Fear Part 2

I could probably write about a dozen blog entries to explain how I reached rock bottom in August of 1995. Just about everything you can imagine that would stress an individual to the max occurred between my Dad's death and my first trip to a psychiatrist. Joan and I got married. We bankrupted my Dad's business for a number of reasons. Mom and I started our own business which eventually swallowed up all of my savings. Joan and I began trying to have a baby with very little luck. In fact our first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage.

My break down happened at our office. Joan and my mom knew something was wrong but neither one knew how dark things were becoming inside. I couldn't sleep nights. I threw up what very little food I was eating. At the beginning of that summer I drank at night to self-medicate. By the this time I couldn't even do that. My emotions were absolutely out of control.

That afternoon I told my mother that if I had to continue living the way I was then I was going to kill myself. Neither one of us knew what to do. Her first inclination was to take me to see our priest, Father Henry.

Most Episcopal churches have a small prayer chapel that stays open 24 hours a day. Since I was an out-of-control emotional mess mom led me there while she went to find Henry. I still remember looking up at a crucifix and thinking why the hell won't you do something? Do you want me to die?

The strange thing is that after Henry had sat and listened to me for a few minutes he asked what I was afraid of. I can still hear the words rolling off my tongue like it was yesterday. "Henry, I'm afraid of dying like my daddy."

Within the hour I was sitting in a psychiatrist's office finally getting the help I needed. While Joan, my Mom, and Father Henry sat in the waiting room I listened to this guy read out of a few of the many tomes neatly shelved about the room. What was inside of my brain at the moment was the antithesis of this guy's organization skills. After wading through the gobble-de-gook I realized he was describing my condition to a tee. A severe depression brought on by Panic Anxiety Disorder.

He prescribed an anti-depressant, Zoloft, and Klonopin, an anti-seizure/muscle relaxant "to take the edge off" until the Zoloft kicked in. I also began counseling to deal with the nitty gritty, the core of my desire to off myself: fear.

My journey of the past 13 years has been long and arduous at times. A lot of work has been invested to keep me from getting so easily knocked down by the big white elephant that still remains in a room close by. During the last year that our business was failing I became so agoraphobic that I wouldn't leave the house.

Looking back I can see what a gift it was to lose our business given these economic times. As I admitted yesterday I have my worries but neither me, my Mom, or Joan no longer have to worry about the livelihoods of 40 to 50 employees. I love my job which has been part of the healing process. And then there's Ben - the biggest reason why my joy for life returned. If Jessie was the engine that revved my heart back to normal then Ben is the throttle that sent it rolling back down the highway.

I still take my meds. I still enjoy visiting the planet Klonopin via the Effexor Express these days. I'd like to think my summer camp visit to Hell back in '95 was not just an experience in suffering. There was a purpose and in the end I was saved. Due to the love of my famaily and a friend I finally had hope which had been lost. And with the discovery of hope my faith was restored.

Despite the conditions in which all of us are living these days, please do not give up your hope - nor your love and faith in your family, friends, and God.
______________________________________________________________
Ironically I found this article last night that discusses a corelation between depression and creative individuals. It's interesting to get to know my fellow artists and crafters because nearly all of them have had a moment in time like the one I experienced. Maybe not to the same depth but it still happened.