17 Comments
User's avatar
AT Coffey's avatar

Thanks for such a well crafted and self aware examination of your current state of mind and life versus your previous condition. I totally resonate after 7 years of doing the same thing. My Social Security isn't very much at all, but it shows up the second Wednesday of each month without fail. I'm not as anxiety free as I would like to be, I'm much freer than I was.

Thanks again for sharing your struggle.

Expand full comment
Sarah DeVries's avatar

Thank you, Allen! Yes, being able to count on something makes all the difference in the world, right?

Expand full comment
AT Coffey's avatar

It really does. I thought for sooooooooooo long I wasn't going to make it to collect my pittance of Social Security, but when I got my first deposit in January I felt so much better.

I'm glad you've got some stability in your life now. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

Expand full comment
Roger Kenyon's avatar

So glad you have got a regular job. Good luck with that. I'm surviving on my UK pension, still on the same amount now for 17 years, but as I'm in Mexico, the Brits don't pay more than the original rate ! Though I had to pay like everyone else. What's causing the damage is the dollar peso exchange rate as it's now somewhere around 16 to the dollar, which it was in 2015/6. I'm sure that many who receive regular payments (and I do agree it's great to get payments regularly) are suffering the same way.

Still not that far away, but my pension doesn't cover travelling- just eating and medicines.

Well done anyway.

Expand full comment
Sarah DeVries's avatar

Oh yes, the dollar-peso exchange has been very painful. It's supposed to be back around 18 by the end of the year...I sure hope that's true!

Expand full comment
robert schlagal's avatar

An ADHD diagnosis helped clarify many things in my life up to that point, and the medication made it far easier to push my way through stuff that was both intolerably boring and stressful. Congratulations on all fronts.

Expand full comment
Sarah DeVries's avatar

Thank you, Robert! Yes, it's made a difference.

Expand full comment
Loretta Mitro's avatar

Sarah, cannot express how happy I am for you! That you have a steady job is such good news! I also have clinical depression (brain-related chemically) and have accepted the fact that I have to take meds for it every day for the rest of my life. I am now going through a rough time now in two countries with my houses. the one in CA I just bought because I want to be hear my aged 2 grandson got a water leak fron the condo above, and when the damage (bathroom) was accessed, mold, asbestos, and lead were found! It was discovered more than a month ago, right before I returned to Mexico, and only now, after may tests by different companies, are they ready to start the repairs. Of course, it is the responsibility of the owner above to pay; my insurance will not. In the meantime, a Small Claims Court case which I won ii Los Angeles is now being contested a month later by the defendant, which means I have to buy a round trip ticket back to CA much earlier than I had planned. Then there is the Mexico side, with the usual car damage (please be careful; most Mexicans don't have insurance). long power outages that ruin your frozen foods etc., etc. The Mexico problems have been mostly resolved, but the CA ones have me very stressed. Your story is an inspiration to me that there is light at the end of the tunnel. But life means that eventually there will be another tunnel, and hopefully next time it will be easier to navigate. I have been following you for a long time, and I know you are a very strong woman. I would be proud to have a daughter like you. I can feel the relief knowing you finally have stability in in your life. Don't make the mistake of looking back and thinking about "woulda, shoulda coulda". I did that for so long, it wasted many years, when I could have moved on. I wish the best for you in your new job; enjoy every moment of the feeling you have now. Loretta

Expand full comment
Sarah DeVries's avatar

Oh my goodness, that seems like a lot to have to deal with! I hope the neighbors above you solve the issue swiftly...it's hard dealing with things when they just haven't gone right (I myself had to call the internet company this morning and soon will have to call the health insurance company to straighten some things out...my day off is getting some good use, ha!).

Expand full comment
Richard L Anderson's avatar

Congrats on the job. That's fantastic!

Expand full comment
Noreen's avatar

Sorry, I meant Carthartic in my comment, not lethargic!

Expand full comment
Sarah DeVries's avatar

haha no worries, I got it!

Expand full comment
Noreen's avatar

I admire you for being so candid about your life’s struggles, and ‘coming out on the other side, a better person’! I am sure that writing about such personal things is very very lethargic. Thank you for sharing!

Expand full comment
Sarah DeVries's avatar

Thank you, Noreen!

Expand full comment
Annie Malia's avatar

Hi, Sarah! There are so many reasons to celebrate your new life. Agreed, having a steady and reliable income means everything. Benefits are important, too. They can help enable you to ease health struggles and gain peace of mind. Since you now have all that your life isn’t clouded over by worry about every little thing becoming worse and harder or impossible to deal with. Being diagnosed finally with major depression suddenly made my life make sense to me. What a relief! I’m glad to see it’s happening for you, too. I couldn’t be happier for you and haven’t stopped smiling since I read your article. Take care and enjoy everything!

Expand full comment
Sarah DeVries's avatar

Oh, thank you, Annie! Sometimes the trick is to just be able to say “oooooh, THAT was it??” 😂

Expand full comment
Annie Malia's avatar

I found it amazing that identifying and treating only one thing would have such an enormous impact on the big picture. I’m thankful every day for that. Best of luck to you!

Expand full comment