I wanted to show you all an outline and scope of why I feel The Luna Projects is so important and what my goals for the future entail. As someone that lives with mental illness stemmed from multiple past trauma’s I want to show why it’s so important to have a support system, what to do if you need help (resources, things that have helped me), trying to pull people together to help one another through advocacy and understanding.

? The Scope of Mental Illness and Trauma

• Global prevalence: Over 970 million people worldwide live with a mental health condition. Depression and anxiety are the most common.
• Trauma exposure: Around 70% of adults globally have experienced at least one traumatic event. About 6% develop PTSD.
• Treatment gaps: Many people do not receive adequate care. Barriers include stigma, cost, lack of access, and cultural mistrust of systems.

? Therapy: Duration, Types, and What Works

• How long therapy lasts: It varies widely. Short-term therapies like CBT or EMDR may last 12–20 sessions. Long-term therapy (psychodynamic, trauma recovery) can span years.
• Being in therapy for years: This is not uncommon, especially for complex trauma, CPTSD, or personality disorders. Healing is nonlinear.
• Best therapy? There’s no universal “best.” Effective trauma therapies include:
  • EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)
  • Prolonged Exposure Therapy
  • Trauma-Focused CBT
  • Somatic therapies (e.g., Sensorimotor Psychotherapy)
  • Grief counseling and complicated grief therapy
  • Mindfulness
  • DBT Dialectic Behavioral Therapy

? Medications: Why They Work Differently, and Their Evolution

• Why meds affect people differently:
  • Genetics (enzyme metabolism)
  • Age, sex, other medications
  • Inflammation, trauma history, and even cultural factors
• Best medications? There’s no one-size-fits-all. SSRIs, SNRIs, atypical antipsychotics, and newer options like esketamine or Exxua are showing promise.
• History: Psychiatric meds began in the 1950s with lithium and chlorpromazine. They revolutionized care and led to deinstitutionalization.
• Future: Psychedelics (psilocybin, MDMA), ketamine, and personalized medicine (genetic testing, neuroplasticity-based treatments) are reshaping the field.

? Natural and Holistic Approaches

• Evidence-based alternatives:
  • Mindfulness, CBT, DBT, art & music therapy, gratitude journaling
  • Supplements like omega-3s, SAM-e, lavender, St. John’s Wort (with caution)
• These can complement or, for some, replace medication—but always with guidance.

?? Side Effects and Long-Term Impact of Medications

• Common side effects: Fatigue, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, emotional blunting.
• Long-term risks: Tardive dyskinesia (with antipsychotics), liver strain, cognitive dulling, dependency (especially with benzodiazepines).

? Emotional Support and Communication

• Why people try to fix instead of listen:
  • Discomfort with vulnerability
  • Desire to control or help
  • Projection of their own unresolved pain
• How to ask for support effectively:
  • Be explicit: “I don’t need advice—I just need to be heard.”
  • Use emotion language: “I feel overwhelmed and just want someone to sit with me.”
  • Validate their effort: “Thank you for listening. That helped.”

???? When Support Is Missing

• What to do when people aren’t supportive:
  • Identify what kind of support you need (emotional, practical, informational)
  • Seek community: support groups, online forums, peer advocates
  • Build your own support system through aligned values and shared experiences

? Starting Over with a New Therapist

• Why it’s hard:
  • Grief, vulnerability, fear of retelling trauma
  • Loss of trust or safety
  • Emotional exhaustion from past experiences
• Reframe: Starting over can be a deepening, not a reset. You carry your insights forward. You don’t have to tell everything at once.

?? How This Shapes The Luna Projects

Our mission is not just to inform it’s to humanize. To say: “You are not alone. Your healing matters. Your story deserves space.” You’re building a platform that reflects the complexity of mental health, the diversity of healing paths, and the power of creative advocacy.

?? Grief Support: Honoring All Forms of Loss

? Types of Grief

Grief is not limited to death. It can arise from:

• Loss of a pet (fur-baby): Deep emotional bonds, often underestimated by others.
• Death of a loved one: Family, friends, chosen family—each relationship carries its own weight.
• End of relationships: Divorce, breakups, estrangement.
• Job loss or financial instability: Identity, security, and routine are disrupted.
• Loss of self: Illness, trauma, aging, or identity shifts can feel like losing who you once were.

Each form of grief is valid. Each deserves space.

? How Long Does Grief Last?

• There is no timeline. Grief is not linear.
• It may come in waves, resurface unexpectedly, or evolve over years.
• Rushing someone through grief can cause harm. Healing requires patience, presence, and permission.

? How to Support Someone Who’s Grieving

• Listen without fixing: “I’m here with you” is more powerful than “You’ll feel better soon.”
• Validate their pain: “That sounds incredibly hard. I’m so sorry.”
• Offer practical help: Meals, errands, childcare, or just sitting in silence.
• Avoid clichés: “Everything happens for a reason” can feel dismissive.
• Ask what they need: “Would you like company, or space?”

?? Thoughtful Gifts for Grievers

• Personalized memory boxes or journals
• Weighted blankets or comfort items
• Books on grief (see below)
• Donations in honor of their loved one
• Art or poetry that reflects their experience

? Grief Books That Truly Help

Here are some therapist-recommended and visually accessible titles:

Title	Author	Best For
Only Gone From Your Sight: Jack McAfghan’s Little Guide to Pet Loss and Grief Jack McAfghan: Reflections on Life with My Master Pawprints from Heaven Jack McAfghan: Return from Rainbow Bridge Jack McAfghan’s The Lizard from Rainbow Bridge: A True Tale of an Animal Spirit Angel It’s Not Putting Me Down It’s Lifting Me Up	Kate McGahan	Pet loss, signs from the afterlife, coping with putting down your pet. For me personally (Erica) this series was easy to read, loving, supportive and helps for coping.
Welcome to the Grief Club	Janine Kwoh	Visual learners, early grief, gentle humor
I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye	Brook Noel & Pamela D. Blair	Sudden loss, coping strategies
Surviving the Death of a Sibling	T.J. Wray	Unacknowledged grief of sibling loss
Surviving the Holidays Without You	Gary Roe	Grieving during seasonal milestones
It’s OK That You’re Not OK	Megan Devine	Validating grief in a culture that rushes healing

You can explore more curated grief books at For Grief’s Bookshop or Choosing Therapy’s grief book list.

? Where to Find Support

• Online communities: OptionB, Grief.com, HealGrief (National Grief resources)
• Pet loss support: Angel Paws, Rainbow Bridge forums, GriefShare (Global Grief Support Groups)
• Local grief groups: Hospice centers, churches, trauma-informed therapists
• Crisis lines: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US)

?? What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say

• “I don’t have the right words, but I’m here.”
• “I’m so sorry. I’m thinking of you.”
• “Would it help to talk, or would you prefer quiet company?”
• “I’m not sure what to say, but I care deeply.”

Would you like help turning this into a visual grief support page or downloadable resource for The Luna Projects? We could include gallery views, quote cards, or even a “Grief & Empowerment Kit” section with customizable support tools.