My least favorite day of the year has finally come and gone. Planning and going on a vacation kept me pretty distracted from this day, but it still hit me like a ton of bricks. For anyone who has lost a parent, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day can be a day of mourning rather than…
Grief
Time-Stamped Grief: A Walk Back through My Journal’s Pages
Things That Are Different Since My Mothers Diagnosis Written September 7, 2022 After my session last week, I cried all the way home, which isn’t normal for me. Typically, after therapy I feel more calm and peaceful than when I walked in – even though it’s only temporary. But this time I couldn’t stop thinking…
I Hate Doctor’s Appointments
I wasn’t at the doctors appointment when my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I was living in Tennessee when I received a phone call from my father with our worst fears confirmed. My mother in fact, did have Alzheimers. Since moving back to be closer to family, I have been able to go to the…
The Lessons I Learned After The Hardest Year Of My Life
Although I thought the year Covid hit would be one of hardest years of my life, it was nothing compared to my experiences in 2022. I ended 2022 having the worst depression I’ve had in my entire life. My mom’s health took a turn, the relationship with my father was terrible, and my marriage seemed…
How To Be Supportive When Your Partner Has Depression
If you’ve never experienced depression or anxiety for yourself, then it may be hard for you to understand what’s going on if your partner is struggling. Anxiety disorders often go hand in hand with depression. As someone who has dealt with significant depression in the past, I didn’t really know the answer if someone asked…
My Mothers Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Diagnosis at 56 Years Old
At 56 years old, my mother was diagnosed with Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. Although this day still seems fresh in my mind, I can’t necessarily give the specifics of what the day was actually like. Looking back, it’s all so much of a blur. I’m Finally Ready To Talk About It. I remember getting the phone…
Lessons After Heartbreak
Just like many other female when they start dating in high school or in college, I had my heart completely broken. And when I say that, I mean I was absolutely BROKEN inside. I truly thought I would never heal again. The severity of the pain with this type of heartbreak was something I had…
How Therapy Helped Me Become the Best Version of ME
This is How going to therapy helped me become the best version of ME. REASSURANCE I am always validated and listened to without feeling judged. I’ve mentioned it before, and I will mention it again. I know everything happens for a reason. The therapist I have is the one that was made for me. I…
Reminders To Give Yourself When You Are Struggling
When I first wrote this blog post, I had it in my archives with a very different title. I decided the original title might be a bit too depressing, and it may reveal a few things about myself that I’m simply not ready to talk about on my blog. Here are some reminders to…
How To Prepare For Your First Therapy Session
Going to your first therapy appointment can be very overwhelming. Looking back on the the day leading up to my first appointment. I can’t even begin to explain the anxiety and fear that I was experiencing. What should I expect? Was this the right step for me? I went in with an open mind and…