Can’t Nobody Break My Stride! The Power of Therapy
November 19, 2016
By Sari Leigh, Photos by T.S. Ellis
“Sari, you are smiling. But the words coming out of your mouth sound like discouragement.” That is what my therapist said after I shared my disillusionment with my life.
The Power of Therapy
“I just feel like I am moving through sludge. I feel heavy and burdened by my life.”
I told him, “You know after gaining 30 pounds, overwhelmed with motherhood, heartbroken over a relationship turned sour and feeling defeated by so much bad news in the world, I just keep thinking, What is the point of it all? How can I continue to smile, stay uplifted and committed to a greater meaning when I can’t even manage the small meaningless things in my life.”
My therapist listened with concern. “Do you fear you might hurt yourself or your child?”
NO! NEVER! I wanted him to understand that I’d hit a wall with my will to persevere through it all. My swift, flexible and agile body had taken new shape after recovering from an avalanche of obstacles in my life. My heart, which once was an overfilled well of positivity was a dry cracked shell of empty and broken promises. These feelings were foreign to me. I’d never been someone to be so easily broken, so quick to give up, so weakened by the weight of the responsibility.
Is this what depression feels like? Is this what sadness feels like?
Maybe yes and maybe no. All I knew was that I needed more insight on how to manage these alien emotions. So I sought professional help in the form of a therapist and was diagnosed with postpartum depression. I knew something was wrong when the intrusive thoughts in the middle of the night began to haunt the safety of me and my family.
Friends and family were supportive in the best ways that they knew how, but they didn’t have time to work through my complexities. In order to address the shit in my life, I needed to take my mind and body back.
But, at this point, yoga was not enough.
Yoga was a balm to soothe the aching memories of having my child in the hospital for months on end. Pranayama and deep breathing were tools to manage my anxiety when I needed to confront a judge to argue for custody. Meditation helped in those lonely nights when my thoughts were racing with the uncertainties of how I could manage raising my daughter on my own. But therapy was a thread that connected all of these healing traditions to living a balanced life. Therapy helped me see patterns of self destructive dating , reactionary comments to my coworkers and even childish ways to avoid confrontation.
Therapy put a mirror up and shined the light into my face. Therapy dared me to see all the imperfections and all the beauty and accept it. Once the acceptance began, so did the understanding and ultimately the healing. A good therapist helps you find your stride. A caring therapist allows you to take your time getting there. A healing therapist gives you the correct dosage of support to keep you on the road toward a fulfilling life.
If you are feeling down, discouraged, depressed or just uncertain, tap into the power of therapy. You are not the first or the last. Don’t let any event, any person or circumstance break your stride. Keep moving and keep living.
READ THE COMMENTS OR ADD YOURS
READ THE COMMENTS
I actually wanted to write a brief note to appreciate you for the fabulous techniques you are posting here. My time consuming internet investigation has finally been honored with pleasant suggestions to exchange with my contacts. I would say that most of us site visitors actually are very endowed to be in a wonderful site with many awesome professionals with beneficial techniques. I feel pretty fortunate to have discovered your web page and look forward to some more pleasurable times reading here. Thank you once more for all the details.
I would like to point out my passion for your kindness giving support to men and women that must have help with that topic. Your personal dedication to getting the solution throughout came to be remarkably informative and has in every case allowed people much like me to attain their objectives. Your own valuable suggestions means a great deal to me and further more to my office workers. Best wishes; from each one of us.
I must point out my affection for your kind-heartedness for visitors who need guidance on the theme. Your real dedication to passing the message all over has been amazingly invaluable and have usually made somebody like me to reach their desired goals. The valuable instruction implies so much a person like me and especially to my peers. Best wishes; from everyone of us.
I definitely wanted to post a quick note to be able to appreciate you for the splendid guidelines you are giving at this site. My extensive internet research has finally been rewarded with useful content to exchange with my best friends. I ‘d admit that most of us website visitors actually are definitely lucky to exist in a superb community with so many perfect professionals with helpful tactics. I feel extremely happy to have encountered your weblog and look forward to many more fabulous minutes reading here. Thanks a lot again for a lot of things.
