{"id":1646,"date":"2009-03-10T16:22:37","date_gmt":"2009-03-10T16:22:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/beyondblue\/2009\/03\/pats-story-of-hope.html"},"modified":"2009-03-10T16:22:37","modified_gmt":"2009-03-10T16:22:37","slug":"pats-story-of-hope","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beyondblue\/2009\/03\/pats-story-of-hope.html","title":{"rendered":"Pat’s Story of Hope"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/em>
\nA 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!
\nI 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.
\nI’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.
\nTo read more Beyond Blue, go to http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/beyond_blue<\/a>, and to get to Group Beyond Blue, a support group at Beliefnet Community, click here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

To subscribe to “Beyond Blue” click here.<\/a><\/p>\n

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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. 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