The Almost Green Mom

Yeah, it’s been a minute since I’ve posted. During that time, I’ve had 4 surgeries (knee replacement, gallbladder removal and 2 bile stent procedures), turned 50 (yikes!) and dealt with a lot of ups and downs and powered through life. I can’t say I was healthy about powering through, but I made it to the other side.

I feel like now I’m finally coming up for air and wanted to post about mental health. I have depression and anxiety and have been seeking professional help for years now. Thank goodness I finally discussed it with doctors after years of struggling. It was hard to admit I needed help – that was the hardest part. I wish our medical establishment would do a better job of prioritizing mental health as much as it does with routine things like blood pressure, cholesterol levels and the like. I currently work with not only an MD who specializes in mental health, but also a good therapist.

And it’s not just an adult thing. In this day and age, mental health for children should also be a top list priority. Both of my kids regularly see a family therapist. There is so much stigma around this right now which is a shame. Talking to someone about life is not only therapeutic, but I believe critical. Kids face so much pressure today – whether that be in school, from social media, sports, etc. I’ll never forget when a neighbor asked me if I was going to hold my oldest child back a year in school on purpose so she could be more competitive in sports. What????

So, this is a short post, but make 2024 about self care (as one of my best friends has coined it). Advocate for yourself and your family:

• Discuss your and your family’s mental health with a medical professional
• Consider going to therapy
• Reverse the stigma of mental health medication
• Lead by example

Here’s to a healthy (physically and emotionally) 2024,

The Almost Green Mom