9/29/18 #SameHere Hero: Alexandra

Today’s #SameHere Hero: Alexandra.
 
What’s so important abt this story is it shows the direct connection that something as common as divorce at a young age can have w trauma & loss. Bc we don’t have anyone on our Advocate Alliance focuses specifically on divorce/relationships, we’d like to welcome Alexandra as our newest member !
 
“I was always an extremely positive & optimistic person, & generally very mentally healthy. And then, because of trauma & loss, my world was turned upside down. I was in a very unhealthy marriage & experienced divorce at a young age. This divorce resulted in me losing my husband, my house, all my money, family & friends. I was also dealing w an extremely stressful work environment & coping with the addiction of a close family member.
 
The trauma & loss I experienced from these events pulled me into a deep situational depression that lasted for over a yr. I couldn’t get out of bed some days, found myself crying at work even when I wasn’t sad, shut out friends & family, isolated myself, lost a tremendous amount of weight, felt hopeless, worthless, & like I would never feel better again. I began experiencing suicidal thoughts &, on more than one occasion, considered suicide an option to end my pain.
 
When I realized I couldn’t cope on my own, I knew it was time to seek help. Therapy has been, & continues to be, my savior. It was pivotal to my healing.
 
I have also found tremendous solace in yoga, spending time in nature, making time for friends, journaling, writing & blogging. Another huge help was connecting with other ppl who lived a similar experience as myself, which was divorce, specifically at a young age. This helped me not feel so alone in my suffering.
 
Almost everyone I’ve told my #SameHere story to has been incredibly supportive. I was surprised & touched by the immense amount of support. It sounds cliche, but it can get better. Healing is possible.”