I know this girl. This woman, actually. My heart breaks for her. The things she’s told me—they make me want to throw up. I question how she has made it so far in this life. How strong she must be. The life she’s been given, it’s incredibly sad. It’s painful. And it’s really unbelievable.
Can you imagine questioning every single thing you’ve done for the past 23 years? Seriously, every single thing? Every thought you’ve had, every decision you’ve made, every word you’ve said? She questions herself about them. Over and over and over. She panics about what the consequences could possibly be and if she or her family will be the one in a million that they happen to. She worries day and night (because unless she’s heavily medicated she can’t sleep) about her family, her children, her husband, her parents. How awful it’s been for them. How unfair. How they didn’t ask for this life. For this mom, for this daughter. How they deserve so much more.
Yet her main job is to care for these people. She loves them so deeply, so intensely, and wants nothing but the absolute best for them. As she’s going through her day-to-day, their day-to-day, she wonders: Why didn’t they sleep well? Is something wrong? Why is she so tired? So quiet? Did I cook the meat long enough? Did I wash the fruit enough? Are they getting enough nutrition? Is she drinking too much milk? Is she lonely? Why am I her best friend? I’m afraid if I have a bad thought, it will come true. Did I turn the flat-iron off? I’m not sure – better turn the car around and go check. Are there heavy metals in this? What about the fragrance in this detergent? I saw on the news it could be dangerous. Yuck, don’t touch that, it’s germy. This dressing room/bathroom is sending me into a full-blown panic attack. When we’re at the doctor’s office, don’t touch anything. Don’t get too close to people. I’ll have them use hand-sanitizer when we leave. Is the dog okay? What was that bump in the road? Did I just hit someone? Did I just hit an animal? I didn’t see anything. Did I make sure they know I love them all in case I never see them again? Do they really, really know how much I love them?
She feels constant guilt about past choices and constant fear about present ones.
She prays to God and her guardian angels several times a day, giving thanks and asking for protection. She’s afraid if she doesn’t do it right, if she is not devoting all her attention to the prayers, they won’t be answered. She’s afraid that any decision she makes may result in God punishing her or her family.
She feels excruciating guilt because she knows she is blessed with so much. She has a wonderful family, a supportive husband, and two amazing, beautiful, wonderful, and healthy children. They have a roof over their heads and food in their tummies. She has talent and people who care about her. And, still, she is depressed. That depression, it never goes away, it’s always lurking there somewhere and she feels so badly because she feels she is taking everything for granted and that everyone, including God, will believe her to be ungrateful. She’s not. She’s extraordinarily thankful, more so than she could ever put into words, but, honestly, she knows she’s not fully enjoying her life. She knows that, if she’s telling the truth, she can’t. She physically can’t.
But she carries on. She puts on a smile the best that she can, even when she’s terrified to get out of bed. She drives to the school, the park, the playdates, and involves herself as much as she can. She plays with her kids, tries her best to make them feel special, and makes sure to spend special times with both of them. She plans family vacations and makes sure the family sits together for dinner every night. She constantly reminds them how special they are as people and how special they are to her.
There are days that she is convinced everyone in her life would be better off without her. She rationalizes that, if she were to just go, just rid her loved ones of this, of her, their lives would be so much better, so much easier. Her husband and children wouldn’t have to see her scared, panicked, frightened, sad, tired, or worried. They wouldn’t have to live with this shadow over their lives as well. She feels like it would be like when a very sick loved one passes on—there’s a sigh of relief, and the family members can go back to living, to not being worried all the time, to not having such negativity and difficulty in their lives. She sees that this could be the answer because she loves those beings so very much. And she wants nothing more than their happiness.
This woman, she’s gone through this torture, this absolute hell on earth for 23 years. On top of all that, she’s been told by multiple professionals that she will never get better, that this is as good as it’s ever going to get. She’s been through years and years of medications, counseling, and treatments of various kinds. Very intense measures have been taken to save her life because, at one point, she was so overtaken by this beast that there was thought she wouldn’t make it out.
She did.
Still, she’s not free. Every day, no matter how incredibly happy she wants to be, or actually may be feeling (no matter how fleeting), or how wonderfully everything is going, there is a dark, dark shadow over it. She can never fully be present because her mind never slows down, never shuts itself off. It’s always in the past or in the future and she misses out on so much because of it.
Yet she continues. She fights the fight.
This woman suffers from lifelong, chronic Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
She’s humiliated, embarrassed, and incredibly shamed that she lives with these illnesses. These titles. This stigma. She lets very few people in and tells almost no one of her struggles. You should feel very honored should she choose to share them with you.
