My Podcast Interview

I listened to this podcast right after I woke up this morning. 

I've been so nervous ever since Tamara asked to interview me right after General Conference. The interview was via Zoom back on October 14th. 

I'm so grateful it wasn't a disaster! That means God was totally involved. So, yay!! 

I'm also grateful to have this small summary of my journey--since my book isn't nearly as easy to get through. Writing is still so hard for me and I'm still such a beginner. 

I've been listening to her book on Audible and I'm seriously so impressed with Tamara's talent--with that and with the podcast. 

I'm really grateful that she reached out to me, so that I could meet her. 

I've gone back to listen to several of her podcasts, and I always feel uplifted. It's a great resource during these COVID-19 times and also as we head into the gray days of winter. 

I hope there will be something helpful in what I say, if you choose to listen to it. 

• Here is the information she sent me this morning:

Your interview is LIVE and will be listened to by the Stories of Hope in Hard Times audience today! That is pretty sweet considering you rocked the interview! 

I will be sharing your podcast on all of my social media accounts—Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Your podcast information will also go out in my newsletter today. 

Thank you for sharing such an amazing story of hope! 

Click this link to listen to your podcast and see your show notes and transcript on my website. 

You can also find it on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuGdoLgmpls 

You can also listen to your show on other podcasting apps and websites: iTunes or Podcasts, Stitcher, Podbean, Soundcloud, YouTube, iHeartRadio, and even at https://resiliencetalk.airtime.pro/#. 

Have an awesome day and enjoy sharing your story of hope! 

Tamara 

Part 4: Seek Learning by Study and Prayer

            Our daughter graduated from high school at the end of May 2015. Shortly after graduation, she asked me to attend a tour of Utah Valley University with her. That would have normally been out of my comfort zone, but I had been visiting women for almost 21 months and those regular visits helped me deal with new situations much easier. I enjoyed going on the tour with her and took lots of pictures of all the things that caught my attention – the hall of flags, the fountain in the commons, the geometric art hanging from the library and science building ceilings, and the pendulum in the Pope Science building, etc. As we were walking down the long hall in the Liberal Arts building, the tour guide was pointing out how most class sizes are kept small at UVU. As we looked into one of the math classrooms, I suddenly had a strong prompting that I needed to go back to college. What?! That had never been on my radar. However, I knew better than to argue with those distinctive feelings that God sent me occasionally.

            I went home and addressed an envelope to request my high school transcript from Longmont High in Colorado. I also addressed two more envelopes to request my college transcripts from Weber State University (Fall 1990) and BYU (Fall 1992). Since Weber State was on the quarter system back then, I was only able to transfer 4.66 credits from the two classes I took there, but they filled the requirements for history and health. I was only able to transfer three credits from one of the four classes I took there, but it filled the requirements for human development. At the next appointment with my psychologist, I told him about my anxiety over taking the Accuplacer test for math and English. It had been over 25 years since I had taken a class in either subject and I think my ACT score was only a 21. He opened his drawer, pulled out a yellow #2 pencil, handed it to me, and said, “I want you to drive down the hill and take that test right now.” I looked at him in shock, but I could tell he was serious. So I took the pencil and followed his counsel. I ended up being placed in Math 990 (which is two classes away from the math class that counts for credit) and English 1010. After that, I paid the $25 registration fee, was assigned a student number, and made an appointment with an academic advisor in the behavioral science department. I was actually going to do this!

Chapter 8: Living Productively with Mental Illness

            I have struggled with depression, some obsessive-compulsive tendencies, and anxiety (especially in social situations) for most of my life. My clinical diagnosis is Bipolar II Disorder, which is less severe than Bipolar I. It includes depressive episodes, alternating with some mild euphoric episodes called hypomania, along with some periods of relatively stable mood. Depression, whether it’s a from a chemical imbalance or a response to difficult situations, affects every aspect of a person’s life. I often felt like I was figuratively slogging through the mud in a thick fog. It negatively affects the way I feel about myself, my relationships with others, and my connection to God. It distorts my thinking, drains my energy, and shatters my hope. It is so much deeper than a case of the blues and a person can’t just “pull up their bootstraps” or “snap out of it” as some people erroneously believe.

            At several times in my life, I have been desperate for some positive change, but I felt helpless to move forward. With the support of my family, I have worked with psychiatrists who have experience prescribing the right type, combination, and dosage of medication for a chemical imbalance. That process often requires careful observation and adjustments over time. I have simultaneously worked with several psychologists and therapists who have helped teach me tools and skills to cope better with my emotional struggles. That process sometimes requires patience to find a comfortable client-provider fit. A good therapist provides a safe environment to work through struggles with an effective balance of empathy and encouragement. Those two steps are very important, but they are usually just the beginning steps in the journey. They helped me start to climb out of the deep, dark pit that felt so real and all-encompassing and over the initial overwhelming hump. That part of recovery isn’t always well understood, but it is foundational to the process.

            I knew the medication was working within the first few days because I could start functioning again and I felt my real personality beginning to return over the following weeks.  Then I had to work very hard each day to continue to progress. In 2011, the Lord taught me how to change by focusing on one thing at a time – the scriptures use the terms “line upon line, precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 28:30) and “…continued from grace to grace…” (D&C 93:13). I needed to be willing to develop new habits, even if I didn't feel like it or think it was possible. Although it seemed completely counter-intuitive, I was finally able to push through the level of depression and anxiety that was debilitating to a more manageable level after practicing those habits for quite a while. During that time, I had to re-train my brain to think more clearly. I learned to think about my progress in terms of “small or something,” instead of “all or nothing.” I needed to work diligently to overcome my perfectionistic tendencies. It was important to learn how to be gentler with myself, especially when it appeared I had failed. Then I had to learn to rebound every time I fell. I try to never compare myself to others, but only to myself, to make sure I continue to progress as steadily as possible at my own pace. 

            One of the most important things I started doing was to walk to destinations all over town to give me a relatively safe way to practice leaving the house. I continued to spend time walking out in the sun—especially on gray days, when it was difficult to notice the sun. That helped the endorphins to start flowing. The fresh air (and vitamin D) also helps to keep my emotional perspective realistic. In addition, it was really important for me to listen to inspirational and upbeat music. (The songs that helped me the most are by my favorite inspirational singer, Hilary Weeks.)  Music with positive lyrics helps change my thinking more quickly when I get stuck in a figurative rut and it helps my thoughts to begin spiraling upward, instead of their natural tendency to spiral downward. The final missing link for me was people and I will discuss the importance of that in the next section of my journey.

            In addition to sincere prayer, I asked for priesthood blessings and they have strengthened me along the way. The Savior’s atonement has helped me during every step of this process. I was willing to do the difficult work, but His power made it all happen. My struggles with depression aren’t completely over, but my life is significantly different now than it was a decade ago when I was so depressed and anxious the majority of the time. I want to emphasize that my progress has been a balanced effort with many contributing factors, but the main factor is my willingness to keep moving my feet. I continued to take small steps in various areas of my life and gradually built more productive habits. I have made slow, but relatively steady, progress. There have been many challenges along the way and there will continue to be more in the future. However, I’m confident that as I continue to apply these principles, I won’t be defeated.