My personal journey to Hope, Serenity, and Peace

  It's ok to take medication.  It's ok to need therapy.   Our body and mind make us who we are.   Just like we take medication for any physical ailment, it is just as important for our brain. Most mental illnesses are chemical imbalances or changes in the brain.  That's what makes mental illness so complicated and lifelong.  This is where the stigma came for me.  I started feeling better so I cut down on my medication.  My thoughts were" I'm back to normal, I'm ok now so I can stop this medication".  Understanding is very important. This kind of thinking landed me in the hospital again.  Also it can take time to find the right medication.  It was very important for me to tell my doctor about any symptoms and keep my appointments.    My diagnosis is depression and anxiety. My recovery here was realizing that I needed both medication and therapy.  Medication gave me more energy, and focus.  Therapy helped...

"Your mental health is just as important as your physical health"     It was in 1995 when I was at my worst with my mental health. I was diagnosed with major depressive  disorder. It's the one and only time I was experiencing psychotic episodes. I would frequently see figures coming out of the cubby holes at my part- time job.  When I got out of the hospital, the medication I was taking stopped the episodes and I went to therapy to gain some stability, so I could keep caring for my children.  My s/o at the time was sober from alcohol, but still had many of the behaviors of a person still actively drinking.  During this time, I also became aware of Al-Anon.  I didn't realize at the time how much I would  come to love this program.    Our family dynamic was in chaos, and I had situations where I had to leave with my children for safety.  Domestic violence shelters and programs also became a big part of my recovery.    As a f...