06/06/2026
When I was younger, I was diagnosed as being ADD but never medicated because I “just wasn’t bad enough”. I had a traumatic childhood, grew up in the Deep South as the only girl in a family of boys and all the expectations therein, never really fit in anywhere, and had to learn to mask early. I preferred my books to people, and making friends has always been challenging.
I got married a few weeks shy of my 20th birthday, too early and too young. I divorced with a one year old in tow. I then proceeded to work, go to school, struggle to make ends meet, raise a baby, and found myself pregnant again. That’s when I first encountered someone with bipolar disorder and began to recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness or poor mental health within myself and my family.
It was only after getting a master’s in human services/marriage and family therapy, and learning different techniques and tools, that I identified that I’d already been creating coping skills and using them, no matter how poorly.
I continued to live with dysfunctional family, trying to raise my kids and run a nonprofit. I studied hypnosis, NLP, various techniques, put a name to my behaviors (stimming, anyone? How about tics?) and realized there might be more to me than meets the eye.
But how did I feel? What did I carry? Where was I when I realized I needed help? I was stressed to the point of illness. I carried the burden of raising my kids by myself and always put them first. Then came a series of panic attacks that mimicked heart attacks and I landed in the ER a couple times. That’s when I got the wake up call: “Who takes care of you?” The doctor asked. “No one.” “Then who will be around to take care of your children?” “No one. - But isn’t it selfish to take care of myself? My kids come first.” “Isn’t it selfish to ignore yourself and leave your kids behind? How are they going to know mommy loves them if you’re not here to tell them?”
The person who we serve *might be* stressed, overwhelmed, not coping well, and the day-to-day is wearing away at them, beginning to take a physical toll on their bodies (not to mention their souls and minds). They already have coping skills they’ve created and used. Now it’s time to learn some different techniques and build skills to add to their toolbox. They’re ready to give up, or their bodies are forcing them to stop. They feel like they’re drowning, waiting for the next shoe to drop, the next demand, the next crisis. They’re at their wits’ end and they either have to ask for help or they’ll hit rock bottom (sorry for the metaphors!). They’re probably in parenting groups, maybe in Moms living with ADHD/Autism, Moms Uncensored, etc. They read parenting books, books on autism, books on organization, scheduling their families. They read research into neurobiology/neuroscience. They may even read books on breath, relaxation, and think, “That’s never going to work for me.”
If this sounds like you and you want to add to your coping skills toolbox, give us a call or text now: 505.913.7160
If you’d like to have a more in-depth discussion, text the number above or email us at [email protected]
