Elaine Lindsay

I am Elaine, @TheDarkPollyanna,
My story is one of resilience and contradiction—a lifelong balancing act between two extremes. I’ve lived 50% in the grip of suicidal ideation and 50% immersed in Pollyanna’s Glad Game. These opposing forces have defined my existence, constantly battling for dominance.
Suicidal ideation has been a persistent shadow, one I’ve carried for as long as I can remember. Yet, even as a child, before the age of five, I found an unexpected ally in the Glad Game. It became a tool to find hope, a way to anchor myself by seeking something—anything—to be glad about, no matter how small or fleeting.
These dualities—despair and optimism, struggle and hope—are at the heart of my work in mental health. They shape how I share my story, aiming to end the silence, stigma, and shame surrounding suicidal ideation and mental health challenges. My journey reminds me, and hopefully others, that while the extremes may never fully disappear, there’s a way to navigate them and find balance.