Category: Mental Health

Wishing you a very successful first day of work at your new job today Hannah. I am certain it will be the beginning of a very thriving and fulfilling career ahead. They are lucky to have you join their team, as would anyone!

You earned this all on your own and I am just so damn proud of you for all the hard work and passion you’ve put forth over the last five years, working to fulfill your goals and finding a pathway in life which offers both meaning and purpose to you.

Alongside all of your excitement today though you may also be feeling a mix of some pretty intense emotions as you embark on this next phase of your life and in anticipation of what’s to come as you take that first step into “the real world”. It’s a pretty big world out there which can feel pretty scary at times; especially when those feelings of self-doubt creep in on you every now and again, but it’s ok if and when they do, it happens, even to the most confident and strongest of people.

There will likely be many twists and turns and bumps along the road ahead for you as well. The road to success is not always going to be a straight line but don’t ever let that stop you because it’s those twists and turns and bumps along the way that are going to take you to some pretty terrific places that you probably can’t even imagine right now.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life but tomorrow is too so keep dreaming out loud Hannah, keep believing in yourself and your abilities, keep reaching for the stars and no matter where the road ahead takes you, promise me that you will always keep looking forward. 

Mazel Tov 🥂

#youvegotthis #dreamoutloud #goals #confidentandstrong #hearmeroar #advicefromyourmom #proudmama #theygrowupsofast #middlechild #firstdayofwork #keeplookingforward #tomorrowisanotherday #firstdayoftherestofyourlife #youdidit #reachforthestars #mentalhealth #mentalwellness #agentlereminder #theroadahead #meaning #purpose #iloveyoutothemoonandback  #communicationsmajor #eventmanagement  #mondaymotivation

How are you protecting your mental health today?

#summerofrich #mentalhealth #mentalwellness #immersed #justbreathe #friendship

*Trigger Warning*

I’m pretty sure I’ve reached rock bottom. Actually I’m more than just pretty sure; it’s for damn sure. 

When you hit rock bottom you quickly lose sight of the bigger picture. 

But when you feel as though you can’t take it anymore and all you want more than anything right now is to give up, there you are, through thick and thin; gently reminding me of my worth in this world. 

Motivating me to keep looking forward, believing in me, validating me and giving me what often feels like the last glimmer of hope to help me get through today and then without judgment you do it all over again tomorrow.

Accepting my flaws, my sadness and pain, the not-so-pretty stuff, the vulnerability and all the weirdness in my life; and still you are able to see my inner beauty. 

Holding my hand, wiping my tears away and going that extra mile to put a smile on my face; any way you know how. 

You continue to show me how loved I am, how needed I am; that I am not alone, that I matter and that I am enough. 

And you do it all without hesitation, using every ounce of your own strength to shovel away the rocks that are weighing me down in order to save me from my darkness and carry me into the light. 

Just know, from the bottom of my heart I will always and forever be eternally grateful to you and for you.

xoxo

#rockbottom #eternallygrateful #gratefulheart #iamenough #anopenletter #fromthebottomofmyheart #mentalhealth #depression #treatmentresistant #anxiety #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #ideations #itsoktonotbeok #youarenotalone

Let me start by saying that when I look back on the weekend that just passed and view it in its entirety I feel truly blessed. 

It was really nice. Many of you probably saw pictures on Social Media.

It was filled with so many special moments. 

Saturday I got to witness a very dear friend whom I’ve known for close to 40 years marry her best friend and celebrate their happily ever after. 

Sunday I got to spend the entire day and part of the evening anchored in the middle of a lake to the boat of other very, very dear friends; eating and laughing and then eating some more.

Yup, I am truly blessed. But by last night I collapsed from the exhaustion of the weekend and I hadn’t even gone hiking!

I’m not speaking of a physical exhaustion persay (although that was very much present as well); it was more of an emotional one. The weekend left me in a state of sensory overload and I felt myself slowly begin to crash and burn somewhere in the latter part of yesterday afternoon; leaving me restless, nauseous to the core, my heart palpitating out of my chest, my eyes welling up with tears and my brain completely overwhelmed as it wandered to a dark and dismal place. All of my senses were in overdrive.

