Hello ladies! I hope this blog post finds you all doing well and feeling blessed in the new year. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season, we had a very nice and relaxed Christmas and New Year, I got spoiled by my dear husband as per usual. :)
I wanted to say to those of you who have been kind enough to read my blog on a regular basis and who actually look forward t my posts that I am sorry i have not been able to blog much in the past few months or take part in your blogs. I do miss it indeed! If I may get a little personal here for a moment or two, Id like to share with you that I have been struggling since I had my daughter nearly two years ago with situational anxiety. It continued to get worse until it reached a peak in the fall of last year and was leading to depression as I felt overwhelmed and disabled by anxiousness, something i have never experienced before in my life with any significance.
Sadly, and somewhat ironically considering the topic and content of this blog, most of my anxiety surrounded my abilities (or lack there of) here at home as a wife, mom, and homemaker. Even though I changed my name to “Old-Fashioned Housewife” and have indeed been trying to be the best wife and mom I can be, housewifery has never come naturally to me and I think my desire since becoming a stay at home mom has been to be perfect at this role. Perfection has been an unrealistic goal considering the steep learning curve I have with my lack of training up to this point, and so the mismatch between expectations and reality led to stress which turned into anxiety.
In November I began attending Celebrate Recovery, which is a Christ-centered 12 step program to help people overcome and get healing with their hurts, habits, and hang-ups in life that keep them stuck and keeps them from living in victory in Christ. I cannot understate the value of this program and how it is changing my life. I wont go into all the details here (although if anyone has any interest and wants to know more about Celebrate Recovery PLEASE dont hesitate to contact me I would love to answer your questions) but I just wanted to say that while my anxiety has improved remarkably, the truth is I simply havent had the time to blog. I’m focusing on my recovery which means a good deal of time in God’s word, in prayer, in worship, attending meetings and step studies. The rest of my time is of course spent trying to keep our home in decent order and caring for my family. There have been times ive wanted to sit down and blog about a meal I made or a deal I found somewhere, but there just hasnt been the time. But i miss it indeed!
Im not saying goodbye to blogging because I hope at some point Ill be able to return to it. In the meantime if I find I have a bit of time and something to share, Ill throw up a post, and hope it might happen to bless someone. I am praying you are all doing well and I am sorry I havent had time to keep up with your precious selves through your blogs. I trust you understand. :)
God bless you all!
Nicole
4 comments:
So sorry to hear how you are feeling lately. I am glad that you are getting the help you need. I have a secret for you. I don't think one single woman on the face of the earth was raised to be a mom. It is a "on the job" training type of deal. No one can prepare you for what you will have to deal with. The media glamorizes it so much it makes me sick. The reality of it is it's a lonely, unappreciated job with rewards that are few and far between. You are alot smarter and wiser than most, you realized you needed help and got it. Bravo to you! Don't turn blogging into another chore. Post when you have some time and make sure that it is pleasurable. No one will ever think badly of you for that.
Here is hoping that you feel better soon! I am sure that exposing yourself like this on your blog, you will find even more support and love!
Best Wishes!
Maggie
Dearest Nicole - I am new to your blog but unfortunately, I'm not new to what you're describing.
I have tried the Celebrate Recovery program at our church but I felt uncomfortable. I wasn't "addicted" to any substance and I didn't know if I fit in there.
I'm so glad you aren't closing your blog because it is lovely. I hope you are doing well!
Hugs,
Alison
Dear sweet friend! I am all too familiar with anxiety. My own mother makes fun of me but it's not very funny at all! As a mom, you are never really "off" and the worries of a household can seem immeasurable. I always try to focus on the positive (healthy family, roof over our head, food on the table) when the contents of my head start to stray. And I know I've used this one before but it helps me as a recovering perfectionist..."oatmeal is better than no meal!" It really can apply to so many situations. My thoughts and prayers are with you!
Hi Nicole, I have missed you and think about you often. Your comments on my blog were always so dear and sweet. I am so sorry that you have been dealing with this anxiety. Let me tell you, just from the bit that I got to know you I thought and still think that you are an amazing woman. You were always busy in the kitchen and amazed me with all of your canning and preserving talents. I could always feel of your deep love for your little girl. So glad to know that you are doing much better. Taking care of yourself and family is the most important thing right now. Just know that I will be here to visit when you return. You will always be in my prayers!
Hugs,
Jann
Post a Comment