Book dossier

Functionally ill

by Laura-Marie

Written at a point when she is feeling well, Laura-Marie broadly discusses mental health advocacy and coping strategies, and zooms in on her specific method of self-care and recovery. She compares the goals of several mental health organizations, including NAMI, MindFreedom, and the Icarus Project, muses on a friend's opinion that all mental health problems are a result of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and criticizes a uniformed path of recovery for mental health patients. Laura-Marie also defines her particular breed of "crazy," outlines her strategies for self-care when she feels too low or too high, and explains why she wants to get off medication. Her active participation in the online forums of the Icarus Project, a radical mental health support and advocacy group, is highlighted.