As I said above I had a really nice weekend and I am beyond grateful that I got to witness my dear friend marry her beloved on Saturday afternoon and that I got to spend the entire day Sunday out on the water with friends who mean the world to Rich and I. 

I am so grateful knowing that I have so many amazing people in my life to share these special moments with and who I also know I can always be myself around no matter what. But still, I have learned to adapt, to fake it till I make it and to hide behind my mask as best as I can for the sake of others.

I know that “smiling through depression” and anxiety may be confusing to those who don’t live with a mental illness or love someone who may be suffering with one but just try to imagine for a moment the feeling you’d get while holding your breath under water for an extended period of time, gasping for air; it’s enough to leave anyone breathless and exhausted.

#burnout #sensoryoverload  #smilingthroughdepression #mentalhealth #mentalwellness #depression #anxiety #emotionallyexhausted #blessed #friendshipgoals #youarenotalone #itsoktonotbeok #youareenough 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/443769291041815?extid=chYV2B&fs=e

It’s been a week 😑 but I’m looking forward to an entire weekend filled with friendship and love ❤️. 

“Self-blame is one of the most toxic forms of emotional abuse” and pain there is.

It makes you feel inadequate. 

It fills you with hopelessness. 

It’s paralyzing. 

I feel like the walls are closing in on me, like I can’t do this anymore. 

I put my trust in God. 

I keep thinking positive thoughts. 

Now what?

It all just feels like a losing battle but at least they’ll never say she didn’t try. 

I tell myself that things will get better. Things have to get better tomorrow. 

#iwillbeok #slippingthroughmyfingers #itsoktonotbeok #youarenotalone #iamenough #thingshavetogetbetter #suicideawareness

Someone recently asked me to share with them all the positive affects depression has had on my life. It sounds strange but I have never shied away from acknowledging all the amazing parts of me that I have discovered or the many feats I have accomplished if not for my illness.

Three years ago today is definitely at the top of that list and one of the most exciting and fulfilling days of my entire life when the first shipment of my children’s book which I’d spent the previous 18 months working on arrived on my front porch. It was everything I’d envisioned it to be and more. There have been many obstacles thrown my way since publishing my book which you can read about here: (https://youareenough712.wordpress.com/2021/08/16/monday-motivation-crushing-your-dreams/) but knowing that my book has had such a positive impact and touched so many lives by helping to guide parents, teachers, caregivers and loved ones help children (and adults) understand and cope with their feelings when someone they love is suffering with Depression is what I wish to focus on today. 

Today I wish to focus on resilience, dreams, goals and purpose. 

I made a recording of myself reading my book this morning that I wanted to share with you. 

Please feel free to share with someone you love who you know could benefit from reading “Where Did Mommy’s Smile Go?”, a classroom setting or if you would like your own personal signed copy, DM me today.

#wheredidmommyssmilego #depression #childrensbook #author #selfpublished #reading #children #understandingdepression #ouryouthmatter #resilience #goals #dreams #purpose #yourmentalhealthmatters #advocate #blogger #writer   

I did something really stupid yesterday. 

I’m too ashamed to tell you.

My actions were reckless and dangerous.

I’m okay but in the interim I betrayed Rich’s trust and broke a promise I made to my Psychiatrist. 

I feel like all I’m doing is surviving lately. I’m on autopilot and I’m really tired; really, really tired.

Today’s #summerofrich theme focused on family, friendship and rejuvenation. 

#mentalhealth #mentalillness #depression #anxiety #suicideawareness #suicidalideations #brokenpromises #betrayal #trust #rejuvenation #familymatters #friendship #swimming

JACOB! JACOB! JACOB!
RACHEL! RACHEL! RACHEL! 
(shout out to all the Jan Brady’s in the world!)

Hannah became our middle child eleven days after she turned three years old and has been fighting the science behind whether or not “middle child syndrome” is a real thing ever since. She even gained honorable recognition for her arguments during a grade 5 public speaking contest on the topic.

Being the middle child may often mean being overshadowed by your siblings or feeling the need to compete with them for the attention of their parents. 

But being the middle child also builds character and strength and empathy which are all very empowering skills to acquire at a young age and will often lead to developing great leadership and teamworking skills later on in life.

