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Anatomy of a Nervous Breakdown

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What is a "Nervous Breakdown"?

"Nervous Breakdown" is a term which is no longer used by the medical community, but it is a great way to describe how it FEELS. I know because I've been there. Your doctor may refer to it as "situational depression" or "anxiety disorder". Others may call it "burn-out".

Whatever label you use, a breakdown is not something to take lightly. And, it does not mean that someone just needs a little break to rest. It is a serious situation. Here are some of my own insights into recognizing when you or someone you know is heading down that road, along with suggestions for how to get back on the healthy one. Its a long, uncomfortable trip down and one you will definitely want to avoid. But if you do find yourself there, take heart, you can come back. Read on!

The drawing you see here is one I created as I thought about what those who read this may most need to hear.

For those of you who are reading this and can identify, know you are not alone.

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...glad to be able to help so many people...

I never expected this information to be so popular. It seems to show just how many people have been affected by depression, anxiety and a "breakdown." Could it be the economic situation in the US? Could it be our culture's way of pushing ourselves so hard and expecting so much? Is it a hypersensitive "worry gene" or our upbringing? Is it human nature? Or, is it a little of everything? These are things to think about.

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Table of Contents

Click on any of the titles below to go directly to it.

  1. This Page Has Been Given a Purple Star
  2. WOW!
  3. Defining Nervous Breakdown
  4. Another's Definition of a Nervous Breakdown
  5. My Wish For You
  6. What to Watch for in Terms of Symptoms
  7. Do You Really Want This?
  8. Or, How About This!?
  9. What Can Cause a Breakdown?
  10. Feeling Out of Balance?
  11. How to Know if You Are Heading for a Breakdown
  12. Pause
  13. The Dangers of Chronic Stress
  14. Rock like a Heart
  15. You May be Under More Stress Than Your Boss
  16. Sometimes It's the Little Things...
  17. Recognizing & Coping With Stress at Work
  18. One of Many Notes My Wonderful Husband Wrote For Me
  19. How to Help Yourself
  20. Take Care of Yourself
  21. Some Self-Help Tips
  22. Willpower
  23. The Rule of Three
  24. You Are Never Locked Down Without Options
  25. Cognitive Behavior Therapy
  26. You May Feel All Alone
  27. 10 Bad (Ineffective) Thinking Habits
  28. What is your personal experience with burnout or nervous breakdown?
  29. Are You Feeling Suidical?
  30. Nature as Healer
  31. Books to Help You Deal With Stress
  32. The Highly Sensitive Person
  33. A Few More Helpful Books For You
  34. Look for Beauty in the Shadows
  35. Helping Others
  36. Being Nice: the pros & cons
  37. Love This Lens?
  38. One More Way to be Helpful
  39. Disability Insurance
  40. Creating Calm
  41. Reducing Stress: Get a Pet
  42. A Feel-good Memory: The Northern Lights
  43. The Northern Lights in Motion
  44. Well-Known People Who Have Had a "Nervous Breakdown"
  45. Just for Fun
  46. Quotes
  47. A light at the end of the tunnel
  48. There is hope
  49. Be Well
  50. Your Job Now
  51. Avoiding a Nervous Breakdown: a supplement to Anatomy of a Nervous Breakdown
  52. A Little About Me
  53. What I'm Reading Right Now
  54. Reader Feedback

Defining Nervous Breakdown

...in my own words...

After having been through it myself, here is how--in my own words--I would define a "nervous breakdown":

A seemingly sudden loss of ability to cope with everyday life. A sense of complete collapse of inner strength and drive. This is usually preceded by months of unrelenting, unmonitored stress in more than one area of one's life and results in the inability to regain strength and composure with the normal few hours or days of rest. Recovery usually requires removal from the stressful event or situation, long-term rest, counseling in coping abilities and, possibly, medication.

Another's Definition of a Nervous Breakdown

A Good Summary From a Non-profit Agency Called "Helpguide"

From Helpguide:
"Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed and unable to meet constant demands. As the stress continues, you begin to lose the interest or motivation that led you to take on a certain role in the first place. Burnout reduces your productivity and saps your energy, leaving you feeling increasingly helpless, hopeless, cynical, and resentful. Eventually, you may feel like you have nothing more to give."

