Checkpoint

I think it’s important to take a step back every once in a while and look back on the progress you have made, so let’s do that with my mental health journey this week.

I’m coming up on the sixth anniversary of my diabetes and generalized anxiety disorder diagnoses, and that absolutely blows my mind. It still simultaneously feels like that time of my life was both a lifetime ago and just a few weeks ago. It almost feels like I blinked and all of a sudden I’m in my twenties. However, that’s obviously not true. I’ve done a ton of work to get to where I am today, and I deserve to be proud of it. I’ll come back to my diagnoses in April when the anniversary comes around, so keep an eye out for that.

This summer will be the third year I spend talking to my therapist, and also the third year I’ve been taking medication for my anxiety. I used to be opposed to taking meds—if you’ve been around for a while, you might remember the post where I dug deeper on that—but now I am so grateful I decided to try it, and it turned out to be the right choice for me and my journey. On the topic of my anxiety, I’ve gotten better at leaning on my past experience when dealing with triggers, too. My driving anxiety isn’t gone by any means, however I can’t deny how great it feels to pull up to a redlight (specifically one that, for some reason, triggered me more than any other) and be able to talk, sing along to the radio, or just generally relax. It’s incredible what you can do when you don’t constantly feel like you’re going to pass out and/or have a panic attack.

Next, let’s talk about work. I’ve been applying for new jobs lately, and have had an interview in the last week. I won’t go into a lot of detail here, but the current work environment I’m in is incredibly toxic and not doing my mental/emotional health any favors. On the positive side, this job has helped me grow in many ways. I’ve stood up for myself and coworkers, voiced my opinions when I saw something that didn’t seem right, and grown more into my personality. I’ve made great friends at this job, and while I’ll have the inside jokes and funny stories forever, it’s time to move on. Wish me luck!

Lastly, I’ve had to remind myself a few times that two pieces of my writing have been published online. I love this blog, but it’s different when someone outside of yourself recognizes your work and validates it. It’s always been my dream to be a writer, and I cannot believe this is my niche, or that people can relate to it.

So, thank you. Thank you for hanging out here or on social media, or on The Mighty. I wish I could put my gratitude into words.

Take some time this week to look back on your own journey, and give yourself some credit for how far you’ve come. I’m proud of you.

—Abbie