From your arm-chair shrink...
All our attention has been focused on changing our eating habits, watching the scale numbers go down, & learning how to shop for clothes all over again. Yet, our journey is not complete. There are so many things that affect our MENTAL health. It's no wonder depression can rear its ugly head. Many of you have said that even though you've slimmed down, that you still see that obese person in the mirror. Some of you don't know how to respond, react or even feel when you receive compliments because it's not something you are used to. More & more, as some of you have honored me with your trust, you have shared how vulnerable you are feeling, or how unsure you are feeling, & oh so many other symptoms of depression. And as that depression takes hold many of you pull away from us here.
I would like to convey to ANY of you that are dealing with this demon, that it is when you are feeling most vulnerable, most unsure, most fearful, most sad, most out of your element that you NEED to come here. It is my understanding that we come here to give AND receive support, not just when we're having surgery or when we have a wow moment, but during those rough days. As I just told one of you recently, this friendship of ours DOES have strings attached. Those strings are unconditional love, honesty, & respect. I don't expect any of you to be the unwavering rock that we all come to lean on. I don't expect any of you to be pidgeon-holed into just one personna. I want to reach out, embrace, come to love, come to understand you, the whole individual, complete with your amazing powers as well as your faults. This journey of ours takes so many twists & turns along the path...I want to learn from your accomplishmets, but I also want to learn from your shortcomings...the things that you, yourself are still working on. I want to give back as well as you have given to me. I can't help if I don't know you need it. This board, this ohana, is the one & only safe haven I have to come to where I feel safe & secure in knowing that I can tell you all anything & I know that I will receive good advice, lots of love, comfort if I need it, prayers if I need it. I know that you will laugh with me (& sometimes even AT me), that you will cry with me, that you will kick me in the pants, or you will wrap me in your loving arms.
I guess what I'm trying to get across to all of you is that I don't want you to stay away when you're down in the dumps. We all need each other in our own ways & there is no shame in coming here & asking for help. Isn't that what family/'friends are for? Well....isn't it?
I love you all.
Ann,
You have no idea how your email , Jills email and all the out pouring yesterday affected me .
I pride myself on being strong . And when I became weak, I truly did not want anyone to know . But now , I know that I am not alone . I know that I am loved and it is an unconditional love. This is what most of us long for in life . And we have it right here .
I feel so much better today. I am not 100 % , but so much happier than yesterday.
Depression sucks .. no matter how it comes about . And when you are alone and sad , it does help to know that there is people here that care and will let you cry when you need to .
Again .. so many thanks for helping me see the light .
Love you ,
Tink
Proud Obesity Help Bariatric Life Coach
Proud Obesity Help Support Group Leader
Fighting Daily the Disease We Call Obesity !
www.obesityhelp.com/group/LifeStartsWLS08
www.vawlsevents.com
Helping Others Find Their Way to a Life They Deserve!
Anyway, welcome back to the world of the giving. Welcome home.
Love and hugs!
Dawn
Its incredibly important to be open to not only supporting others but reaching out for support too. Its one of the lessons I'm trying to learn and embrace myself so I know it first hand. I'm not as open as I used to be and sometimes to my own detriment so I'm a work in progress.
I hope you and yours are blessed beyond measure. :)




So there...I just shared publicly with ya'll a secret that really isn't a secret anymore because I don't choose to let that crap have a hold on me. It IS conscious decision. We can choose to waller around in depression or we can recognize it, realize it, accept that we are experiencing it, & take no shame in it, & then we can decide to either live with it or do everything we can to make it go away. If that means sharing it here, privately, go see a shrink, take medications for awhile, or whatever, then sobeit, but at least know that you have a choice in the matter. Depression doesn't just happen...we let it happen. And how long it lasts is entirely up to us. Hmmm...more food for thought? LOL