I wish to show appreciation to this writer for bailing me out of such a matter. Right after searching throughout the online world and finding tips which were not helpful, I believed my life was done. Living without the presence of approaches to the issues you’ve resolved by means of your site is a crucial case, and the kind which might have in a wrong way damaged my entire career if I had not encountered your site. Your own mastery and kindness in taking care of all the stuff was excellent. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I had not discovered such a solution like this. It’s possible to at this moment look forward to my future. Thank you so much for this professional and effective guide. I won’t think twice to suggest your web blog to any person who will need tips on this matter.
I and my buddies happened to be taking note of the nice information and facts from your website and the sudden developed a terrible feeling I never expressed respect to the website owner for them. Those guys appeared to be for this reason joyful to study them and have now pretty much been taking pleasure in those things. Many thanks for turning out to be so accommodating as well as for finding these kinds of marvelous things millions of individuals are really wanting to understand about. Our own sincere apologies for not expressing gratitude to earlier.
My husband and i got very fulfilled when Jordan managed to carry out his investigation while using the precious recommendations he obtained while using the weblog. It is now and again perplexing to simply choose to be releasing methods which often other people have been trying to sell. And we do understand we need you to appreciate because of that. All the illustrations you’ve made, the straightforward blog navigation, the friendships you can help to instill – it’s all wonderful, and it’s letting our son in addition to the family feel that this article is exciting, which is unbelievably essential. Thank you for the whole lot!
I happen to be writing to make you be aware of what a awesome encounter my cousin’s daughter went through viewing your web site. She realized so many things, including what it is like to possess an amazing coaching mood to have most people quite simply have an understanding of a variety of tortuous things. You undoubtedly surpassed people’s desires. I appreciate you for providing these interesting, trustworthy, educational and in addition cool guidance on your topic to Emily.
I wanted to make a word so as to appreciate you for the pleasant facts you are giving out at this website. My prolonged internet research has finally been paid with awesome facts and strategies to share with my family and friends. I ‘d admit that most of us site visitors actually are definitely fortunate to dwell in a magnificent network with very many brilliant people with good pointers. I feel really lucky to have seen your entire site and look forward to so many more amazing moments reading here. Thank you once again for a lot of things.
I am glad for commenting to let you know of the awesome discovery my wife’s child found reading your web site. She came to find such a lot of issues, not to mention what it’s like to have a very effective giving mood to have the rest smoothly know a variety of advanced matters. You truly surpassed people’s desires. I appreciate you for displaying those helpful, trusted, educational and even unique thoughts on this topic to Lizeth.
I have to voice my love for your kindness in support of all those that have the need for guidance on that concern. Your personal dedication to getting the message along turned out to be certainly insightful and has usually allowed associates like me to achieve their targets. Your entire helpful key points can mean a great deal a person like me and even more to my peers. Regards; from everyone of us.
My spouse and i got very thrilled Michael could finish up his analysis because of the precious recommendations he grabbed out of your weblog. It’s not at all simplistic just to be releasing points that many some other people have been making money from. And we figure out we need the blog owner to be grateful to for this. The type of explanations you have made, the easy blog navigation, the relationships you can make it easier to foster – it is everything overwhelming, and it’s leading our son and us feel that that content is cool, which is tremendously fundamental. Thank you for the whole lot!
Thanks a lot for giving everyone a very terrific opportunity to read from this site. It really is very pleasurable and also stuffed with amusement for me personally and my office colleagues to search your blog nearly thrice in a week to read through the new tips you will have. Not to mention, I am always happy considering the spectacular opinions you give. Selected 1 facts on this page are truly the best I’ve had.
I want to show appreciation to you for rescuing me from this type of issue. Just after looking through the world-wide-web and coming across proposals that were not beneficial, I was thinking my life was over. Being alive minus the answers to the difficulties you have solved through your main write-up is a crucial case, as well as those which may have adversely damaged my career if I had not come across the blog. The know-how and kindness in handling every aspect was very helpful. I am not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t discovered such a thing like this. I can at this time look forward to my future. Thanks very much for your specialized and amazing help. I won’t hesitate to endorse your blog post to anyone who would like recommendations about this situation.
I wish to show my love for your kindness for persons that actually need help with this important subject matter. Your personal commitment to getting the solution across has been incredibly valuable and have regularly permitted employees much like me to attain their goals. This valuable suggestions can mean a great deal to me and even more to my office colleagues. With thanks; from everyone of us.