About Helpguide:
"Helpguide was launched in 1999, following the suicide of Robert and Jeanne Segal's daughter, Morgan. We believe that Morgan's tragedy could have been avoided if she had access to well-written professional information that gave her a sense of hope and direction."
Helpguide: Click Here to Visit the Website
"A guide to recognizing, preventing, and recovering from burnout. Covers common warning signs, symptoms, causes, and coping tips."

This is an excellent and comprehensive article on burnout from Helpguide, including links to several other informative articles, as well. It will help you understand the signs, symptoms, stages, and prevention of stress and burnout and is written by experts in the field.

My Wish For You

What to Watch for in Terms of Symptoms

From My Personal Experience

Pay attention and watch out for signs. Here are some of the things you may experience as you near a "crash", so to speak. Maybe it can help you to recognize your own signs and stop it in its tracks before it goes too far. Try and catch it early!

Remember, when you are in the middle of it, you don't necessarily recognize it for what it is. If people start asking you what is wrong or saying you just don't seem like your usual self, pay attention.
  • Difficulty focusing on things.
  • When shifting from one thing to another, getting disoriented and forgetting what you are doing.
  • Feeling angry and irritable much of the time.
  • No longer wanting to go out for those get-togethers with co-workers. Spending more time by yourself.
  • Being frequently late for work. Finding yourself behind and stressing yourself out further by hurrying.
  • You may stop finding joy in anything. Oh, you may still laugh at times, but, somehow nothing at all really interests you.
  • Trouble with sleep: getting to sleep, staying asleep and difficulty getting up in the morning.
  • Being frequently sick and having headaches.
  • Finally, a version of what happened to me may happen to you: One day you may go to work and feel extremely depressed. You may not be able to pull yourself out of it. You might feel panicky and and become almost non-functional and try to find a "safe" place. You may not be able to stop crying. At this point you could be placed on an 2 to 8-week medical leave. You may crash so suddenly that it takes you by surprise. Don't you want to avoid this?

Do You Really Want This?

This?

Or, How About This!?

What Can Cause a Breakdown?

My Personal Experience

When you are on the way to a breakdown, you tend to not to recognize it. Because you are so immersed in the experience, you are not necessarily thinking rationally, but, because it can develop over years, you do have time to catch it if you pause and pay attention. To show you how it can build up, here is a summary of my experience.

No one thing on its own would have been too much for me, but the glass can get too full too quickly and stay that way for too long. What is stressful for me might not necessarily be so for you. Think about how things are accumulating for you and change the things that can be changed.
  • MAJOR MOVE: I moved from the Northwest to the Northeast--a pretty big change in culture. I went from a very laid-back environment to an intense and fast-paced one and, yet, I had not anticipated a problem with it. Investigate these sorts of changes before you make them and be realistic about your expectations and have a plan.
  • LOSS OF JOB: I think this is one of the more difficult things for us all to deal with. It is such a major part of our perceived identity. So many of us go through it and, yet, we feel lost and alone. Its best to get back up on your feet as quickly as you can. Stay active.
  • CHANGE IN LIVING SITUATION: After living alone for many years out west, when I moved east I married and moved into a home with extended family. I did not realize how hard it would be and did not prepare myself for the change. Know your limits.
  • STRESSFUL WORK ENVIRONMENT: Not only was my career itself inherently stressful, but the specific situation was, as well. I did not have the autonomy I was used to in previous jobs. In addition, I had a long drive. I tried, perhaps too hard, to be good, to please. The lesson here is to take care of yourself first and don't put up with a situation that is not working well for you.
  • NO OPPORTUNITY FOR A BREAK: I spent long hours during holidays at work and was not able to take breaks when I needed them. It would have been a good idea to get myself out of such a stressful work environment or, at least, insist on much-needed breaks.
  • DEATH OF A CLOSE RELATIVE: I spent 5 days and nights with my father by his bedside while he lay in a coma. I tried to do too much on my own. I felt honored to be there for him and thought I would have a very spiritual response to his death, but I was a mess. The lesson here was: don't try to do it all alone. Accept help.
  • NO LET-UP: Of course, there were other stressors in there as well, some big, some small, but it was really the constant presence of stress that did me in, as well as the feeling of lack of control at work. My body was constantly pushing out stress hormones and did not have time to fully recover. Finally, my system just shut down.

Feeling Out of Balance?

Warning: this might make you feel dizzy...

