Tag: OCD

Baby Steps Forward

I’ve been having a dry spell with my writing. I very much want to “put pen to paper” and script something that is inspiring – but the words don’t seem to want to come.

Have you ever felt this way?

You have so many thoughts bottled up inside, and yet you can’t translate them into words and sentences and paragraphs. You sit in front of the computer waiting for the inspiration to come…but you’re left listless and despairing. You try to search for ideas on the internet, but none of them quite hits home in regards to how you’re feeling at the moment.

That’s where I am. So I’m trying to push through this writer’s block…and hopefully into a better state of mind.

I’m still struggling a lot with depression and anxiety. I lack energy and motivation, obsess about little things, and get overwhelmed easily. But I must say that God has been helping me. He has surrounded me with family and friends who are there to help. He has continued to teach me the importance of being grateful. And He has encouraged me with His Word and His presence.

So I guess He’s been enabling me to take baby steps forward!

And with this New Year ahead – along with so many unknowns – I can trust that He won’t leave me helpless. I have a God who loves me deeply and who longs to see me flourish under His care.

 

Photo by Tamara Menzi on Unsplash

Recent Happenings

So I haven’t written in a while. Part of the reason for this is that I was having problems with WordPress…and part of the reason is because I wasn’t feeling inspired to write. But WordPress is working now, and whether or not I feel inspired, I’m going to write. 🙂

I was blessed to be able to celebrate my birthday on Tuesday. We got together with both of our families over the prior weekend. Also my hubby took off three whole days from work so that we could spend some time together and relax. We went to Barnes and Noble bookstore, Cracker Barrel, and the Cape May Zoo – and we enjoyed ourselves. The weather was beautiful, the company was amazing, and it was nice to do something a little out of the ordinary.

It was also a blessing to receive so much birthday love. Many people reached out to me to wish me a special day – and that meant a lot. Sometimes I feel alone and unloved…but I need to remind myself that this simply is not true, and that I have friends and family who care deeply about me. So for the birthday love and the all-the-time love, I am grateful.

Another milestone is that I finished my Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) about a month ago. It helped some with the depression, but it also helped my anxiety and OCD through the mindfulness training that I received. Now that my treatments are over, I need to keep up with practicing and with applying what I’ve learned.

So although my mood has been up and down over the past several weeks and I haven’t felt like writing, God has been with me, and has helped me to take one baby step after another. He is good all of the time – and for this I am thankful. ❤

 

Photo Credit: Crystal Knauss (picture was taken at the Cape May Zoo)

Thankful Thursday (episode 9)

It’s been quite some time since I’ve shared a “Thankful Thursday.” Good things have been happening, and I’ve kept track of a number of them…but for a while I wasn’t putting as much importance on being grateful as I should.

But I’ve been reminded of its importance, and now I’d like to share my gratitude list. The list spans May, June, July, and some of August. These are things for which I give thanks to God:

  • We made some progress cleaning up our backyard
  • Even though I was feeling low and slept much of the day, we ended the day well by going to Barnes and Noble and then having a steak dinner
  • We are blessed to live in a rather small neighborhood
  • I made it through to the end of the SMARTER project as a Scorer at Measurement Inc.
  • God’s forgiveness
  • I saw a beautiful cardinal at our bird feeder
  • I didn’t have to cook or clean up!
  • We were able to get my car’s oil changed for a decent price
  • I didn’t go back to bed after getting up in the morning
  • Who God is – His kindness, protection, wisdom, grace…
  • Free coffee from the Wawa that opened near us
  • God kept us safe in a bad thunderstorm
  • I was notified that I was approved to have some of my student loans forgiven
  • Mom’s knee surgery went well
  • I had just enough money to pay for the groceries we needed
  • How my cat Misty reaches out for my hand with her paw when I pet her
  • We were able to help good friends move into their new apartment
  • God kept me safe while traveling to doctors’ appointments
  • My Dad had his workers put hardwood floor in our house!
  • My first TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) treatment went well
  • I was able to take care of our friends’ baby and I enjoyed it 😀
  • I’ve made it to my twentieth TMS treatment and I’m feeling somewhat better!

Thanks so much for reading, and feel free to share something that you’re grateful for in the comments! ❤

 

Photo by Wendy Rueter on Unsplash