Comments on: In the balance

By: Janet Isserlis

Janet Isserlis — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 20:42:03 +0000

been in my office, crying at intervals for no apparent reason for two days

and many many days before that.

we;ve not met, i wouldn’t presume to tell you anything but to hold on as best you can. let those you trust help you as you’re ready and trust yourself.

By: Elizabeth Kaylene

Elizabeth Kaylene — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:27:15 +0000

“I thought I beat it.

I didn’t.”

I so know the feeling, and like you said, that’s why it is so much harder to admit that I probably need help, too.

I really hope that seeing a therapist helps. I want to see you bounce back and be happy again. It isn’t going to happen overnight, but it WILL happen eventually.

*hugs* I’m here if you need me.

By: Flea

Flea — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:16:33 +0000

I’m so glad you’ve gotten an appointment with the shiny new neurologist. I’m glad, too, that even though you miss NO, you’re close enough to see someone who specializes just for you. One baby step closer. I know that’s not much, but it’s gotta be something. Merry Christmas, Katie.

By: Shana McQueen

Shana McQueen — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:57:47 +0000

I do not find your blog to be a tale of woe at all, and maybe that’s because I’m new to it. I wish I could give you some of my complete and total lack of hang-up about being in therapy or on meds, because I have a surplus. Your insight and authenticity are astounding to me.

By: pgoodness

pgoodness — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 16:43:45 +0000

(I swore I already commented on this, but I guess not!)

GOOD FOR YOU. There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking for and accepting help. Nothing. If it weren’t for my happy pills, I would seriously be curled up, fetal position, under the covers all day, every day.
xo

By: Sam

Sam — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 12:43:10 +0000

Dude – I swear just 2 days ago I walked into my GP’s office and requested a referral to a psychologist in a bid to help me ‘cope better’ with my issues which, might I add, are so similar to yours it’s scary!. I understand how difficult this is, to ask for ‘help’. I procrastinated about it for months. But then I thought of it like this – if your car is busted you see a mechanic, if your sink is blocked you call a plumber, so if you feel like you need help with mental/emotional/physical stuff, you see a therapist or psychologist or someone who is trained in this area of expertise. It makes perfect sense really. It’s not giving up or admitting defeat. It’s a proactive decision. It demonstrates that your acknowledging you may be a little out of your depth and need to learn some new skills to manage issues that have have been thrust upon you. It shows quite the contrary, that you indeed haven’t given up and are willing to fight. Forget the labels, ‘depressed’ or otherwise (I tend to get ‘you seem anxious’ more than I would like. But I mean duh, of COURSE I’m anxious!! You just drilled a freaking inch squared hole in my head, sizzled the bottom of my brain and sent me on my way!! Dr’s really do say the daftest things sometimes…). As if you could cope with all this by yourself. Just do it. More power to you!

By: Mrs. D

Mrs. D — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:48:04 +0000

What a hard thing to realize – especially if you have been there before. But now you can move forward. Sometimes the very best thing you can do for yourself is to relinquish control a little bit and ask for help. You have beat it before, you can beat it again!!

By: lceel

lceel — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:01:26 +0000

Good girl. Good for you. Put on the Big Girl Panties and do what you know you have to do. I’m proud of you.

There is no stigma attached to ‘depression’ or whatever ‘mental illness’ may just jump up and grab you. Stigma comes from doing nothing about it – or thinking you can do it alone.

By: Mary Jo

Mary Jo — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:13:36 +0000

I am glad for you to be taking this step. I don’t know you except through your blog and Twitter, but there have been times when I would read a post and spend nights worried. I know it’s hard to be depressed after thinking you have overcome it, I went through that too. However now that I’m dealing with it, I am so much happier. I know it won’t make your head pain go away, but maybe it will help your heart pain.

Good luck! xoxo

By: Sue G

Sue G — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:53:04 +0000

For years, I have had a book by Louise Hay that lists a medical malady and the underlying issue. I became interested in this book after editing several books on the mind, body, spirit connection. If you look up headache in this book, you will find the issue is criticism of the self.

Katie, whatever you can do to find relief physically, spiritually, and mentally is something we all support. For me, I would be ecstatic if you could find a way to stop beating yourself up for the way you feel, the way you feel about the way you feel. and the way you feel about the way you feel about the way you feel. That would be huge.

You are so bright, funny, kind, interesting, motivated, diverse in your thoughts and your interests. You are loving and you are loved. You reach out to people in need, and you find humor in yourself and in the general complexities of life. You know how to live and how to have fun. And all or most of this has taken a back seat to pain…ongoing, thrashing about, complicated and relentless pain.

I know for a fact that ongoing challenges can break even the strongest spirit. Yes, there are cracks in your armor, which isn’t necessarily bad. And there are cracks in your heart, which stinks beyond belief.

So, yes, call a therapist, hopefully one who will be wise enough to have you take responsibility for what is yours and what is within your control…and who is wiser still to steer you away from taking responsibility for a critical family and a challenging medical condition whose diagnosis eludes you.

If you can come out of this with a sense of all you’ve accomplished despite the challenges of pain–emotional and physical pain–of all you are, or all God made you to be, of how He views you and loves you…well, you will come out with a more clear picture of your reality.

Because you’re something special. I know it. I know you know i know it. Now, let’s get you to believing it.

Because you’re worth it.