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Alarming loneliness

The silence overwhelms as the scheduled program falls silent, sleep dictated by timer- still elusive, rebellious,

I am never bored in exhaustion, not really. My thoughts keep me company in the dead of the night, often taunting, tormenting,

The dog abandons her fruitless effort to cajole me into a ball of comfort and cuddle. Her restless paws, and exaggerated sighs betray her frustration. Her own space beckons.

The bed grows to manage tangled legs, and knotted thoughts chasing the one relevant demand- go to sleep.

Eyes closed in protest, breaths in four, boxed and closing in…. I wonder if one more pillow would reinforce my wall. What once was comfort, and security, has become the foundation of my prison, a padded reminder that I am not alone.

I have my thoughts for companions, voices on mute yet they still holler, disgusted with my retreat.

Sleep continues to be elusive, as comfort fades to a stone wall defied by logic. Awake and hunkered down for a long dark night, I shrug into a blanket of loneliness, and drift over the line of consciousness, incessant bleating, chiding me to stay awake.

@jenkress

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It has been awhile…

Silence has led to a slow burn lesson on so many levels. Surprisingly, I woke a few nights with words spilling out of my mind. It has been a very long time since that has happened. Here is one, of two, unpolished for a reason. Imperfect speaks volumes…

Choose me

Not because you’re bored, or

because I fit you like a

worn pair of sneakers…

Choose me because “We” make

the adventures of a lifetime possible

– a choice that excites-

hearts galloping, minds racing, while

settling at the same time,

peacefully.

When cotton candy skies and

morning dew surrender to the

blistering phoenix of high noon; alone, I

hover, to contemplate the fall to dusky

solitude and silent shadow.

Rather, I choose you.

@jenkress

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You’re not weak if you ask for help

Sometimes admitting that youre not okay is the hardest thing you can do, BUT, it is the first and biggest step to getting better. I am revisiting this post and feeling every word to the bone…. #itsokaytonotbeokay #startingover #eyesonthehorizon #thesunriseneverlies

Anyone else feel alone and abandoned today? Friday is supposed to be Yay! Day…. I cant be bothered with it and actually feel I could bite the hand that tried to hug me…. So, I revisited this post yet again. Every word stings like saltwater in a new paper cut. #yourenotalone #askforhelp #dontgiveup

Waking up to darkness is real… thoughts crowding your mind of why bother and is it worth it… misgivings about every aspect of your life, questioning every success like each is a traitor, nodding hello at every failure as if each is a familiar good friend… last night I was a warrior. This morning, I feel like a tangled ball of useless frustration. A failure not worth the fight. It would feel better to just get back in the box… Facing myself in the mirror was the first step. Shedding a few tears in the shower where no one could hear me was the second. Facing myself again in the mirror and reminding myself that I am worthy and appreciated, even if its by only one person was the third step. And getting dressed, having breakfast and facing my day was the last… life goes on. Chin up. #thestruggleisreal #anxietyawareness #sadness #depressionawareness #ptsdawarenessmonth #itsokaynottobeokay #bethebestversionofyou

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You. Are. Not. Broken!

Some mornings it takes an extremely early start, the vestiges of a brutal migraine and the exhaustion of physical therapy for a shoulder injury to remind me that physical scars (my body carries many that ache all the time) are exactly this… a reminder that I am alive and have survived a few hellish surgeries and three natural childbirths without any drugs. If I can get through all of that, I can survive the day-to-day pains. Physical pain is an obstacle to achieving your best self. Emotional pain, sadness, depression, anxiety – you have to think that these are obstacles to achieving your best self as well. To achieve your goal of being the best version of yourself that you can be, you can work towards it physically with exercise, but you can also exercise your mind. You don’t have to give in to the anxiety and the PTSD and the darkness. You are not broken; you are a work in progress! Just as you are conditioned to doing reps of squats or pushups or even running, you can repeat reps of positivity pressups and joyful jump squats by making lists of things you are thankful for, and what your positive goals are that you are working towards every day, and what brings you joy.

Repeat these things to yourself out loud in the mirror in the morning, write them on post its and put them in places you’ll see them throughout the day to remind you not to give in to the negative and the dreary thoughts. Make an effort to conquer your goals every day and remember, every day is a new day and the only easy day was yesterday. Work just that much harder tomorrow to make that new start and find your joy! Grow from every experience, from every failure and become the success you see yourself to be!


Repost from @22untilnone

Stick this on post it notes all over your house. You. Are. Not. Broken. You are a survivor! Survivors aren’t weak, and its not weak to admit you’re dealing with the fall out of a traumatic experience. Healing takes time, so give yourself some grace.

#mentalhealthmatters#physicalhealthmatters#stressmanagement#anxietyawareness#ptsdawareness#positiveaffirmations#beyourbestself

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Do not suffer in silence.

It is always okay to ask for help. Not long ago, I had someone ask me if I was okay. I hardly knew this person, but he recognised the signs as he was a combat veteran. Just the fact that he took the time to reach out, to ask after my well-being, was enough for me to check myself. To know that if I ever needed a safe space, someone to talk to that I didn’t have before, someone I don’t know but who has been there, someone who recognises the signs and doesn’t judge me for what I suffer from… it makes EVERY DIFFERENCE. Please know It’s Not Too Weak To Speak. 🙏🏻#itsokaytonotbeokay #askforhelp #PTSDawareness #suicideprevention #giveofyourself #breakthestigma #nevergiveup #mentalhealthawareness @mission_22 @stopsoldiersuicide @getheadstrong @havokjournal @mangang_uk #itsnottooweaktospeak