MHI: NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH “WHY WILL YOU SAY THAT I AM MAD?”

Trigger warning: Contains frank discussion of substance abuse, treatment, and recovery. NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH “WHY WILL YOU SAY THAT I AM MAD?” BY MARK MATTHEWS Shake someone’s hand and recite that introduction, “Hi, my name is Mark and I’m an alcoholic” at an AA meeting, and that years ago you used to drink vodka every morning to stop the shakes, praying you wouldn’t vomit, and you’ll receive a warm blanket of support, understanding, and acceptance. Do it at your next job interview or when you meet your fiancés parents—well, not so much. September is national recovery month, which exists “to…

MHI: Life Goes On The Way It Does — How Writing Is My Saviour

Trigger Warning: This article addresses mental health. Life Goes On The Way It Does — How Writing Is My Saviour By Claire Fitzpatrick “It is as if my life were magically run by two electric currents: joyous positive and despairing negative—whichever is running at the moment dominates my life, floods it.” ― Silvia Plath This is my second attempt at writing this. Well, that’s lie. I did write a draft and then didn’t edit it. Because I couldn’t. Not because I didn’t want to. But because I physically couldn’t. Over the past few months, for various reasons, I’ve felt as…

MHI: BUKOWSKI’S BROKEN SHOELACE THEORY by Timothy P. Flynn

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members.   BUKOWSKI'S BROKEN SHOELACE THEORY Timothy P. Flynn The news headline read, Wife stabbed husband…

MHI: CRUMB by David Curfiss

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members.   CRUMB David Curfiss It’s hard to be a kid when the world around you…

MHI: THE ULTIMATE QUESTION by Tony LaMalfa

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members.   THE ULTIMATE QUESTION by Tony LaMalfa With strained yet still youthful anticipation, I place…

MHI: THE ART OF HEALING by Christina Sng

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members.     THE ART OF HEALING Christina Sng I. I learned many truths After the…

MHI: BANISHING THE DARKNESS by David Sharp

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members.   BANISHING THE DARKNESS David Sharp In the spring of 2005, I found myself lost…

MHI: WAIT WHEN ICE FORMS OVER MY FINGERTIPS by Marisca Pichette

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members.   WAIT WHEN ICE FORMS OVER MY FINGERTIPS Marisca Pichette like acrylic nails, biting through…

MHI: MY HANDS ARE NOT MY OWN (A Poem of Dissociation) by Varian Ross

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members.   MY HANDS ARE NOT MY OWN (A Poem of Dissociation) Varian Ross My hands…

MHI: THE BULLFROG AND THE BLACK DOG by Marsheila Rockwell

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members.   THE BULLFROG AND THE BLACK DOG Marsheila Rockwell The bullfrog sings, but never sleeps…

MHI: THE LAST STAND OF MR. NOBODY by Dale Fletcher

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members.   THE LAST STAND OF MR. NOBODY Dale Fletcher Years spent in darkness led to…

MHI: LIMINALITY by Donna Lynch

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members.   LIMINALITY Donna Lynch Tomorrow and for months to come I may be somewhere else…

MHI: GENERATIONS OF THE IMAGINARIUM by Sumiko Saulson

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members.   GENERATIONS OF THE IMAGINARIUM Sumiko Saulson My mother was a griot in the streets…

MHI: THE CONSTANT OUTSIDER by Rosemary Thorne

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members.   THE CONSTANT OUTSIDER Rosemary Thorne I was only four when I saw a giant…

MHI: CURSED by Mercedes M. Yardley

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members. CURSED Mercedes M. Yardley I come from a long, rich history of mental illness. It…

MHI: EVICTION NOTICE by Fleur Bradley

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members. EVICTION NOTICE Fleur Bradley THIS SERVES AS A NOTICE. I see you there across the…

MHI: A CONFESSIONAL: WHY I WILL NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE AND SPEND ALL MY TIME WRITING HORROR by Terrie Leigh Relf

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members. A CONFESSIONAL: WHY I WILL NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE AND SPEND ALL MY TIME WRITING…

MHI: ESCAPING THE HORROR OF DISABILITY AND MENTAL HEALTH by Brandon Ketchum

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members. ESCAPING THE HORROR OF DISABILITY AND MENTAL HEALTH Brandon Ketchum When you’re diagnosed with a…

MHI: MOURNING THE MANUSCRIPT. by Lara Frater

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members.   MOURNING THE MANUSCRIPT. Lara Frater November 1, 2016 I start Stand Clear of the…

MHI: WHERE A MONSTER BELONGS by S. Alessandro Martinez

Trigger Warning: This piece addresses mental health The HWA is pleased to launch its Mental Health Initiative, a coordinated roll-out of events, resources, and activities intended to promote positive mental health, foster the concept of hope, and challenge the stigma of mental illness in the horror genre. The initiative, run by the organization’s Wellness Committee, launches in June, and includes the following blog posts from Of Horror and Hope, a downloadable anthology of poems, flash fiction, and personal reflections on mental health by HWA members. WHERE A MONSTER BELONGS S. Alessandro Martinez The monster. The alien. The creature. Whether it…