I have been resisting introducing myself since I signed up. In all areas of my life, I want to be invisible, un-noticed, anonymous. I know that if I truly want to get better, I need to make changes in the ways that I think and act, so I guess introducing myself in this forum is the first step. It's a way to assert my commitment to this program.
I have suffered (and been treated for) depression and anxiety for many years. I am a middle-aged woman with a supportive husband and family. I put a lot of effort into having a healthy lifestyle (exercise, nutrition, sleep) and feel as though I'm doing the right things for my mental health. However I have congenital issues with my spine and I find that the physical limitations and chronic pain affect my moods in ways that I haven't yet been able to control. After years of a very fulfilling career that I loved, I am now unable to work. This has led to isolation and a sense of being powerless inside my own body. I feel that I have already been forced to give up so much in life because of my health: being unable to have children, being unable to participate in certain physical activities, etc. Loss of my independence and ability to work, combined with a dramatic increase in pain, has brought me to a breaking point. I just finished a block of counselling sessions and was on my employee assistance program's website to sign up for more when I saw the link for The Depression Center. I thought I would give this a try and see where it takes me...
