MESSENGER - Evangelical Mennonite Conference

PHOTO: DESIGNPICS.COM
This is why we are
part of a Christian
community!
by Cheryl Braun
My physician had been telling me for years
that I had bipolar disorder, but it was not
until November 2007 that it was officially
diagnosed.
I was in a deep depression. I would go to bed with
my kids at 8 p.m. and sometimes sooner.
I was trying to get through each day, counting the
minutes and seconds until I could go to bed.
During that time, I received news that my best
friend had been diagnosed with a cancerous brain
tumour. It was devastating!
Undiagnosed
I had dealt with depression for many years, not
knowing what it was. Having three children in three
years and having endometriosis with pain each month
was a lot to handle.
I had dealt with depression for
many years, not knowing what
it was. Having three children in
three years and having endome-
triosis with pain each month
was a lot to handle.
A doctor put me on anti-depressants after my
second child, which seemed to help somewhat.
When I became pregnant with our third child, I was
devastated, thinking the medication would cause birth
defects, but our baby was born healthy.
Because of endometriosis and my being on pain
medication, it was recommended I have a hysterectomy.
When my baby was seven months old, I had surgery
that put me out of commission for two months.
I was constantly thinking, “You made the wrong
decision. You’re going to get breast cancer. You cannot
have any more children.’’ I thought about my funeral
and all I wanted to do was sleep.
My children had to come to my bed when they
needed anything. I would get what they needed and go
back to bed.
(continued p. 14)
THE MESSENGER | July 2011 13