...but isn't it how you feel sometimes? The message here is to keep yourself balanced for smooth sailing. When you start to feel the scales tip, stop and even things out again. You will be glad you did.

How to Know if You Are Heading for a Breakdown

Checklists & Questionnaires from Experts

Sometimes these brief questionnaires can give us a bit of insight into our mindset. Try these and see if they help you to shed some light on your situation.
Burnout Quiz
From the UK, here is a short questionnaire to help you determine your vulnerability to a breakdown. Unrelieved work stress can lead to burnout. Take this quiz and see if you're in danger of burning out.
Interactive stress quiz for instant health risk results!
Fun & easy interactive stress quiz for instant health risk results! You may have seen this before. It is an easy, interactive stress quiz. This popular test will give you an estimate of the level of stress you are under and relate that to the chances of a resulting illness, accident or burn-out.

Pause

Breath

Take time to pause periodically, settle in, calm your mind and body. Tell yourself, "Everything is going to be OK."

The Dangers of Chronic Stress

& The Connection to Breakdown

It seems that one of the key factors--and maybe even THE key factor--that will trigger a breakdown is on-going, chronic stress. Read on for new research on the effects of chronic stress.
Chronic stress may increase anxiety - WebMD
A new study shows that chronic stress may increase anxiety. This article, on WebMD, about a new study on the effects of chronic stress, offers proof that long-term, chronic stress creates more anxiety and does more damage than short-term stress. Hmmmmm...watch out for on-going stress that does not let up.
Discovery Health ... "Chronic Stress Can Significantly Damage Health"
Wow, reading this made me really think twice about allowing stressful situations to affect me. Learn how chronic stress can significantly damage health at Discovery Health, where endocrinologist Dr. Stafford Lightman talks about how chronic stress can significantly damage your health.

Rock like a Heart

Found on the shore of a lovely, quiet lake in New Hampshire.

You May be Under More Stress Than Your Boss

Aired on the BBC July of 2011

Here is a link to an excellent radio program from the BBC on stress. It not only reports the findings of new research, but shares ways in which we can help ourselves. Here is a quote from the introduction:

"Bosses at work may be under pressure - but does the stress drive them to an early grave? The Whitehall Study has followed UK Civil Servants for more than four decades, showing that other workers are more at risk. Professor Sir Michael Marmot from University College London found that those in lower-status jobs - who have less control over any pressures, were dying younger."
BBC - BBC World Service Programmes - Health Check, 13/07/2011
"Stress: why are some people better at coping with life's ups and downs than others?"

Sometimes It's the Little Things...

...That bring us the most Joy

Pay attention to the little things. Keep your eyes and mind open to what's around you and find wonder in the smallest of things. Let it become a habit by noticing something new every day. You must balance out all the little negative things with lots of little positive things. It can really help your state of mind and increase your creativity, too.

Recognizing & Coping With Stress at Work

One of The Main Sources of Stress in Our Lives

Dysfunctional Organizations: Dysfunctional Leadership = Dysfunctional Management | Dysfunctional Workplace Politics, White Paper by Med Jones
This article can help you determine if your work environment is dysfunctional and a source of some or all of your stress."The Politics of Failure: Symptoms of Dysfunctional Organizations and Dysfunctional Leadership. Watch out for the warning signs of bad leadership and workplace politics" - White Paper by Med Jones, IIM
Discovery Health "Stress In the Workplace"
"Stress in the workplace can impact health and happiness. Learn how to manage stress in the workplace at Discovery Health."

This is a good article from Discovery Health about what makes a job too stressful. My favorite line is "...too much responsibility and too little authority...", because I think that is a huge source of stress for many people on the job. This interesting article also offers suggestions for how to change the situation--from taking part in adjusting your written job description to taking it to the courts.
Job burnout: Spotting it and taking action - MayoClinic.com
Job burnout can have dire consequences. Read this article from the Mayo Clinic to help you understand the signs and know when to take action.
Stress on the Job
A great article from the Cleveland Clinic.

