What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?

The wisest decision I made was kind of a group of decisions, but it all added up to me making changes and stepping back. As I’ve been over multiple times here, it was a rough year. A few months ago I became overwhelmed with responsibilities and stress, and as a result of everything we’d been through on top of everything weighing me down, I ended up quite depressed. This was no fun, and I knew some things needed to change.

I changed jobs. Working on an inpatient unit of the hospital was a big source of stress. Although I loved the unit and my coworkers, I was worn down on the hectic pace and irregular schedule. After much deliberation, I transferred to the outpatient infusion clinic. It’s still challenging, but in a different, calmer sort of way.

I said no. At the time, I was the main leader of our church’s youth group. I knew I needed to cut some things out, so I asked my husband and my brother-in-law if they would take a larger role in this, and they did. They’ve been amazing, and now I am finally at a point where I can start being more involved again. Also, as my husband healed from his surgeries he was able to help out around the house more and I basically just allowed him to take care of me for awhile. I decided that chores could wait, and I tried to spend more time resting and relaxing.

I saw a nutritionist. Depression really affected me physically, and I was struggling with what to eat because my stomach seemed to hurt all the time. I had also recently stopped eating meat, so I knew I needed some advice. She was a huge help and after following some of her suggestions I immediately felt better. I believe I’m now also a healthier person overall.

I saw a therapist. I wasn’t afraid of asking for help, and seeing a counselor for a short period of time enabled me to break through some barriers and learn better coping skills. It was a stress reliever just to pour everything out to someone who understood, as well. It was good for my soul.

After a couple of months, I began to feel like myself again. It happened slowly, but I got there. I know these things are cyclical and I understand that I might very well encounter depression again at some point in my life. But at least then, I’ll know how to handle it.