As I said the other day, I think it's important to share stories of hope from my readers to give the ones who are stuck in darkness a little glimpse of the light. So here is an e-mail I just received from a reader named Pat. I hope it's the extra nudge maybe someone needs in order to pursue some form of treatment from depression and anxiety.
A few weeks ago I emailed you to let you know how watching your youtube videos gave me the courage to confront my own anxiety and depression. Well, I planned to go to get help, but I was afraid. I told my spiritual director, a 75 year old Jesuit, who said to me, "Come on, I'll go with you." And he did, to the outpatient clinc at St. Vincent's in Manahttan. Gotta love those Jesuits!
I didn't want to do it. I was really angry at myself for having to do it, and I was a bear when it came to the interview with the social worker. But I eventually got in to see a doctor, who started me off with anti-anxiety mediation. What a diference, I wish I had done something about this 20 years ago. I feel like a different person, I'm not afraid anymore, and I'm not ashamed of it. There used to be a stigma about this stuff, but I don't think it's there as much anymore. That's in big part, I think, to the work that you do. At least it's been that way for me.
I'm not perfect now, but I'm a lot better than I was. A lot. And I think it's affected my spiritual life. I am a broken person, I am not self-sufficient, I need help to live a better life. But that's ok, and it makes me realize how much I need God in my life. A priest firend said once that we are all like the bread that Jesus used at the Last Supper: broken, blessed and given. Thanks for helping me understand that a little bit more.
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