One of Many Notes My Wonderful Husband Wrote For Me

How to Help Yourself

My Personal Experience

Here is a list of what has worked for me.
  • Know yourself: your limits, your particular stressors, what you can handle and can't. Don't fool yourself. (Sometimes, though, we learn the hard way, don't we?)
  • Find a healthy outlet for stress. Exercise is a very good one. Get yourself out there in the world. See friends. Go for a walk. Even if you don't want to. Force yourself.
  • Take time every day to create some calm in your life. Meditate. Try Yoga.
  • Be familiar with your childhood fears. When irrational fears come to your head, talk to them as an adult with a rational response. Write it down.
  • If you can keep a short diary every day, it will help you to see, on paper, what is causing you the most stress and how long it has been going on - shedding a little light of reality on the situation.
  • When you find that a certain situation is causing you constant, unrelenting stress, find a way to get out of the situation or to minimize it somehow.
  • If you need help, get it. Its not worth holding out and thinking you can do it all by yourself. If the kind of help you are getting or the person who is helping you is not right for you, find someone else. Don't give up. Don't let money be an obstacle. Try local medical clinics, social service organizations, support groups, churches.....
  • If friends and family offer you help, take it. That is what we are here for - to help each other through this life.
  • It takes time to recover, but you WILL recover. You may need to sleep A LOT. Get yourself out in the world as much as you can. Be patient and gentle with yourself.
  • Consider helping other people. Studies show that this increases your own sense of well-being. Even if it is as simple as holding the door for someone and smiling, its a good start.

Take Care of Yourself

Just like this butterfly drawing nectar from the flower...

...feed yourself, nuture yourself.

Some Self-Help Tips

I just ran across this great short article in Prevention Magazine and feel the ideas presented here for strengthening your willpower are very useful for keeping yourself mentally healthy and avoiding a breakdown. Even following just one of the 6 suggestions could make a difference. Why not start with one and once you have that well in place, add in the others step by step.
Strengthen Self Control: 6 Simple Strategies | Prevention.com
The information presented has been adapted from the book Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by the psychologist Dr. Roy F. Baumeister and the New York Times journalist John Tierney.

You will find a link to the book below.

Willpower

Here is a link to the book mentioned above.
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The Rule of Three

From the Marines: Functioning Effectively Under Stress

The US Marine Corps bases it's operations on what is called the "rule of three". They have learned that in order to function effectively in stressful situations, each person should focus on no more than 3 things. This discipline is something that may work for you if you are overwhelmed, under stress and trying to avoid an emotional breakdown.
Article in Inc. Magazine
This article in Inc. magazine, titled "Corp Values", talks about using ideas from the Marine Corp to improve businesses. One of the principles discussed is the Rule of Three. "The functional version of the rule dictates that a person should limit his or her attention to three tasks or goals. When applied to strategizing, the rule prescribes boiling a world of infinite possibilities down to three alternative courses of action. Anything more, and a marine can become overextended and confused. The marines experimented with a rule of four and found that effectiveness plummeted."

Interesting, huh?

You Are Never Locked Down Without Options

There is always someone or something that can help you to make a change. You can find the key.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy

It's all about how you look at things.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy was extremely helpful to me in my recovery. It helps you to think of things in a different, more realistic way. The Mayo Clinic describes it this way: "By helping you become aware of inaccurate or negative thinking, cognitive behavioral therapy allows you to view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way......It can be a very effective tool to help anyone learn how to better manage stressful life situations.

Here is some more information on it.
Academy of Cognitive Therapy
This is a a link to the website of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, a group which provides support and information to professionals and educates the public. From this site, you can learn about cognitive therapy, find out how to become certified as a cognitive therapist, receive additional training, or find a therapist who specializes in Cognitive Behavior Therapy.
Anxiety Disorder Clinic
This page from the University of Houston offers a very good explanation of Cognitive Behavior Therapy and how it can help you.

You May Feel All Alone

Just Like This Mussel Shell Washed Up Onto a Big Rock

You may FEEL alone, but you aren't and you don't have to feel that way. Notice others who are having a similar problem. Pay attention to those who want to help. Acknowledge your connection to everyone and everything.

10 Bad (Ineffective) Thinking Habits

a Squidoo lens by Jaktraks

It Matters How You Think
This Squidoo lens by Jaktraks, who is a licensed counselor, about 10 Bad (Ineffective) Thinking Habits is great. Check it out for help in understanding how you might want to change your thought process to help you avoid stress.

What is your personal experience with burnout or nervous breakdown?

Loading poll. Please Wait...

Are You Feeling Suidical?

Stop & get immediate help!

