Who am I and why am I doing this? What’s this blog about? Well … here it is for all to see.

Who am I?

I am a 31 year old Mom of 2 wonderful children and married to the most amazing, loving man.
I have struggled with depression and anxiety since I was a young child, but didn’t know it.  I was diagnosed with General Anxiety disorder when I was 20 and was treated for 3 years.  After 3 years, my therapist left his practice and my Regular Doctor felt that as long as I took my medication I would be fine.  Little did I know that there was more to it than that.   At 29,  I suffered a (in lay-man’s terms) a nervous breakdown.  At that time I was diagnosed with General Anxiety disorder, Agoraphobia (the fear of public places and open spaces) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.   So I’m depressed … now what? 

Why am I doing this?

Part of my recovery was no longer denying I have a problem.  I had to decide that if I was going to be happy it would have to be ME to make MYSELF happy.  To do this I also had to decide that I had some changes to make in MYSELF.  The world wasn't going to change to make ME happy so I had to change to be happy in the WORLD.  Like many other illnesses this will never go away, but I can live a FULL and HAPPY life if I am willing to make changes.  I am writing my story to continue my recovery, to better understand what I went through and to celebrate the strides I have made.  I try to take it one day at a time.  Some days are harder than others, just like everyone else which is a GOOD thing!!

What is this blog about?

This blog is my story.  So this blog is for anyone going through depression and/or anxiety AND anyone who knows someone who is suffering.  It is my hope that by sharing my story I can help others, and bring understanding that Mental illness is an illness like any other.  It needs time, therapy and support in order to heal.  As an example Diabetics are not ashamed they are diabetic and neither should those who have depression/anxiety.  It is not a weakness, it is simply something that needs to be understood in order to live with it.