Sleep. Lying in bed, afraid to let go. Visions of blood consuming the house (diagnosis of Leukemia). Listening for breaths, restlessness or stirring. Worry of fevers and rush trips to the ER. Sleep. Heart pumping fiercely instead of relaxing. Memories of fighting for life in those mid-night hours. Rummaging through… Read more“Sleep for Caregivers”
Tag: Depression
The Blood and the PTSD
I ran frantically through the house, sweat dripping down my back and my eyes wide open with that familiar gritty I’ve-spent-all-night-awake-in-the-hospital-feeling. I grabbed things and flung them into suitcases and yelled again for my kids to get out! No one answered and I redoubled my efforts. Piles of laundry gave… Read more“The Blood and the PTSD”
A Caregiver You Know Might Need This Book
Not Knowing That I Stood in Need When my husband miraculously recovered from non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma with Central Nervous System involvement I knew I should feel grateful and blessed. I did, mostly. But a heavy blanket of depression crept over me and sucked the color out of my days. I felt… Read more“A Caregiver You Know Might Need This Book”
Hope for Caregivers Found in Hope Prevails
Hope Prevails (but it Took Me Awhile to See That) If you’ve ever read the ‘About’ section of this blog, or seen my bio on my twitter account, you’ll know that I call myself a ‘recovering cancer caregiver.’ If you have ever gone through a season of life where a… Read more“Hope for Caregivers Found in Hope Prevails”
What I Learned in May (aka Mental Health Awareness Month)
Until last March, I had very little awareness of the varity and severity of different mental health issues. I used the word ‘crazy’ with abandon and insensitivity. If people didn’t agree with me, or their actions seemed incomprehensible to my moral code or background, I wrote them off as loco…. Read more“What I Learned in May (aka Mental Health Awareness Month)”
What I Wish Christians Understood About Mental Illness
What I Wish Christians Understood About Mental Illness Today guest writer and blogger Marisa Slusarcyk talks about the true cost of mental illness. Be sture to check out her backstory post over at her blog Trendingmama.com. We Pay with More than Money $26.30 $21.23 $44.42 $16.87 $25.44 $10.09 Total $144.35… Read more“What I Wish Christians Understood About Mental Illness”
Don’t Miss the Obvious
In retrospect, I wonder how I could miss the obvious. In fact, looking back at my adult life, I think I’ve missed the obvious on more than one occasion. For example, a student gets caught smoking weed in the dormitory and spends three hours going berserk and ends up in… Read more“Don’t Miss the Obvious”
Practical Advice for Keeping the Holidays Happy
It’s Hard to be Practical Around the Holidays The shorter days seem to suck minutes out of each hour—causing me to rush around and get things done at a breakneck pace. Meanwhile, little chores and tasks seem so laborious. Who wants to file the growing stack of papers on one’s… Read more“Practical Advice for Keeping the Holidays Happy”
Wait for Spring
The rain pounds down on the red, gritty earth and forms tiny rivers that push outward and seek outlet in some dry crevice. The weight of the sky hangs heavy and cold and shrouds the barren branches. The temperature drops and the rain turns to snow. A junco shivers and… Read more“Wait for Spring”
Feeling Guilty?
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from cancer, it’s that guilt won’t cure it. I’ve also realized that there’s nothing like a pregnancy or a bad illness to bring out the loads of advice from well-meaning friends, family and strangers. The important thing is to understand where the guilt comes… Read more“Feeling Guilty?”