If you are feeling like you want to just leave this world rather than continue to try and cope, please follow these links and get help immediately.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK
National suicide prevention lifeline: Suicide hotline, 24/7 free and confidential, 132 crisis centers nationwide 1-800-273-TALK.
Suicide Prevention, Suicide Awareness, Suicide Support
A message from Suicide.org: "If you or someone you know is in immediate danger because of thoughts of suicide, please call 911 now. If you are not in the US, please call your local emergency number. There is help for you. Stay on the phone with the operator and wait for help to arrive. Do not hesitate to call. Your life is extremely valuable, and people care about you. Please reach out for help. Never act on your thoughts of suicide. Never."
Click on this link for help and for numbers you can call.

Nature as Healer

Nature can be very calming and healing. Try finding places or images of nature that give you a sense of peace. It's a healthy way to help yourself relax and recover. These lovely and colorful little flowers are called Gomphrena. They were grown by my best friend from high school and her husband. Long-time friends are a wonderful gift, too!

Books to Help You Deal With Stress

These books are valuable tools to help you manage the stress in your life.
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The Highly Sensitive Person

One of My Favorite Books (see above)

Here is a link to the author's website. Check it out.
The Highly Sensitive Person--click here to visit the website
Elaine Aron, author of The Highly Sensitive Person, created this website to help you understand more about her studies. She includes a self test list where you can see if you fit in to this group which makes up 15 to 20% of the population. Her reference to being highly sensitive is about being very aware, intuitive and highly reactive to stimulation of any kind: light, sound, crowds, etc. . . . .

I have included her first book in the section above.

A Few More Helpful Books For You

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Look for Beauty in the Shadows

Even in the darkest of times there is beauty. Seek it out. I took this photo on a cold and rainy winter night in the parking lot of a large mall. Standing under the trees along the edge of the lot and looking up at their branches to see them bathed in light from the security lamps against the black sky was surprisingly beautiful.

Helping Others

The Power of Kindness

Helping others increases your own sense of well-being.
The Power of Kindness
Visit this lens on the power of kindness for some inspiration on helping others.

Being Nice: the pros & cons

Is being too nice causing stress for you?

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One More Way to be Helpful

Make a donation to a non-proift organization

Helping others has been proven to be good for, not only the recipients, but those who do the helping, as well. One way to help is to become involved by making a financial donation to an institution which is making a difference in the lives of others. Here is one suggestion for a reputable non-profit organization that offers a valuable service. You can make a donation directly through this site right now, if you wish. Or, find something that motivates and inspires you and offer your support there.

Since 1971, Inner-City Scholarship Fund has invested in the education of more than 116,000 students who live in some of the poorest neighborhoods. Today, 99% of our high school seniors graduate and of these 95% go on to college.

Disability Insurance

Just in Case...

If the company you work for offers disabilty insurance, TAKE IT. If not, read this advice on finding some for yourself. Get help before you go over the edge. Believe me, it will be worth it. Time and money lost will be greater than you think if you don't nip it in the bud. And, having protection like disability insurance can be a huge help if you should get to the point where you need to take a leave from work.
Disability Insurance
A good summary and recommendations from Met Life on what to look for in disabilty insurance.

Creating Calm

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Reducing Stress: Get a Pet

Research shows that animals help us to reduce stress.

Discovery Health
Stress reduction through pets---Click the link above and learn how furry friends like dogs and cats can add to your well-being.

A Feel-good Memory: The Northern Lights

Have you ever seen them? Aren't they amazing?

I have seen the Northern Lights, or Aurora-borealis, several times, all in upper Michigan. Years ago, I saw a night sky full of white airy lights flowing and dancing above Mackinac Island, not just at the horizon like they usually are, but filling the night sky. I was with a friend on the boardwalk along the lake. We were mesmerized. That is my go-to, feel-good memory when I need to think of something pleasant. Find your own memory or image to take you on a sort of mini-break in your mind.

Here are some beautiful aurora borealis photos from Greenland by Nick Russill on Flickr. Thanks, Nick!

