Hi ,
World Mental Health Day is coming on October 10.
This year, its message is about hearing the voices of people with lived experience. I am one of those people.
I have spoken openly about the years when I was suicidal and spent time in psychiatric hospitals.
I was diagnosed first with severe major depressive disorder and later with schizoaffective disorder, depressive type.
My case was considered chronic and hopeless. I was told I would never heal.
For a long time, the mountain ahead of me was hidden in fog. Still, one day followed another.
With care and support, much hard work, consistent effort, and God's grace, I kept climbing.
Today I am free and well. I even thrive.
That is why I am writing Recover Your Sparkle, the book I first wanted to write more than 50 years ago. I want to offer hope to someone who cannot yet see a way forward.
And one small practice I return to is Pause. Reset. Respond.
Pause. Notice what is pressing on you. Is it the need to please everyone, keep achieving, or get everything right? Naming the pressure can help you see what you are carrying.
Reset. Give yourself a moment of care. Breathe, rest, reach for support, or try a gentle exercise that helps you feel steadier. If you would like to explore Self-Havening, here is a video to begin with.
Respond. Ask what your next true step is. Perhaps you need to speak with someone, seek professional care, set a boundary, or do one small thing that matters today. You do not have to climb the whole mountain this morning.
My story is my own; your path may look different. But I know how it feels when hope seems out of reach, and I want you to hear this from someone who has been there:
It's never too late. Don't give up hope. You, too, can recover your sparkle.
You can learn more about the book and its message here.
With Love and Light
Dr. Christine
P.S. You are not behind. You may simply need a trail marker. ✨
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