If you look at the positive side you will also see that being the middle child gives you the best of both worlds by always having an older sibling there to look out for you and a younger sibling for whom you can mentor. 

Being the middle child takes a certain kind of sole, a role that I believe has helped shape Hannah into our peacekeeper, most flexible and even-tempered child. Her ego is always in check, she’s a good listener, an empathetic ear and a great role model. 

And let’s be honest, if you were to compare your sibling birth order to that of an oreo cookie, who here could argue that the middle of the oreo cookie isn’t the best part!

Happy National Middle Child Day Hannah! We love you to the moon and back, forever and a day!!

Feel free to tag all your favourite middle children in your life and if you yourself are a middle child give yourself some extra kindness and love today!

#nationalmiddlechildday #birthorder #janbrady #marshamarshamarsha #middlechildsyndrome #bestbigsister #littlesis #inthemiddle #oreocookie #mentalhealth #leadership #teamwork #youareenough

*Sensitive Content; Trigger Warning*

“I don’t know how much value I have in this universe, but I do know that I’ve made a few people happier than they would have been without me, and as long as I know that, I’m as rich as I ever need to be.” ~ Robin Williams, aka Mork from Ork, 1978.

Today marks the 8th year anniversary since Robin Williams tragically took his life. I was just 4 months into my own mental health journey the day he died. Moments before I had read the news of his passing on my phone I’d been sitting in my car, all alone in a parking lot, my family and friends not knowing my whereabouts (once again), contemplating my own suicide (which I’ve shared openly about many times before in my blogs, youareenough712.wordpress.com). It wasn’t the first time in that 4 month period, nor has it been close to the last where I have thought about or acted upon my thoughts of suicide, but it was suddenly the first time I began to truly understand the depths of my illness.

As the news quickly spread of Robin’s death, friends and family began lighting up my phone, concerned for my safety. Easiest solution, I just shut it off. By now I was visibly shaken, alone and scared and my only thought I had right after the initial shock was “if someone of Robin Williams’ stature who seemingly had it all could take his own life then what the heck am I waiting for?”

I’ve been in a very vulnerable state lately. Personally, life is really fucking hard right now and with each passing day it’s getting even harder to find anything positive to focus on. I honestly feel (or maybe it’s just wishful thinking) like I’m living on an entirely different planet these days, much like Mork, where no one speaks my language, feeling completely detached from the real world. 

I’m holding on tightly to the quote I posted above to honour Robin’s memory today and to honour me. I may be holding on by a very thin thread right now but none the less I’m holding on. 

#robinwilliams #anniversary #suicideawareness #suicideprevention #morkfromork #morkandmindy #aliensamongus #mentalhealth #stateofmind #depression #anxiety #planetearth #theuniverse #mentalillness #youarenotalone #youareenough #blogger #advocate #childrensbookauthor #nanunanu

“The best view comes after the hardest climb” ~ unknown 

I just received my “digital badge” via email from the private Facebook group which I belong to called “Ontario Hiking” for completing July’s ‘Ontario Hiking Challenge’. 

I first told you about this group a year ago after deciding to participate in last summer’s ‘Ontario Hiking Challenge’ (see blog: https://youareenough712.wordpress.com/2021/08/11/monday-motivation-badge-of-honour/). 

These challenges take place quarterly (January, April, July and October) and are a great motivator for me (not quite yet in January though). All you need to do in order to receive your “badge of honour” is hike (or walk) at least 5 times during those particular months while exploring our beautiful Province.

I’m sure it may sound silly to many readers that receiving some goofy “digital badge” from a Facebook group would get me all excited but motivation in any form can help someone to achieve their goals. 

And right now I need all the motivation I can get as I continue to deal with many life setbacks. Right now I need as many ways as possible to inspire myself to keep moving forward. Right now, more than ever I need all the help I can get in order to follow my growth.

It’s a process, one that has been long and tiresome but I know that the harder I climb the better the view there will be.

@OntarioHiking #OntarioHikingChallenge #mentalhealth #OntarioHiking #mentalwellness #mountains #nature #summerofrich #selfcare #lifesetbacks #movingmountains #motivation #youareenough #youarenotalone #selfreflection #itsoktonotbeokay #itstheclimb #suicideawareness #suicideprevention