Northern Lights, Greenland by nick_russill
Northern Lights, Kulusuk by nick_russill
Heavenly Shape 1 by nick_russill
Heavenly Shape2 by nick_russill
Northen Lights (Aurora Borealis) by nick_russill
curated content from Flickr

The Northern Lights in Motion

presented by National Geographic

Amazing Northern Lights Time Lapse
by NationalGeographic | video info

6,625 ratings | 1,577,397 views
curated content from YouTube

Well-Known People Who Have Had a "Nervous Breakdown"

  • Charlie Chaplin
  • Walt Disney
  • William James
  • Annie Lennox
  • Abraham Lincoln
  • Sir Isaac Newton
  • Sylvia Plath
  • David Selznik
  • Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky
  • Brian Wilson
  • Virginia Woolf

Just for Fun

Can't you just hear it in your head right now?

19th Nervous Breakdown
Lyrics for the Rolling Stones song and comments on it from the band.

Quotes

"One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important."
~ Bertrand Russell

"It's unthinkable not to love - you'd have a severe nervous breakdown."
~ Lawrence Durrell

"A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings."
~ Earl Wilson

"Failed in business at age 31. Defeated for the legislature at 32. Again failed in business at 34. Sweetheart died at 35. Had a nervous breakdown at 36. Defeated in election at 38. Defeated for Congress at 43. Defeated for Congress at 46. Defeated for Congress at 48. Defeated for Senate at 55. Defeated for Vice President at 56. Defeated for Senate at 58. Elected President at age 60. This man was Abraham Lincoln."
~ Unknown

A light at the end of the tunnel

Whoops!!

Someone made a very good point in the comments section at the end. I took this photo on the Conway scenic railway in New Hampshire while sitting at the back of the train. Rather than the light at the end of the tunnel, you might have an encounter with, of course, a train. I hadn't even thought about the slip I made. We already feel like we have been hit by a train, don't we?! I'm leaving this photo here, however, to make fun of myself and the whole idea......

There is hope

Don't Give Up!

Take care of yourself, get help, see the beauty in little things.

I believe we are all pieces of a larger puzzle; that we are each a part of the whole brilliant pattern. I look at the sky at night and see the stars spread out. It doesn't make me feel small. I feel large. I am in awe at my ability to see these stars, to sense my body in its place and I feel a part of everything. This has helped me. Perhaps that thought can help you too.

P1010007 by enbris
P1010019 by enbris
P1000091 by enbris
P1010655 by enbris
A Thing of Beauty ... by Koshyk
1/3/12 by Scott's Scenes
automatically generated by Flickr

Be Well

You are not alone.

If you are going through this kind of experience yourself, you are not alone and you are not weak. It is a human experience.

After the storm of it all is over, you will know yourself at a deeper level. This is good. You will know your limits. You will know when to let go of something that is not in your best interest. Decide to use this experience to strengthen yourself, not to live in fear of what "may happen" in the future, but rejoicing in yourself, your strengths and your newfound knowledge of who you are in the world of choice.

Your Job Now

Reality Check

If you are heading for a breakdown or already there, your only "job" now should be taking care of yourself. And, I mean taking care of yourself in a healthy way. No indulging in sugars, alcohol or whatever else you think might make you feel better. Your job is to get yourself functional and healthy again. No fibbing to yourself, no justifying. Get help, if you need it, but take GOOD care of yourself. It's up to you!

Avoiding a Nervous Breakdown: a supplement to Anatomy of a Nervous Breakdown

A Little About Me

You will find that I am presenting this article anonymously as I am concerned about negative conclusions that could be made by any potential employer or acquaintance who happens to read it. But, I will tell you a bit about myself so that you can get a sense for what kind of person I am.

My education is in the fine arts and I have a Master of Arts degree. Due to a very high IQ I am a member of Mensa, the international high IQ group. Some of my various jobs throughout life have included: university instructor, community education teacher, floral designer and fundraiser for a university, a visual arts center and a large performing arts center. I grew up in a small, tight-knit town and am the eldest of 3 siblings. Marriage happened later in life for me and I have 2 step children and grandchildren, but I was not able to have my own.

I am happy with my life and thankful every day for everything.
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What I'm Reading Right Now

The Happiness Project

I have just started reading this book and want to share it with you all. I can see already that it will be very helpful for people who want to create a more balanced and happy life for themselves. It is written by a woman who decided to dedicate a year's worth of time to gradually make seemingly small changes in her life in order to more completely enjoy her life, her family her friends and her work. Check it out.
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Reader Feedback

I hope this has been helpful to you. Please feel free to add your comments here.

I am currently working on another page as a supplement to this one. It will be titled "Avoiding a Nervous Breakdown". Please come back again to check it out.

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