My 140 Ways Coping with Mental Illness: How a Mother Coped with Stress, Depression and Stigmas Lrg edition

The decision that I made in my younger years to marry and have children has put me on my life?s journey, which has been filled with pain and many challenges that I did not anticipate. I did not know that my children would come with a very high price tag, a price that is just too high for many parents to pay. Never in a million years would I have imagined that mental illnesses would have affected my son and daughter in the countless destructive ways in which they did. During the initial years of dealing with mental illness, it was extremely difficult for me to cope while I cared for my son and daughter as well as my other children and myself. In a world that is drenched with much self-interest, I was moved with compassion that made it easy for me to be selfless and help others especially the most vulnerable and disabled ones among us. This kind of caring for others may not come naturally to some but kindness to others can be developed. During the course of my journey there were many times when I felt, ?sorry for me.? I would pause in the middle of my negative thoughts and ask myself, ?How many times in the last month have I helped someone who is in the hospital, or who is in need of help.? If my answer was zero, I knew instantly that I needed to, ?Stop complaining, and do something for someone else.? It helped me to cope when I took a personal interest in others. I knew it uplifted them and gave them hope and comfort. It was a wonderful feeling when someone took a personal interest in me. It warmed my heart and uplifted my spirit and I wanted to give someone else that same feeling. I realized that putting the welfare of others ahead of my own needs and wants, gave me personal satisfaction and happiness and the greatest of joys. During my years of struggles, I examined my life for all the things that brought me happiness. Examining my own life helped me to understand other people?s struggles and hardships and I looked for ways in which I could help them. As time went on my ability to support others in their times of distress and times of crisis was truly a blessing and a wonderful gift for me. The trials I have endured helped me to cultivate feelings of compassion and so it was easy for me to comfort others in times of their distress and grief. All the struggles that I have endured for the past twenty-two years have paid off for my family as their health continue to improve. Moving forward was not easy. It took many years of trials and errors, but once I applied all my coping skills, I was able to cope. My life became much richer and rewarding and I continued to maintain my appreciation for life. I then developed a positive mind-set to treat others with dignity and respect regardless of their disabilities or adversities, or what difficulties they were experiencing. As I reflect on my life, I am most grateful to have had the faith and trust in God that helped me to cope with these illnesses. During the periods of unbearable grief, I prayed to God incessantly and fervently. My heart is filled with gratitude from the comfort I absorbed from scriptures. Although the bible is not a medical guidebook, reading it regularly helped me cope with the struggles of dealing with mental illness.