is your life." Beginning to make more sense?

Amy Bleuel started this social media movement, encouraging people to draw a semicolon on their wrist and share pictures to show how widespread this issue really is. Bleuel's father died by suicide, and she had her own struggles, which led her to start all this. The point I want to make here is that it's not a small issue. It's not an insignificant issue, either. The rates of suicides and self-harm have only increased with the pandemic's lockdowns and the forced isolation we've all suffered. (Don't get me wrong, each person's experience is different, but some have been affected worse than others.)

I recently bought the My Story flexi as part of Mental Health Awareness Month, and I specifically got the semicolon charm to add to it. I struggle with depression and anxiety, and though I haven't struggled with suicidal thoughts, I do know a few people who've died by suicide. It sucks. I miss them really badly. I have questions I won't ever find answers to. I don't blame them, but it sucks to lose someone and find out too late how badly they were suffering, find out too late to help.

There are different levels of dealing with suicidal thoughts. Sometimes it's just the desire to not exist anymore. Sometimes it's feels like you're being crushed, overwhelmed by darkness and shadows trying to swallow you up. Sometimes everything hurts too much, everything is too hard, and nothing seems worth the effort of trying. Sometimes it manifests as "What if I didn't look both ways when crossing the street?" Or "I'd be okay if I just didn't wake up one morning."

If you ever feel this way or have felt this way, please don't succumb to the shadows and the lies they tell, the lies that you're not worth anything, that you're not good enough. If you don't have someone you're comfortable talking to, there are resources that I'll post below. Don't ever feel ashamed for needing help. You are awesome and this world is better for you being here. (I really, really do mean that.)

💜💜💜

Resources:

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889.

You can also text 741741 in the US or UK (686868 in Canada), or message Crisis Text Line on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/help/1088995834578594)

💜💜💜

May Giveaway! Joanna from Lilla Rose and I are giving away a My Story flexi as part of Mental Health Awareness month, as well as a charm and some Lilla Bucks! Giveaway details are below with all the links you need.
(Also, buy a My Story flexi of your own and let me know! I'm going to be donating $5 to my favorite charity for each flexi bought, so let me know how much to spend.) ^_^

Giveaway ends May 29th at midnight. Winner will be chosen May 30th, and there are three ways to enter. 
First, you'll get 1 entry if you Like Joanna's Facebook page, and 1 if you like my Facebook page. Also, 1 entry for each Share and Comment on social media posts about the giveaway.
Second, you can get 5 entries if you buy a My Story Flexi from her website.
Third, you can get 10 entries if you donate any dollar amount to one of these charities: Mental Health America (MHA) or National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

Do any of these and let us know by commenting either here on this blog or our social media posts. ^_^ (All donations to NAMI will be matched thru May 31st, up to $75k) 


Joanna, Lilla Rose:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/UpInHair

Contact Her Directly: https://shop.ami.co/upinhair/contact?ref=share


Vivienne's Facebook:

Vivienne Aulaire, Writer | Facebook


Charities: 

Mental Health America https://mhanational.org/

National Alliance on Mental Illness https://www.nami.org/home

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