Author Archives: thehopeantidote

The Best Things are the Hard Things

The best things are the hard things…Or at least they usually are and they most definitely are when it comes to motherhood. Y’all, motherhood is Hard. In bold. With a capital H. There have been moments where I’ve thought, guiltily I might add, “Why/How do people do this?” And then of course my little girlContinue reading “The Best Things are the Hard Things”

When I Fell Apart

Just like anyone who’s ever lived, I’ve had my share of struggles. Most of mine, maybe all of mine, have fear at the root of them. It’s always been the thorn in my side and there have been periods of my life where fear and anxiety have lain dormant and other times where they’ve comeContinue reading “When I Fell Apart”

The Opposite of Who You Are

Intrusive thoughts. If you have struggled with an anxiety disorder of any kind, you know how torturous intrusive thoughts can be. They seemingly appear out of nowhere and, in your heightened state of anxiety, you fixate on them, even though you don’t want to, even though they’re bothersome, even though they frighten you. Out ofContinue reading “The Opposite of Who You Are”

Life Lately

It’s been a minute. And life has been a whirlwind. I’m a new mom! I wrote about my hesitancy to embark upon this massive life change here, and now that it’s happened, I’m still trying to catch my breath. Motherhood is…a lot of things. Part of me knew how difficult it would be, hence theContinue reading “Life Lately”

Confessions of a People Pleaser

I’m pretty in tune with what other people are feeling. I don’t really know how to explain it, but I can sense things about people. I don’t mean it to sound hokey or weird or like I’m some kind of psychic. It’s not like that. It’s more that I’m a sensitive person and I canContinue reading “Confessions of a People Pleaser”

Changed for the Better

“See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” – Isaiah 48:10 When I was in the thick of it, when my anxiety was at it’s very worst, when I felt tortured by my own thoughts, I could not see the light. I could not seeContinue reading “Changed for the Better”

Ecclesiastes

“I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless – like chasing the wind.” – Ecclesiastes 1:14 Before you start to get depressed and close your browser, hear me out. I never really understood the book of Ecclesiastes. Here it sits in the bible, right after Proverbs. Proverbs is practical,Continue reading “Ecclesiastes”

Morphing Anxiety & Labels

I’ve written about this before but I used to feel a lot of shame about being diagnosed with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder). Even though I was struggling, there was something about the official diagnosis that didn’t sit well with me. Then, when I finally got used to the idea of that diagnosis, it changed toContinue reading “Morphing Anxiety & Labels”

A Change is Coming

I met my husband when I was 12. We started dating when I was 17. I married him when I was 24. Our families are friends and we come from similar, almost identical, backgrounds of the same faith and values. We are financially stable and live in a house with plenty of rooms for anyContinue reading “A Change is Coming”