After having two articles posted, I thought it might be a good idea to explain to readers where I am coming from in my posts. Writing these articles are just as helpful for me as I hope they might be helpful for others. As for who I am, I would started by stating I am a Milton-Union graduate from the class of ’95. From there I tried to go to college at Bowling Green but due to some complications I did not finish. I moved to Philadelphia for a year and then to York, Pennsylvania for the past twelve which included an eight year marriage and the birth of my now ten year old daughter.
Through these past twenty years or so I have struggled with myself not knowing and not accepting who I was and why. Who I was was someone battling Bi-polar, in particular the depression side of this nasty beast. Throughout the years it had torn me apart from the inside because I could not find the strength or willingness to change or recognize what my problem is. It came down to many bad things happening including the loss of a girlfriend, a place to live, and my whole financial self. Luckily I have loving parents who have been willing to take me in and support me.
From everything that has occurred, I have learned that change was necessary. But I have also realized that I must be willing to, and must wholeheartedly, make the choice to change for myself. This is why I wrote my first article ‘It’s Your Choice’. Choice is a conscious and a deep commitment to reach a certain goal. That goal has to be your whole life. Faith, as I wrote in my second article, is a very helpful tool too. It gives you a focus in life that can support your changes.
So what it comes down to is that my ‘Thought Process’ articles are thoughts and things I learn while on this battle to take control of my life. My hope is that someone might read and gain an idea of how they can help change themselves. I really would love to become a licensed therapist, that is a goal in my life, but if it does not happen then I hope I can help someone or some people by just being me. I wish to share what I learn through my experience of changing and gaining control of my illness to all who wish to read about it. Maybe, just maybe, something will pique your interest enough to where you will follow up on it. You can ask me where I learned something at anytime you want by posting a comment or sending an email to the editor. It will get forwarded to me.
I believe many people suffer from a mental illness and I hope a few can read what I write and be inspired to take control of their illness. We must not suffer from our illness. We must conquer and control our illness. I will leave you with a quote from a book I am reading The Cognitive Behavioral Workbook for Depression by William J. Knaus, ED.D: “Live in fear of loss, and you fear to live.”
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