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50
Ontario Canada
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When were you at your weakest: Since 1980, my life has always seem to be a financial struggle, no matter what I did. In 2001, this struggle became extreme and after so many years of stress, I just couldn't take it any more. I cried a lot and I seemed to be in one continuous anxiety spiral. This was unlike anything I had ever experienced and I just couldn't take it. I wanted to kill myself so bad, despite having a young son. This was all I could think of, even though I couldn't do it or even attempt it. I weathered that storm, and things became a little more tolerable, still a struggle, but more tolerable.
When were you at your strongest: My strongest time was when my husband finally got a job. It was four hours away and he had gone ahead to start his new placement while I stayed back and started to pack. Hubby would call me at night and one night he sounded sick. He told me he was getting the flu or something and that his walking became very slow. He also mentioned a "boil" he had on his upper chest that started oozing through his clothes. He wouldn't go to a doctor despite me insisting. The day of our move, hubby traveled the distance to come and get me and our 6 year old son. He got out of the car and I could tell he was very ill. I looked at his boil and was shocked. I was black, clearly not a boil. He wouldn't go to the hospital until our landlord saw it and told him to.
Hours later he called to say he had emergency surgery for gangrene and would be staying overnight in the hospital.
The infection was so severe the hospital didn't want to release him the next day despite the movers sitting, waiting for him to show. After many calls, the hospital agreed only if he checked in to the hospital where we were moving to. Hubby followed orders and called later to say they had him on heavy duty penicillins and that he now had a very large hold in his upper chest from flesh that was removed.. He was released later that night but would have nurses coming over daily. My refridgerator became cold storage for numerous intravenous bags and other drugs along with cases of gauze and other medical stuff.
As if this wasn't enough, all the boxes from our move were sitting piled up and unpacked. Hubby became a patient laying on the couch with an almost continuous intravenous drip. A couple days later, my son came down with the flu and passed it on to me. I was so very sick but I couldn't lay in bed, I had two others that needed tending to and boxes to unpack. I had strength and stamina I never knew I had. I was basically working round the clock despite being sick myself. The report came back on my husband saying he was suffering from a Brown Recluse spider bite and that he would have been dead in only a few hours if he had not gone to the hospital. It would be 2 months before hubby was well enough to go back to work.
How are you feeling now: Things have changed a little for the better. Though I still have times of stress, life is more tolerable. Now I feel things will be turning around and that it will be our time to flourish.
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37
Chicago, Illinois
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When were you at your weakest: I have experienced the same weak moment twice in my lifetime! My first born son was born 7 weeks premature and had to be put on a respirator to help him breaath! I was only 22 years old at the time and seeing him in the NICU with all those tubes inserted into various parts of his tiny body just made me so sad for him, and so angry with God for putting us both in that situation! I did not know how I would make it through those 4 weeks he was hospitalized but with my family's help and support....we made it fine and today he is almost 15 years old with no major medical problems. When my second son was also born 7 weeks prematurely in 2004, I thought for sure God must've been angry with me for allowing this to happen yet again! He did not have breathing difficulities like his older sibling but he was diagnosed with a heart murmur and a very tiny hole in his heart. He also stayed in the NICU for almost 3 weeks before he was released home. After many trips to the cardiologist, and one surgery later, he is now a healthy 6 year old 1st grader and is very, very smart. I have since then decided this was my last child because I don't think I would have the strength to handle that again.
When were you at your strongest: When I was 19 years old I was living with my first love and his parents far from my family when he became abusive verbally towards me. Even at such a young age I was smart enough and strong enough to remove myself from that situation before it could become physical. I refused to let a man ever put his hands on me!! I walked for over 2 hours to a landmark my parents would know, without any money, called my parents to pick me up and never, ever returned!! Needless to say, my mother was never more proud of me as she was then. She has since passed. God Bless her beautiful soul!
How are you feeling now: Today, I feel I am stronger, wiser, and more well-rounded because of my past experiances in life! You have to be ready for whatever life has to throw at you, good or bad, take it all in, and come out the other side a better person!!
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43
Sverige
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When were you at your weakest: När min mamma dog-94
When were you at your strongest: När jag äntligen kom över min f.d make förra året
How are you feeling now: Ensam, men rik med härliga vänner och en underbar dotter.
