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Staying strong when you are hurting

Staying strong when you are hurting inside. When you are at your lowest point you might feel like giving up. Don’t.

You never know how strong you are, until strong is your only choice – Bob Marley

The glass is half full

Some people seems to be unaffected by any trauma. No matter how big or how small their troubles, they just shake it off and go on with their life. People can call them anything , they can be bullied however it seems as if they can and will take anything. Unbeknownst to them their glass empties bit by bit until they struggle to balance their feelings and emotions.

The empty glass

When you reach this level depression rears it’s head with more negative thoughts than positive thoughts. The balance beam is no longer in a straight line. You struggle to keep up appearances and can no longer juggle all the balls. The snide remarks, the name calling. Somehow you can no longer just shake it off. You can no longer pretend that everything is okay. You are not superwoman or superman.

Why?

Not dealing with things that happen in our lives will catch up with us at some time. It might take days, week, months or even years. Whatever the case may be.

I’ve been there

From a very young age, I used to hide my true feelings and pretended to be fine. Smiling when hurting inside. For years it worked well for me until I became ill and was diagnosed with Achalasia, a swallowing disorder. My illness changed everything. I could no longer keep up with portraying this false image. I was a human being. Alive and breathing. Even after having life saving surgery and after spending 11 days in ICU and getting back to a new normal. People made comments about me changing, that I was touchy and couldn’t take jokes anymore. The truth however is that I never valued myself enough to take a stand and make myself heard. Years of personal neglect caught up with me.

You are enough

Take care of yourself. You are the best friend you will ever have.

Filling up your glass

Yes it is possible to gather and balance yourself. You have to be willing to deal with things as and how they happen. You owe it to yourself. When you don’t your glass empties more than it fills.

Soldier on

The way I go about is to admit when I’m hurting and when I struggle to cope. Writing it down and cry when I feel like it. I talk to a Psychiatrist on a monthly basis. Daily walks with my dog friend. I also spend time with myself. Working in my garden. Arts and crafts. Having tea and ginger biscuits with a friend.

Stay strong when you are hurting inside. Believe in yourself. You are enough.