A Personal and Hand-Picked Collection #01 by Dr Amy Gunter, Editor and Curator of ILLUMINATION Integrated Publications on Medium and Substack
Curator’s Note: Dr. Amy Gunter introduces her first mental health curation, a collection of personal narratives from ILLUMINATION publications that emphasize authenticity and vulnerability. Selected stories reflect writers’ inner experiences and allow readers to connect with the emotions conveyed. The curation does not rank the pieces but values voice, emotional tone, and vivid imagery, inviting readers to internalize the narratives. Sensitive topics like depression and self-harm are addressed, with a call for caution and support resources included for those in need. Featured stories explore themes of mental illness, personal growth, and the complexities of relationships, offering insight into the human experience. Thank you for checking out these stories and sharing this collection on your socials.
Dear Writers and Readers,
Welcome to the first edition of my mental health curation.
I serve as an editor for three Illumination Publications: Illumination, Illumination of Philosophy and Metaphysics, and Illumination for India. As an editor and curator of mental health writing, I have selected stories mostly from Illumination publications as well as sister publications run by some of our Illumination publication editors.
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This is not a competition or ranking. It’s a personal curation meant to honor writers and their stories.
Stories were selected based on some or all of these criteria:
- Use of voice
- Depth of inner experience
- Authenticity — writer’s own truth and voice
- Vulnerability on the page
- Emotional tone
- Vivid descriptions — The reader could imagine themselves in the scene.
- Use of “I”
- Personal insight
The writers accomplished the mission of allowing the readers inside certain scenes in their lives. So much so that the reader can often picture herself inside these scenes.
Editor’s Note: Because this curation contains personal narratives that bring you into the writers’ inner experiences, some material touches on sensitive topics such as depression, domestic violence, and self-harm. Please read with care and reach out to your mental health or medical provider if needed.
The following support resources are available 24/7:
Crisis Text Line International
- US & Canada: Text HOME to 741741
- UK: Text SHOUT to 85258
- Ireland: Text HELLO to 50808
Global Directories
- Find A Helpline: Free, confidential support directory covering over 150 countries (phone, text, or chat).
- Befrienders Worldwide: Global network of support centers offering confidential emotional support.
Domestic Violence Support
- United States: National Domestic Violence Hotline — Call 1–800–799-SAFE (7233) or text “START” to 88788
- International: NO MORE Global Directory connects users to crisis hotlines in over 200 countries.
- Digital Safety Note: Internet browsing can be monitored by an abusive partner, and private browsing modes do not block specialized tracking software. For maximum safety, access these resources using a device your partner cannot view, such as a trusted friend’s phone or a public library computer.
Without further ado, I turn the attention to these selected stories.
The LIFE Matrix Keeps the Score
Exploring the Hidden Conversations Continuously Updating Human Experiencemedium.com
I Do Not Forgive You, and I Don’t Forget
Remembering a past marriagemedium.com
On the Inner Work of Becoming Oneself
In the years I have spent honing my ear toward our inner lives, one human dynamic has become increasingly apparent: how…medium.com
The Pill I Was Afraid to Take Changed the Way My Mind Worked
For years, I thought asking for medication meant I had failed. What I discovered instead was that healing isn’t…medium.com
I Urinated on My Bed at 34: What Mental Illness Taught Me
Always ask for help in that conditionmedium.com
My Shrink Said I Had The Savior Complex!
I was destined to save everyone, but who will save me?medium.com
The Pain That No Prescription Can Heal.
People think a clinic is just a place for prescriptions and pills. But most of the time, the people walking through…medium.com
Reporting Live From the Psych Ward: What Detention Looks Like for an Autistic Woman
Editor’s Note: This article contains references to suicide. It may be distressing for some readers. Please use caution…medium.com
The Day Refuses to Arrive
Swallowed by the Daymedium.com
What I Called Control Was Actually Anorexia
I controlled my body until it controlled memedium.com
48- Career burnout: I chose sanity over the career I spent years building
After years of career burnout, I walked away from the profession I spent years building. This is the story of choosing…medium.com
On Solitude…
Is being alone something to fix?
Many cultures teach us that concept.
Being by yourself is bad. It needs a remedy.
We…medium.com
The False Self That Once Protected You
May be the very thing preventing you from fully livingmedium.com
Thank you for checking out these stories. To hear more from me, receive regular mental health resources, and follow along with future curations, you can find me here:
Website: Explore the Full Toolkit to get 3 free coping cards or check out the coping card decks and updates.
Substack: Subscribe to the Newsletter and exclusive subscriber tools.
YouTube: Watch & Subscribe for video walkthroughs, coping tools, and discussion.
To Potential Contributors of ILLUMINATION Publications: Please note that new writer applications to our publications are via our registration portal. Please review our quality checklists and the onboarding pack before submitting your stories to our publications. You are welcome to join the ILLUMINATION Community on Medium and Substack. Accepted writers for this round will be towards the end of this story.
You are also welcome to be a guest blogger on the Digitalmehmet Content Ecosystem. We curate blog posts and share them publicly and with our subscribers. Here is an example:
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