This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week and I would like to share some insights.
I struggled most of my life with depression and anxiety but didn’t recognize it until my older years. I also have Bipolar Disorder, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), and S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder). My depression is categorized as Major Depressive Disorder
I never realized when I felt like crying for now reason that I may be absorbing another person’s negativity. At the same time my “disposal system” would act up. This would be my stomach cramping, I would have to run to the bathroom suddenly and my bladder overacted. Only after a suicide attempt in 2014 did I recognize the connections.
My anxiety was equally as bad. I would get a funny sensation throughout my abdomen and not know how to calm it down. This still sometimes acts up but I have learned if I take a deep slow breath and let it out slowly that I would start to calm down.
I also learned after my first hospitalization in 2003 for suicidal thoughts that I have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. This wreaks havoc on the body and causes my chemistry to be out of whack.
I am on 4 different medications for these mental illnesses plus 1 for my thyroid. For the most part am feeling very good. I still have days that I slip back a little but those days I know what feeling better is like so I just ride it out until the next day.
There are many organizations you can reach out to if you struggle with symptoms of mental illness.
If you would like to share with me and learn about some means of support you can email me at Catherine@catherinemlaub.com
See my website at www.catherinemlaub.com