I have been told a few times:
“You really put yourself out there in your writing.”
And I’ve been ruminating on that the last few days because what do I write about that gives off that impression?
I mean you will never find me talking about specific issues or successes I face in my marriage or in my parenting trials or in my faith tribulations or details about my past trauma or dishing out medical advice to the masses or taking serious selfies because to me THAT is putting myself out there in a way that makes me cringe.
But I do share openly about my battles with mental illness and I can appreciate that is a vulnerable topic for many and once upon a time it was for me too. But during that time I was quietly planning my suicide and that is when I decided there are worse things in life than admitting I live with depression and that worse thing, for me, was living with shame.
One in five people battle a mental illness and suicide is the 10th leading cause of death so says the NIMH and that just goes to show that there are a lot of people who are waging battles against mental illness but losing the war and if my saying that I was once suicidal and I am not now because I spoke up and that by speaking up I’m still here (and happy to be) then you can do it too is putting myself out there, then I guess I do.
I believe that letting others know they can thrive outside of the darkness is worthwhile because once I realized I wasn’t alone I believed that I was strong enough to use my voice and my voice got me help and that help kept me going.
It just goes to show that everyone has a story they are willing to tell so share that part of your story freely because your shame won’t survive being exposed to the light and in doing so you will find yourself lighter and brighter and living in a joy you never thought possible and in the process you might just encourage someone that their story isn’t over yet.
Don’t underestimate the power of your story, warriors, because that story could quite literally save a life.
Someone’s story saved mine;
*Originally posted on Rebel Housewife social media
rebelhousewifeblog.com 