All Entries Tagged With: "experiences"

“Happy Wife: Happy Life”

Leslie decided to stop blogging for a while as she made new discoveries about herself and codependency. I took it as an opportunity to take a break also but as she has had several people contact her wanting to discuss symptoms and such I thought it might be time to put my two cents in again.  Leslie has been awesome the last couple of months. Earlier in the year I was feeling the pressure and weight of her depression in our marriage.  It was making me feel down and incapable of helping the person I really love.  I felt overwhelmed and really didn’t know what I should do.  What I did know was that our marriage will not be a productive and happy one if we don’t figure out how to overcome this problem. We escaped to Australia earlier this year to spend time with my family. For me it was a time to just do nothing and think about nothing. I was exhausted from work and from Leslie’s depression and other symptoms.  Since coming home I believe that Australia trip to be a life changer.  Leslie figured out that she was codependent and started to research and learn about it.  She has been helping me understand it and watching her come to terms with her life experiences with determination to change the way she thinks has been inspiring.  In addition to that she started trying acupuncture as a method to reduce her allergy symptoms.  This treatment includes NAET principles of energy manipulation.  The way I understand it is that your body is out of balance with things around you causing allergic reactions.  Leslie is allergic to everything.  Since starting these treatments she has been cured from eggs, milk, lactose and histamine.  It makes me so happy to know that my Leslie is going to be able to be free from a vast majority of her allergies over the next few ears as she continues her treatment. In addition to these two different changes in her life there is a significant third- and that’s the sun, it came out.

I asked Leslie a week ago or so if she was depressed and she said no. I would have to affirm that statement.  She hasn’t been acting depressed and I haven’t felt it effecting my moods negatively at all. She has been visibly happier which really puts a smile on my face.  Is the journey still going to be difficult, you bet but at least we are heading in the right direction. I believe eliminating just 50% of her allergies will increase her ability to manage her depression.  With her new found discoveries of codependency she is working at adjusting the way she thinks so she can become mentally stronger.  I don’t know the role the sun plays in all of this but I know it helps so bring it on.

I’m hoping to have her completly cured of everthing by Christmas……is that to optimistic?

Starting Again

I have been a “blog-slacker” for the past couple months.  I have been doing so much learning and growing that I don’t even know where to begin to share- so I just haven’t done anything.  So typical of me- if I don’t think I can do it just right, I won’t do anything at all.

This week I was contacted by three quasi-strangers (or whatever you would call someone that fits between a “stranger” and an “acquaintance”) regarding this blog.  They were each able to relate to my experiences on different levels.  I think knowing you aren’t the only one out there feeling the way you do always helps us feel better, and I hope that my blog was able to make each of them feel a bit better.  Their sincere comments have spurred me to action and I am ready to start blogging again.

I have several books I will be reviewing and recommending.  I have some “ah-ha” moments and some “uh-oh” moments I will be sharing.  I will also be bugging my husband Tareak to write several posts about his experiences over the past couple months.

Stay tuned!

Time Lines and Grandma’s

Well, I’ve come to accept that I can’t help Leslie by myself, so we been shopping for a therapist. So far we have only gone to see one therapist and I’m optimistic that we are on the right path.  This depression stuff has been so difficult for me to understand and the truth is I may never fully comprehend its effects simply because I tend not to suffer from such disorders. The therapist that we did see asked Leslie to compose a time line of her life and include positive experiences as well as negative ones that stand out.  It has been interesting to learn about some of these experiences as they have had such an enormous impact on her depression and other disorders.  I’m looking forward to going over her list with the therapist so we can identify solutions to removing some of these mental road blocks.

This week a family that we know needed help.  They asked Leslie if she would “babysit” their grandma who is completely blind, mostly deaf, and only speaks Spanish.  I told Leslie she should help them if she thought she could handle it mentally.  I new she would think that she couldn’t but at the same time I knew that she would want to help this family.  She agreed to taking care of this little grandma while the family had to take care of an emergency out of town.  I was at work encouraging her to do it.  It took every ounce of energy she had to take of this lady and I must say she did a fantastic job. I have noticed that her mood has been considerably better this week and she has been quite busy.  I’m going to have to find more people for her to help-  It might be great medicine.

Nervous to Calm

Yesterday I sent out a mass e-mail to friends and family letting them know about this blog.  I had the e-mail written, all the contacts in the “To” field, and I couldn’t hit the “Send” button.  I was so nervous.  Tareak wasn’t expecting me to let everyone know about the blog so soon, and he told me to just wait until I felt better.  As I sat staring at the screen he started to feel the tension in the air and announced that he was now nervous too.  His wife was being exposed for her true self!  I finally closed my eyes and hit the button.  Tareak jumped up and gave me a “High-Five”.

Today I have received e-mails, phone calls and comments on this blog.  I have felt an outpouring of love and understanding and I now feel calm.  I want people to read my blog so they recognize they aren’t alone.  I’m excited to share more of my experiences in hopes that I will be able to help others along my journey as well as myself.

On a side note- I hope that people don’t see this blog as me complaining or looking for pity.  My mom mentioned that when my Grandma reads this blog she is going to be very worried about me.  There is nothing to worry about.  I am as happy as a depressed person can be.  I have a great family and a WONDERFUL husband who supports and loves me.  If you feel the slightest bit of pity for me- DON’T.

Another side note- Feel free to comment on the posts.  Since I hadn’t shared my blog with anyone yet, there were no comments until today.

Thanks to all those who have showed their love and support.  I have a renewed hope that this blog will help me with my self-therapy and hope that you all get something out of it as well.  =)