My spouse and i were so contented when Chris managed to complete his analysis by way of the ideas he received through the site. It’s not at all simplistic just to continually be making a gift of tactics men and women may have been trying to sell. And now we recognize we have the writer to be grateful to for this. Most of the explanations you’ve made, the straightforward site menu, the relationships you can help to promote – it’s got all fabulous, and it’s leading our son in addition to the family know that that theme is brilliant, and that’s extraordinarily indispensable. Thanks for the whole thing!
I am only writing to let you know what a nice discovery my girl enjoyed using your site. She figured out too many pieces, which included what it is like to possess an amazing giving nature to make others without hassle comprehend several complex issues. You really did more than our desires. Thank you for displaying such warm and friendly, trusted, informative not to mention cool tips on the topic to Gloria.
I actually wanted to type a note to be able to express gratitude to you for these marvelous suggestions you are giving on this site. My considerable internet lookup has at the end of the day been rewarded with high-quality content to exchange with my contacts. I ‘d assert that we visitors actually are very much fortunate to exist in a good website with so many lovely professionals with useful points. I feel very grateful to have come across your website and look forward to some more thrilling minutes reading here. Thanks again for everything.
I am glad for commenting to make you understand what a helpful encounter our child gained browsing your blog. She figured out so many issues, not to mention what it is like to possess an excellent giving character to make others just learn certain tortuous things. You really surpassed her expectations. Many thanks for rendering those priceless, safe, informative and in addition unique tips about your topic to Gloria.
I enjoy you because of all your effort on this web site. Ellie take interest in participating in research and it’s easy to see why. Almost all notice all regarding the compelling medium you deliver functional strategies through the website and cause participation from others on this area of interest while our favorite girl is actually being taught a lot. Have fun with the remaining portion of the year. You’re the one conducting a great job.
I needed to draft you a tiny note in order to thank you very much over again with your incredible techniques you’ve documented on this website. This has been simply extremely generous of people like you to offer extensively what exactly many people would’ve supplied for an ebook to get some profit for their own end, most notably considering the fact that you might well have done it in the event you decided. The pointers additionally acted like a easy way to be certain that some people have a similar desire much like my personal own to find out significantly more with reference to this matter. I know there are millions of more pleasurable occasions up front for many who read through your site.
Thanks for your whole work on this site. Ellie takes pleasure in making time for investigation and it’s really obvious why. My partner and i notice all regarding the compelling tactic you present precious ideas via this blog and as well as inspire response from other ones about this concern while our favorite princess is starting to learn so much. Enjoy the rest of the year. You’re the one performing a really great job.
Thank you for your whole work on this web site. My niece take interest in managing investigation and it is easy to see why. Most of us hear all relating to the powerful means you offer useful information through your web blog and therefore cause participation from website visitors about this situation plus our own simple princess is starting to learn so much. Take advantage of the remaining portion of the new year. Your performing a very good job.
I definitely wanted to make a small message in order to express gratitude to you for all of the fantastic tips and tricks you are giving out on this website. My rather long internet look up has at the end of the day been compensated with excellent strategies to write about with my family members. I would assert that many of us visitors actually are very much lucky to live in a notable community with many special people with insightful suggestions. I feel very much lucky to have encountered your entire web page and look forward to really more fun minutes reading here. Thanks a lot again for everything.
I not to mention my pals appeared to be examining the excellent techniques from your site then before long developed a terrible feeling I had not thanked the site owner for those secrets. Most of the people had been consequently thrilled to read through all of them and have in truth been making the most of these things. Thanks for truly being indeed kind as well as for selecting some beneficial tips most people are really wanting to be aware of. My personal honest apologies for not expressing gratitude to you earlier.
I wish to convey my passion for your kind-heartedness in support of folks that really need assistance with that area of interest. Your special dedication to passing the message throughout had been especially interesting and have constantly made associates much like me to get to their pursuits. The warm and friendly help denotes a whole lot to me and a whole lot more to my office colleagues. Warm regards; from each one of us.
