After visiting her parents while in crisis, Candace contacted her family doctor and immediately received the support she needed.
Transcript
So as soon we were in, once I got back to here, home, from staying with my parents for a little bit, we went into sort of like crisis mode where I got an appointment with my family doctor and was very open and told the entire story. She was amazing and completely understood what I was talking about and got me connected with a social worker. And then I … So we called in all the reinforcements, basically, is what we call it, so family doctor, public health nurse, and then I started looking for other moms that I could speak with.
So on the professional side, it was excellent. I was met with open arms for helping me. So I started to see the counsellor. She saw me every week for about two months and did CBT-style therapy with me. She helped a lot with lowering my anxiety, as well as, to help with the mood. And then I was … I’m on medication and the medication was hoped to help to stabilize mood, as well, and to help with the anxiety. So we were sort of coming at it from all angles.
Interviewer: Was it a relief to tell people how you were feeling?
Oh my goodness, yes. It’s the best thing I could have ever done was to share, to truly share what was going on, to not try to sugar coat it with just saying, “Yes, you know, it’s a bit of a struggle.” To finally say, “I’m really struggling and here’s what I’m struggling with.” And I’ve never been met with anything but understanding, whether that’s personal understanding or just someone that can empathize and comprehend how, yes, that some women do experience these issues. And I … My husband and I both have said that this is probably one of the best and worst things that’s ever happened to our family.
Interviewer: How so?
Yes. I know.
Interviewer: What has the up side been? If I can …
The up side? Yes, there has been a large upside. There … So far, in our relationship there’s never been anything as hard to overcome but to also pull us together in the sense that this is not just a “me” problem. This is a family problem. So even though I’m the one, you know, that’s having these struggles, it affects our entire family. And so, we came together, and he has been very supportive of any extra help I need. Yes.
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