One Year.

    Hello, I'm a grateful believer in Jesus Christ, and I struggle with depression, grief, and post-traumatic stress.  My name is Leandra.......
     A year ago, in the blink of an eye, my wonderful life came crashing down.  Everything I had known and believed was over.  Over the next few months my weight plummeted to 93 lbs, I developed extreme insomnia, and a host of other issues.  I didn't think I was going to make it through this.  But, with God's help, and the help of some amazing friends and counselors, I did...one day at a time.  

    When I returned to the States, I was lost for help.  I started seeing a counselor, but she was, in a word, awful.  Hey, counselors are just people, and some of them stink at their job just like any other profession.  She did however point me in the direction of a faith based support system founded on the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous.  This program however covers any issue one might be struggling with.  I didn't want to go.  Not because I didn't want help, but because I didn't want to need help.  I wanted my old life back.  It's a year long program, I made a commitment to see it through, and I always keep my word.  There have been many weeks that I didn't feel like anything was changing and the program wasn't working, but looking back at where I started, I can tell that it is.  I'm only about half way through the process, but I'm beginning to be hopeful.  

    It's been a year since that awful day, and I'm happy to report that my weight is nearly back to normal, only two pounds to go, most nights I can get a full eight hours of sleep, and my bad days are fewer and fewer.  Life is beginning to feel normal again, even if it is a new kind of normal.  For the most part, I don't mention things from my personal life in this blog, but I felt like I needed to pause for a moment to celebrate life and recovery, and one day victory and freedom from all this hurt because there is hope.  Thanks for letting me share.