The Journey

As I mentioned in my previous blog I had attended Midweek at my church on Thursday nights.  Midweek has wrapped up for the summer and I really wanted to capture what the experience meant to me.  So I ended up writing my thoughts down and I thought I would share it on my blog.

Joining Midweek

Since January I have been really wanting to focus on learning of more ways to better manage my anxiety and my depression. 

 Back in November my Psychiatrist had told me that going to an anxiety support group to learn ways to recognize when I was becoming anxious as well as different coping strategies.  By the way telling a person who suffers from anxiety to join a support group makes them extremely anxious! When he told me that it would be good for me....my heart started racing, tears instantly came to my eyes.  

Dr. Larry assured me that he didn't mean that exact moment but it would be good for me to think about the possibility of going a group since I had said that I didn't want to be on meds forever if I didn't have to.  So fast forward to January and I had decided that I needed to at least look into support groups.

As I was contemplating, praying about this there were a couple of things that I knew I needed to look into.  I know I wanted the group to be faith based.  I also had to safe guard my evenings.  I am out a couple of nights a week, with doing respite and two small groups that I am involved in.  One I lead and the other I attend.  I realized that I really didn't want to be out 3-4 times a week.  I knew that our church offered a program called midweek that offers support groups for a variety of different issues.  Depression and anxiety, single parenting,  women's support groups, mens support groups, financial support groups and so on.

The only problem I had with attending Midweek was that it was on Thursday nights and thats the night I have small group.  I must admit the thought of leaving my small group rose my anxiety level to a very high level.  You see they have been a major part of my support system since I was diagnosed with depression, ADHD, OCD, etc. The thought of not seeing them every other week was terrifying.  I prayed about it and decided to take the leap.

It was one of the best choices that I made.  Don't get me wrong, I missed my small group but being surrounded by people who understood what I have been going thru the last 3 years was so refreshing.  I have learned new strategies to cope with my anxiety when it rears it's ugly head.  I have learned to look for particular behaviours within myself that alerts me to my depression trying to make itself known.

My support  group has wrapped up for the spring and summer and I miss my friends.  I miss hearing how life is for each of them, I miss laughing with them, crying with them and praying for them.  I miss them.  

I am so thankful to have joined Midweek and I will be returning on the off weeks that my small group is not meeting.  I am so blessed and honoured to have met and to call these members friends!  I am a stronger person because of them! 

I'm back!

Well it's been a really long time since I've posted anything.  I'm not sure as to why except to say that consistency is not a easy thing for me.  I am wanting to be more diligent about my blogging.  In order to do that I am realizing that I need to put myself on a schedule!  At first I was extremely resistant to the idea.  My Mum used to put us on a schedule so that she could keep a pulse on all that was happening with her kids.

I'm 43 year olds, schedules are for kids aren't they?  Well I am wrong.........for those of us with ADHD/ADD schedules are a great way to help us stay on track and to keep ourselves accountable.  It's a great way to figure out if we are doing too much that ends up overstimulating our brains or if we are not doing enough to challenge our brains.  

I am currently reading a book called "You mean I'm not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?!" This book has been eye opening for me ; the authors Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo wrote this book for adults with ADD.

They stress the idea of learning more about ourselves as ADDer's (the name they gave us in the book).  I have been able to say so far in every chapter that I have learned something new about myself or I've said " Oh so that's why I do that!"  The authors have said how crucial a schedule is so I am going to try it and hopefully I will be more consistent in my blogging.