For someone, who does not suffer from depression and anxiety, it is very difficult to understand and deal with this chronic disease.

Mental illness itself is insidious. It creeps and coils around your mind like a python, squeezing the air out of its victim, family and friends, leaving destruction in its wake.

It's exhausting for everyone as well, including the person who is dealing with mental illness. You also never know who is afflicted with this disease and some people think it is just a mind over matter scenario.

For me, it is a daily battle. Unseen and shielded away, but no less a struggle to make sure that I keep it together.

For some of you, these thoughts and feelings come as a surprise. Yes! I am a man of faith. Yes! I enjoy laughing and creating. Yes! I enjoy my job and helping others. Yes! I love my family and friends with all my heart. But.....there is always another side of the coin.

The 1st half of this book deals with the thorns of going through this period of time. I write to help others understand what I am going through is the same as them and that there is help. Help from family, friends and the medical community. You are not alone. None of us are alone! Just ask for help.

absurd

Translucently exposed
Oh, how the horny toad hops
Eating flies and hunting crow
Why don't you pretend you'll stop
When the water boils
She'll bury you deep in the soil
Hoping that beyond the words
You will be wide awake to the urge
That you need to dig your way back up
To the esplanade of the absurd.

What is next? How do we move forward? For me, it is a lifelong journey of therapy, medication and support from my family and friends. But it is also living every day to the fullest and finding gratitude in our many blessings. Even though sometimes it seems that blessings are hard to find.

It is also very important not to harbor anger or disappointment towards anyone or anything in your past. Forgiveness is the pathway to peace. Peace with yourself, peace with others, peace with God, peace with losing a job, etc. Forgive anything that blocks you from enjoying your life.

I hope this book will provide you with the insight that we can grow and heal, no matter what. We can become whatever we dream we can become, as long as we are willing to work for it.

forward

Never give up
Never fade away
Hopelessness is not eternal
Let the cleansing rains wash the lingering shame
Into distant memory without blame

Raise up your arms
Learn humility from the dismissed
Hold away the judgments
From the marginalized
Look into the eyes of strangers
With kindness and compassion
Recognize your actions
In all the lives we touch; be brave.