Navigating anxiety, depression, OCD, and food anxiety with my daughters.
1.7.24
Let me start by saying, I would NEVER want to relive my teenage years in present time. It is a tough! I grew up just when the internet itself was entering its teenage years. We had dial up internet and the only cell phone was the briefcase one in my Grandpa’s car. Our homes were still our safe place. That isn’t true for our kids these days. They are inundated with judgments from peers and strangers 24/7. Throw a pandemic in there and it is very clearly taking a toll on our young adults.
Marli was no exception. We completed the same process as we did with Evie. Neuropsychological testing, therapy, and psychiatry. She was diagnosed with OCD, generalized anxiety, and major depressive disorder. She went through three medications before we found the right one. We are still on the process of adjusting doses. She also has food anxiety (she was not fully diagnosed with an earring disorder) and we added a registered dietician to her treatment. It is a lot. And it is a lot of work. I’m happy to say though that I feel like she is finding her way. She is developing coping skills. She is learning to process what she feels. She is acknowledging that she needs help. These are all GINORMOUS things for a 15 year old.
As her mom it is my job to make sure she is equipped with the right tools to handle the world. One additional “rule” we follow for good mental health is not allowing screens in her bedroom. This has been HUGE in giving her a sanctuary from the outside world. She has a safe space that she is making her own teenage haven.
1.4.22
We continued our journey with additional neuropsychological testing today. Specifically for the autism spectrum. It’s pretty overwhelming. Two thoughts I have… one is it is mind blowing how much of all of disorders symptoms overlap and can be so easily misdiagnosed. And two… am I a good enough mom. The second seems ridiculous because I do know I’m a good mom. But as every mother can attest, when hit with obstacles our first thought is am I good enough to handle this.
12.28.22
Recently we had started the process of getting some diagnoses with Evie and completing neuropsychological testing.
As Evie’s mom, I knew since she was in my womb that she was special. However I also knew we’d have some struggles. Now that she is in 6th grade these “struggles” have started coming to a head.
As we sat in the waiting room at the Cognitive Behavior Institute with their diffuser going and music playing the song The Mother by Brandi Carlile came on. I had never heard it before. But I instantly new the chorus…
Quite literally because “I am the mother of Evangeline.” I knew the universe was telling me that we were on the right track. My eyes welled up and I embarrassed the crap out of Evie by singing the words to a song I never heard before in that waiting room.
This wasn’t the start of our journey with Evie, it began nearly 12 years ago. But this moment truly marked the beginning of feeling like we can start to better understand her.
Peace•Love•Linen 