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Monthly Newsletter - November 2021
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Many of us are dealing with a mix of emotions brought on by the uncertainty of the pandemic, racial tensions, and political polarization. I for one don't know anyone who hasn't experienced feelings of anxiousness, depression, and extreme stress over the past 20 months.
In this month's newsletter, you can read two very different yet profound stories about survival. One about childhood trauma and the other about managing grief. Also, don't miss our recommended Book of The Month about resiliency in the face of eating disorders, alcoholism, drug addiction, and severe depression.
If you would like to submit a personal story about your mental health journey for publication consideration, please email it to info@mentalhealthforwomen.org.
With purpose, passion and hope,
Candace
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Speaking Candidly with Candace is on a mission to eliminate the stigma of mental illness by providing a safe place for people to share their experiences coping with mental health. You can listen to these stories on Speaking Candidly with Candace, available on all major podcast channels and find previous podcast episodes, articles, and mental health resources at www.speakingcandidlywithcandace.com.
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Inspirational Quote of The Month
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"Growth happens when you decide to move forward,
one good moment, one good habit, and one good decision at a time."
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My love for writing goes back to my early childhood. It was my voice when I could not speak the truth out loud. We didn’t have much money back then, so I saved every penny of my weekly allowance to pay for my little black diary which I kept hidden under my bed. Despite having three siblings, my diary became my best friend and confidant. Every night before going to sleep, I would write about my innermost thoughts.
As the youngest child raised by an alcoholic father and narcissistic mother who argued constantly, I tried hard to remain invisible at home and at school. It was a lonely existence and having a place to share my feelings, even if it was only on paper, made it bearable.
Decades later, through therapy, I learned that my childhood experience, psychologically speaking, was considered a “trauma.” How could that be? I was not kidnapped, sexually abused, beaten, or tortured by anyone. I did not lose a limb to an injury, an illness, or war. Yet, deep inside me are scars that may never heal completely.
Click here to read more.
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Sometimes I feel like I’m all alone drifting in a sea of grief. I look for the land I was taken from when the person I love died. I desperately want to go back there and return to everything I once knew.
As I scan the endless horizon….I know there’s no going back.
All I can really do is set a new course. I have to keep drifting on these uncharted waters and learn to exist in a world without the one I lost.
These days, the water I drift on is mostly calm. I’ve learned to recognize and appreciate there is still a lot of love in this new world I live in. I just have to be brave enough, and willing enough, to accept it….even within the confines of my grief.
I’ve come a long way and have experienced many new positive experiences. I still continue to drift in this sea of grief and that is okay.
Here’s the thing....I cannot keep the storms from coming, but I can keep drifting and keep my eye on the horizon, because I know the storms are only moments in time….and they’ll end.
As I continue to drift, I remind myself I’m not alone. I will continue to throw my life rings out to those I come across that are drifting along on their own grief journey.
If you are drifting…..you will find your way to calmer waters…and you will find plenty of others…including me…to help you on your way.
Gary Sturgis - “Surviving Grief”
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Book of the Month -
Shattered Image: My Triumph Over Body Dysphormic Disorder
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Author Brian Cuban
Brian Cuban is a successful lawyer, activist and TV host living with an enemy that haunted him for over 30 years – his own reflection in the mirror. Through a series of very personal, witty and poignant anecdotes, the younger brother of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban opens up about his personal battle with a mental disorder known as Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) in which the sufferer is preoccupied with a distorted sense of self-image and is often afflicted with eating disorders, depression and addiction.
Click here to listen to my interview with Brian Cuban
Click here to purchase book
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Latest Podcast: Putting Depression In Its Place
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Click here to listen to our latest podcast with Charlottesville, VA radio personality Pam Garrison who talks candidly about how she became her own advocate for diagnosing and managing her depression.
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We Want To Hear Your Story
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Speaking Candidly with Candace is always seeking guests who would like to share their story in order to help others struggling with mental health. Click here to apply to be a guest on our show.
Benefits of Being A Guest
It is a way to own your success and to help others. It is also an excellent opportunity to promote your brand or business depending on the episode.
If you are considering hosting a podcast or need to prepare for media interviews, speaking as a guest can help you conquer your own fear of public speaking while safely test the waters
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