Leon Macfayden
Bio
From a police officer to a psychiatric ward and recovery.
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Stories (35)
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Why I Had to Hit Rock Bottom to Love Myself
Self-love eluded me for most of my life. Despite my parent's love, I faced relentless bullying at school. As a kid, you pay more attention to your peers. You reason that your parents have to love you, while your peers are more honest.
By Leon Macfayden2 years ago in Psyche
Love and Second Chances With a Rescue Dog
Dogs have given me some of the most profound moments of joy and sorrow. Only a month ago, I said a heartbreaking farewell to Wags, my companion of 16 years. In the last few years, he had done little except eat and sleep. The end came when he could no longer walk, and the vet suspected cancer.
By Leon Macfayden2 years ago in Petlife
How a Waiter's Question Unveiled My Hidden Schizophrenia Shame. Top Story - June 2024.
By the time I got to see a psychiatrist for PTSD, I thought a famous magician was stealing my thoughts. I’d tried to barricade my front door to stop people from getting in to kill me. I had no idea who these people were, but I was sure they worked for the government and wanted me dead.
By Leon Macfayden2 years ago in Psyche
Managing the Bad Days After Mental Health Recovery
"The fight against yourself is such a fearful war." ― Hannah Clayton, Until the Shadows Lengthen I write a lot about my recovery from PTSD and schizophrenia. My message is that you're never too broken to change your life, even if it takes decades, as it did for me.
By Leon Macfayden2 years ago in Psyche
How I Found Myself in the Wreckage of Schizophrenia
I'd been mentally ill with PTSD for years, but this was different. My depression was getting worse, and I was feeling more and more angry for no specific reason. I was also thinking about suicide. My energy levels were zero, and I slept 15 hours daily.
By Leon Macfayden2 years ago in Psyche
5 Reasons Why Some People Die By Suicide
I had stopped taking my meds for PTSD and Depression a week earlier. I didn’t want to deal with the side effects of weight gain and feeling like a zombie anymore. The first six days had been great. I felt like my old self.
By Leon Macfayden3 years ago in Psyche
6 Things That Can Damage Your Mental Health
According to the World Health Organization, mental health conditions are increasing worldwide. There has been a 13% rise in mental health conditions in the last decade, and 20% of children and adolescents now have a mental health condition.
By Leon Macfayden3 years ago in Psyche
6 Simple Steps to Rebuild Your Life After Trauma
“Are you ok?” It was 2004, and I had been a police officer for a few months. I was at a crime scene so horrific and unusual that it was unlikely ever to happen again. My colleague could see that I was far from ok, and yet I guarded the scene diligently for the next several hours — many of them alone.
By Leon Macfayden3 years ago in Psyche
What My Arguments with My Dad Can Teach Us All About Toxic Masculinity
My dad died in 2019. It triggered an avalanche of grief, the likes of which I had never felt before. We are only a small family, and it was decimated by the loss of the funniest and kindest man.
By Leon Macfayden3 years ago in Families