I want to get across my gratitude for your generosity in support of women who require help on in this field. Your special commitment to getting the message all over was extremely useful and have allowed people just like me to attain their targets. Your important guide entails a whole lot a person like me and especially to my fellow workers. Thank you; from each one of us.
I have to show my admiration for your generosity giving support to visitors who absolutely need guidance on this one area. Your real dedication to getting the message across appeared to be astonishingly effective and have consistently helped those like me to arrive at their goals. Your personal informative guideline denotes this much a person like me and substantially more to my office workers. With thanks; from everyone of us.
I in addition to my friends have been reviewing the good techniques found on your website and before long came up with a horrible suspicion I had not thanked the site owner for those tips. Those men became totally joyful to learn them and have now undoubtedly been enjoying those things. Appreciation for indeed being quite thoughtful and for considering certain essential things most people are really desirous to learn about. Our own honest apologies for not expressing appreciation to you sooner.
I actually wanted to write down a small note in order to thank you for these fantastic tips you are giving at this website. My considerable internet search has finally been compensated with really good details to go over with my colleagues. I ‘d express that many of us site visitors are very much blessed to live in a fabulous community with many special people with beneficial pointers. I feel pretty blessed to have encountered the web site and look forward to really more pleasurable minutes reading here. Thanks once again for a lot of things.
Thanks for all your valuable efforts on this website. Ellie loves doing internet research and it is easy to see why. A lot of people know all relating to the dynamic manner you produce rewarding secrets on this web blog and therefore inspire participation from some other people about this subject matter while our favorite princess is certainly learning a lot. Take pleasure in the remaining portion of the year. You’re the one conducting a powerful job.
I precisely had to appreciate you again. I’m not certain the things that I would have gone through without the type of pointers contributed by you regarding that area of interest. Entirely was the fearsome scenario for me personally, nevertheless taking note of the very expert strategy you resolved that took me to leap over happiness. I’m just grateful for this service and in addition expect you really know what a powerful job you are always doing instructing the others with the aid of a site. Most likely you haven’t encountered any of us.
I wish to express thanks to the writer just for bailing me out of this type of matter. Right after searching through the search engines and finding tips which were not beneficial, I believed my entire life was gone. Being alive minus the answers to the problems you have fixed by way of the short post is a serious case, as well as ones which could have in a negative way affected my career if I hadn’t encountered the blog. Your own personal competence and kindness in dealing with a lot of things was precious. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I hadn’t discovered such a solution like this. I can at this point look ahead to my future. Thank you so much for this specialized and effective help. I won’t be reluctant to propose your site to any individual who needs counselling on this subject.
My husband and i have been satisfied Louis could complete his investigations through your ideas he made using your web pages. It’s not at all simplistic to just choose to be offering points which usually other folks may have been making money from. And we also consider we’ve got you to give thanks to for that. These explanations you have made, the easy blog navigation, the friendships you help to engender – it is mostly terrific, and it’s really helping our son and us understand this topic is pleasurable, which is tremendously mandatory. Many thanks for everything!
I would like to point out my gratitude for your kindness supporting those individuals that have the need for guidance on your question. Your very own dedication to passing the solution up and down became surprisingly practical and have usually encouraged individuals like me to arrive at their aims. Your amazing helpful guide entails this much to me and extremely more to my colleagues. Thanks a ton; from everyone of us.
My spouse and i ended up being thrilled that Emmanuel managed to finish off his basic research through the entire precious recommendations he was given when using the web pages. It’s not at all simplistic to just find yourself freely giving information and facts that most people may have been selling. And we also do understand we now have the website owner to thank for this. The main illustrations you’ve made, the easy blog navigation, the friendships you can assist to foster – it’s everything sensational, and it’s really making our son and the family know that this content is entertaining, which is certainly exceptionally pressing. Thanks for all the pieces!
I wanted to send you the little bit of observation to be able to say thanks yet again for those fantastic strategies you have featured on this website. It was certainly surprisingly open-handed of people like you to convey easily precisely what most people might have offered for sale for an e book to get some profit for themselves, most notably since you could possibly have done it in case you wanted. These smart ideas additionally served to become a good way to be aware that many people have similar eagerness the same as my personal own to know a whole lot more when considering this issue. I know there are lots of more pleasurable opportunities in the future for individuals who read through your blog post.
Comments are closed.