I know all of this, all of her pain, all of her stories, all of her struggles, because this woman, this warrior, is me.
Sheri Schooley is a sarcastic, witty, self-deprecating, (almost) middle-aged, hilarious wife to a hot hubs and mother of two incredibly amazing daughters. She enjoys spending time with her family, as well as making people laugh. She currently resides in the way-too-hot State of Florida and is phenomenal at complaining about it. Sheri expresses herself best through the written word and hopes that you’ll be able to connect with her through her stories of relationships, parenting, and neuroses. Some of Sheri’s recent work can be seen on Tribe magazine, Parent.co, and BLUNTmoms.com. She can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mommyopoly, on Twitter @mommyopoly, and on her blog at www.mommyopoly.com.
Desiree White
You put into words exactly who I am and what I deal with on a daily basis. So hard to see it written into words. I know I need to see it, read it and feel it. It’s part of the healing process.
Sheri Schooley
Desiree, thank you so much for sharing that. I started writing about my struggles in hopes to help others, while helping myself. To read this piece again was terrifying and so sad, but it helps so much to be honest about the cards I was dealt and to be reminded that I am not alone. You, Desiree, you are not alone. We are strong, strong people who can find comfort in each other. Keep fighting the fight. We can not let our demons beat us. Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to comment. You help me know that in this pain there is hope and help. XOXO Sheri Schooley
Helen Beller
Thank you for sharing your story with us. Please know you are not alone. And thank you for letting others know they are not alone. Your article made me cry and I appreciate your honesty. May you one day find solace from your illness.
Sheri Schooley
Thank you for taking the time to read and comment! It has been eye-opening and therapeutic to learn how many other people suffer as I do. I write about these difficult things because so many people suffer alone and in silence thinking they are the only ones. They’re not. And, like you, I hope we all find comfort from these beasts. Thank you again! XOXO Sheri Schooley
Violet
I only continue living because I believe that taking my life will result in being forced to reincarnate and come back to live another life and “learn lessons”, as I’ve read. I am alone. Totally alone. I lost my family at age 20. My parents met in a mental hospital. My husband left me because I cannot have children. I married him because he has a large, close family, which I desperately wanted. That hasn’t changed. Not being able to have children has just been the icing on the cake of a life chock full of abuse of the most unspeakable kind, loss, constant depression, desperate fear…..I could go on but there is no point. I remember begging god for death at age 12. My best friend was my Chihuahua. He was all I had and he passed away 3 years ago. I just don’t know what to do. There is not a single living being on Earth that loves me.
Sheri Schooley
Violet, you listen to me and you listen to me now: YOUR LIFE IS WORTH SOMETHING!! YOU are worth something!! You were put on this earth for a purpose and I PROMISE you it was not solely to live a life of misery. You have experienced unspeakable things, things that would break anyone, but, you, Violet, you are strong. You are strong even when you feel weak. You are stronger than you realize. You are a warrior.
We don’t have to understand everything that happens in life, but we have to believe it is part of a greater purpose. My heart hurts for you that you feel the way you do. I know you feel hopeless, helpless, scared, and in pain. I know those very feelings. Many of us do. YOU ARE NOT ALONE, VIOLET.
I also lost my beloved best canine friend a few years ago and it hurt more than I ever imagined it would. I still cry often when I think of her. But your furbaby does not want you to hurt – he didn’t want you to hurt when he was physically with you and he doesn’t want you to hurt while he is in heaven (and he is STILL with you.)
Violet, I promise you that you are not alone. People may have made choices to leave you – perhaps your husband left because he did not possess the strength that you have to love unconditionally. You may have been dealt the worst cards in the deck, but YOU ARE SPECIAL. And you are not alone in this life. Many of us suffer alongside you, and I, personally, wish you only the best.
You are not your illness, you are not your past, you are not your infertility. Do not let these things define you.
I believe there is someone for everyone and it looks like you are yet to find them – there is hope in that. Perhaps you can’t biologically have children, but that doesn’t mean you won’t someday be an amazing stepmom/”Big Sister”/mentor/auntie to someone. You have much to offer this world and the first big step for you is to realize that.
Violet, I hope you now consider me a “friend”. In a world where you have felt desperate loneliness, please recognize that you are not alone. So many of us can relate to your struggles and so many of us want to help you. YOU ARE LOVED. XOXO Sheri Schooley
Violet
Dear Sheri,
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave your beautiful message. I appreciate it more than you will ever know. I will continue to read your posts; just knowing there is someone out there is a happy thought. Thank you so very much . Xoxo
Sheri Schooley
<3
Sheri Schooley
That was supposed to be a heart…it obviously didn’t translate well!! LOL