This blog is for you.

If you have ever stood outside a public place looking at the door, summoning the courage to go in, this blog is for you.

If one blistering insult from a stranger has ever sent you into a crushing downward spiral of self-loathing, this blog is for you.

If the jovial face you present to the public is hiding something much deeper, this blog is for you.

Magic saved my life. I used to think that was an unusual thing, to have one’s life rescued by “a children’s card game”, despite being a grown adult. In the six or so years since coming back to the game, I have met so many people with “origin stories” similar to mine that I am now a firm believer in the therapeutic powers of Magic: The Gathering. It draws people out of their shells, it helps people find a social outlet, and it gives people confidence and challenges minds.

However, Magic is not a cure-all. People may find healing and common cause with other players or judges going through similar things, but that doesn’t make those issues vanish. Mental illness is a real, powerful adversary and it needs real help to fight. This blog is not a substitute for medical treatment; rather, our goal is to provide support, resources, stories and coping strategies for the days when you just need to read about someone who has been where you are and come out the other side. We’ve all been there, and we will all go there again.

Three years ago, a dear judge friend of mine lost his battle with depression. I never want to experience that again. If one person reading the entries on this blog can win one battle with their illness, our goal is being met.

So what can you hope to find here? Soon, you can expect stories from judges and players about their own battles. We’ll be providing links to external resources that will help you stay on top. We’ll be providing advice on navigating events large and small when we’re not having our best day, or on how to avoid crashing down when something goes wrong. Perhaps even a collection of feel-good stories that help you remember that sometimes, judging does feel great.

Whether you’re a player or judge with a mental illness or you know someone who has one, this blog is meant to be a place for you to help win that fight. In short, this blog is for everyone and everyone, and it is especially for you.

 

This project has taken time to get off the ground; a reality of working with mental illness. Many of you have offered help at various times, and we are still very interested in having that help. Please reach out to us at mentalnotejudge@gmail.com to offer your help. Be sure to tell us what you want to do with the project!