Embarking on a new journey
December 26, 2008 by gayla
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve debated back and forth with the idea of taking on blogging at Mental Health Notes. The advocate in me was leaping with joy at the opportunity to continue an effort that takes me back nearly twelve years – the other side of me struggled greatly with sharing deep, personal details from my own experiences as both a consumer, a wife, a mother, a daughter and a granddaughter of those who currently battle or have battled mental illness to varied degrees.
I’ve spent a great deal of time over the last couple of years attending support groups, reading books, in therapy and praying that someway, somehow, God would help me through the challenges I was faced with.
I kept telling myself that I knew God wouldn’t give me more than I could handle, I just wish he didn’t trust me so much.
When Alicia informed me she was leaving Mental Health Notes, I did what I normally do – I thought, I prayed and I thought some more – the end result is – here I am! I’m not a mental health professional by any stretch of the imagination. I hope you’ll join me in this journey as we explore various mental illnesses, treatments and hopefully develop a strong support community.
I look forward to learning more with all our MHN readers.
Thank you for your honest, genuine and open share, Gayla. I am a big fan of “Mental Health Notes” and I look forward to enjoying your contributions in the future.
I believe that you will be a wonderful author of some fine mental health recovery information and supportive and educational words. Any person that can follow in Alicia’s steps backed by Alicia’s confidence in that person’s abilities and eagerness to join this ‘journey’ is a good person in my eyes. I am sure you will do great!
Take care and I will continue to be right next to you on this recovery path. Thanks for sharing the pathway!
Sincerely,
Jon
Very nice to meet you Jon and thanks for the kind words. It was a tough decision to come to but one I’ve never been more certain about now.
It isn’t very often that I feel comfortable saying “I need” something – but I do need this journey – I need knowledge and I need to feel as though I’m helping to encourage change in some small way.
There are people rather close to my family who don’t believe mental illness is “real” and that it’s “made up to get attention” – So sad that mindsets like that still exist.
There’s such a long, long way to go. It’s nice to meet other advocates who are vocal enough for me to turn to when I have to say “I just don’t know.”
Nice to meet you, as well!
Mental illness is as real as it gets for me…it sure is a shame when MANY folks have a hard time wrapping their own minds around the concept and the reality of the disease. But, I believe that sharing knowledge and educating others and advocating for truth is how the silent ignorance that can do so much harm to people CAN be used to make pathways to wellness.
Your decision was a great one…thanks for taking time to do what you do. Take care and stay strong!
Jon
Hi, Gayla! I am so very glad to see that MHN lives on. I am a huge fan of Alicia’s, but I know you’ll do just as well and put your own stamp on the site. I hope you had a good Christmas, and I wish you the best of New Years.