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46
Sydney, Australia
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When were you at your weakest: A couple of times. When I miscarried my first baby in December 1995 and in 1998 when my eldest son was burnt with a cup of tea - my cup of tea, he was 15 months old. Since 1995 I have suffered with bouts of depression & feelings of death being my only way of escaping my darkest hours. I am also married to a control freak who has put me down, frequently & made me feel like a waste of space.
When were you at your strongest: Before I got married. Being single & carefree with a large group of friends. I felt nothing could hold me back, the world was there for me to explore.
How are you feeling now: Tired, I am tired of being made to feel useless & unloved by my husband, I'm his 2nd wife & have always felt like I was his 2nd choice. My kids keep me going, I look at their (2) faces & I know they need me. I love my kids & they love me too, they keep me strong.
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46
bourne
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When were you at your weakest: Being abused by ex
When were you at your strongest: Taking care of parents
How are you feeling now: Ready for change
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23
India
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When were you at your weakest: When the person I was with for over 3 and a half years, the first love of my life, and who I had assumed would be companion for life, said he "didn't want to do this" anymore and that he had come to realise that he did not love me. This was a week before one of the most important tests (academic) in my life and he had known all along how important it was to me to be mentally strong to do well in it.
When were you at your strongest: The moment when I realised, that in spite of a break up I hadn't seen coming and not doing as well as I'd hoped to do in a test, I could still be happy only because I'd promised myself I wouldn't let anything drag me down. Realising how lucky I am to have really close friends who saw me through hell and back also made me feel really strong inside.
How are you feeling now: Really good! I had a dance workout at the gym this morning so am feeling on top of the world! =D
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44
Toowoomba
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When were you at your weakest: breakup of a relationship
When were you at your strongest: couple of months after breakup of a relationship
How are you feeling now: Strong, confident, ready to take on the world
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36
America
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When were you at your weakest: When my father died. Never felt so weak, because not only did I lose my daddy, but now I had to step up and run everything, and take care of everything, and this was after I'd had a huge wake-up call after having lost someone else, and having become much closer to my dad, truly realizing how precious and short life is when it comes to those you love. No siblings, small family, I had to take care of everything, inlcuding the financial, medical, and emotional care of my mother, while also trying to maintain my own life. By myself, completely. It's beem almost a year, and I still haven't really been able to mourn my father's death. I'm afraid of what might happen if it finally fully hits me full force. It hits in little bits at a time, and maybe that's how it will always be, for the better...
When were you at your strongest: My 27th year was when I grew the most, spiritually and emotionally. After ending a relationship that wasn't exactly healthy, I was able to fully go within, spend time as I wanted it, and live freely and without someone controlling me or judging me. I was able to forgive myself for failures or mistakes, and forgive others who hurt me in the past. What I found was a deeply spiritual person full of love for all of life around her. I felt like I could do anything, even change the world. I learned to truly love myself for the first time, and I became more connected spiritually, and to all of life than I ever had before. I was able to truly love from the soul and live my life that way.
How are you feeling now: Somewhere in between my stongest and weakest. Maybe a little numb...I know the strength and love is there, but with all that's going on in my life personally and in the world in general, I'm just maintaining and trying not to fall into a million pieces. I can't crumble, because my mom needs me, and after that, well, I have to be strong for me...
I do thank God for the few close friends I have, including one very special person who's like a brother to me and came into my life just over a year ago. He has saved my life just in being there and opening up his soul to me and letting me do the same, he means more to me than I could ever express. He gives me strength.
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60
Miami, Florida, USA.
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When were you at your weakest: When I, even being a professional, was unemployed. Being mother of 3 and grand mother of 2, was alone. Had once my own house, and was homeless...
When were you at your strongest: When, 20 years ago, I left my stablished life and decided to run after my dreams while I still had the stamina. Never felt so energized !!
How are you feeling now: In transition, between the" post fallen bitterness" and the "golden distance" the 60s puts between you and your passions...
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20
Blacksburg, Virginia
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When were you at your weakest: I was cutting my wrists because the blood running down my arm quieted the demons in my mind and in my heart for a little while.
When were you at your strongest: I held my father's hand as we buried his father and he became an orphan for the rest of his life.
How are you feeling now: I feel tired but I feel together and whole for the first time in a long time.
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