Whenever I Fall

My dog’s name is Dez. He is a rescue dog, and when I adopted him he had a broken front leg that had healed on it’s own. His other front leg is bow-legged. When he lies down, the negative space between his paws makes a heart. He walks and runs just fine, and the vet said he probably won’t need surgery. He is a happy little pup!

When I adopted Dez, I was a week away from my worst depression ever. That was four years ago, and in the month of November, when I was having suicidal ideation. My second worst depression was in an October, three years ago, and I ended up resigning my position as a teacher at a time when my mood was very low. So as I head into fall, I am focusing on self care, as this seems to be a difficult time for me. I am on different medications now, and they seem to be working very well over the last few years, so I am trying to enjoy this fall but still remain vigilant and watch for signs of mood swings. Bipolar really does require daily maintenance.

The loved one in my life who was homeless went into a walk in emergency clinic because he had poison ivy. He was telling the doctor his tale of woe, and it was quite apparent that he was in need of mental health care, so they arranged for him to stay at a mental health facility. He has been taking his medication as prescribed, and has entered a ninety day rehab program. I am hopeful that he is on the road to recovery that has lasting change.

Work is still stressful, so I am spending my weekend relaxing in my back yard, enjoying the garden with my husband and Dez. I am so fortunate to have supportive friends, family, and a happy pup to spend my time with.

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3 responses to “Whenever I Fall”

  1. Great post. Of course, any post about a good dog is a great post! Where would we be without our rescue dogs? They are gifts to us every day. I find it hard to stay bummed when I come home from a hard day when the tail wagging and jumping for joy is so very energetic. It is about impossible to let my tail keep a-dragging when their tails are a-wagging!

    My current two rescues are Jackson, whom I picked up about 8 years ago, and Rascal, an unsold puppy I brought home in early July. These are rescues numbers 8 and 9 for me. Jackson was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in early August, and will likely not last until Christmas. It will be a tough passing for me; Jackson has been about the best of them all. He is a kind of therapy dog who comes by his therapeutic skills naturally. Not sure I would have friends if I did not have him.

    Every dog is a tragedy waiting to happen, but I still want to provide a home to the unloved animals. I am glad you have done the same, and even more glad that Dez is such a great support to you. Congrats!

    As always, I appreciate the blend of honesty, integrity, and straight talk in your posts. That mix makes your writing both believable and encouraging. Blessings to the three of you this weekend!

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  2. Jackson and Rascal sound like super amazing dogs, I am glad they provide so much happiness for you. I am sorry to hear of Jackson’s diagnosis, I know it will break your heart to say good bye. Thank you as always for taking the time to read and comment, and especially for sharing about the special rescues in your life.

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  3. Yay to a weekend relaxing, dogs, and supportive folks. May the rest ahead, too, sustain through the hubbub.

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About Me
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I’m Alicia, the creator and author behind this blog. I’m an artist living with bipolar disorder. I write because it soothes my soul.

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