Today marks a year since we lost our daughter Sloane at 8 months due to an umbilical cord issue. I vented here and you all were absolutely amazing. I’m extremely grateful.
This last year has been hard. Really hard. In some delusion, I thought the men must be strong and stoic. That anything else showed weakness. So I bottled everything and kept everything I was feeling inside. Friends and family started to notice I was off. Antidepressants didn’t work. Hell, they probably made it worse. I was spiraling. Panic attacks so bad I couldn’t be in crowds. It was hard to get out of bed. Then I had a dear friend go to the web and bear his soul and tell of the horrors he faced as a child. So, I figure if he can do it so can I.
I started opening my soul. Instant relief. I’m trying to be an open book. That delusion of “men must be strong and stoic” is just that, a delusion. I pushed family and friends away for 18 months. I missed a lot, but am finally ready to catch up. If any of you all are going through tough times, DM me. There is strength in numbers. I’ll listen and share my story. I’ve learned that if I help just one person, my struggle will have been worth it. If you all would send some T&P for the wife and I today, we would be eternally grateful.