health – steviawithcream

I have been reading this book, in part because he was the ninth Doctor and I am a huge Doctor Who fan, and second because of the story of his father.

The irony is that while reading, when I came to the part where he wrote of his depression and hospitalization and treatment for said depression, was at the same time the news of Naomi Judd’s suicide from mental illness.

The sadness he expressed moved me so much, especially when he shared the lies this disease told him about himself, I found a certain clarity of understanding in the actions depression triggers. From what I learned about Naomi’s experiences it seemed to be consistent between the two people.

Your mind starts telling you: others don’t really care about you – that you are not worth love and respect – it’s not important to others if you are not there – that it would be better if you were dead – your disease is a curse on your family – and finally that you should just take care of your own dying! This spiraling cycle of thought, belief in the lies of a damaged conscious, and the struggle of your physical body, betrays the moments of lucidity.

It is heart breaking, especially when we hear of young people who see suicide as a way of escape. It reminds me when my son was in elementary and middle school dealing with extreme bullying. My guilt at not putting everything else aside to fight a battle he couldn’t, confronts me regularly. I was finally able to quit my full-time job and take him out of public school. Then we were able to start building up his non-existent self-esteem obliterated by the actions and words of kids he couldn’t escape. As I’ve said, and I don’t care what anyone else says, it was best for him to learn in a loving and accepting environment at home.

After four years at a private Christian high school, where he found friends, his skill in art and singing was discovered, developed and acknowledged that he became a full personality again.

Don’t ignore the signs, observe and be diligent in getting help for yourself or your loved one.

I plan to get a copy of Naomi’s book.

Cheers!

-N

This past week I have struggled with shaking off flu like symptoms which in the past, with lots of sleep, plenty of water, and vitamin C, I would have kicked out the door by this time. I even took the obligatory Covid test (negative) and have done everything I usually do but this thing is hanging on tenaciously.

Expressly a deep, nasty cough.

Somethings are a bit different this time. Because of a heavy post nasal drip my throat is coated and the cough is not as productive as usual. I’ve never been one to have a cough hang on, nor have I had a tendency to bronchitis. I’ve spent many restless nights sleeping propped up – water, cough drops, and tissues on the table next to my bed – when this cough gets going and I can’t catch my breath.

Then my head begins to throb. That’s new.

I ran low grade fever off and on all week, although now that has finally stopped occurring.

My point, after this descriptive beginning: I feel this issue may be due to my age. I won’t tell you how old I am, but lets just say as an elementary age kid I watched the Beatles live on Ed Sullivan.

I am noticing things that are different for me as I am living through these years and one of them is my ability to overcome illness. I’m a person with a mega strong immune system. My sisters and I weren’t taken to the doctor for an antibiotic at the first sniffle so my body fought things off.

As I said, if ever I started to feel poorly: I sleep, drink plenty of water and before long I was right as rain.

Also, my energy after I am well takes time to build back up. So here I sit, still dealing with this cough, praying I can sing next weekend and hoping I am completely finished with this crap.

Cheers!

-N