Good Morning, Friends. I’m writing this early, even before my little people have lifted their heads off the pillow. My neighbors’ roosters and chickens are having their morning chats. The crickets chirp quieter as the sun heads for the mountain tops. And I am awake with a purpose. This year challenged me in ways I didn’t know existed. And in the last 31 days, I’ve worked hard to calm my mind, calm my body, and repair the damage. And I’m going to share a challenge with you and I desperately hope you’ll join me. It will change your life, the way you think about your days, and will bring you a deeper sense of happiness. And it’s free. I’m not selling anything, but what I’m giving away is priceless.
On the outside, I’ve tried to make my life look nearly perfect. At least a few people see to have fallen for it. But here’s the real story. On the inside, we’ve had more hospital visits in the last 12 months than ever before. Last fall, my husband began to get sick. And then he got sicker. Midnight ER trips, frustrating visits with doctors who seemed baffled, and then a little blood test that came back off the charts for Celiac disease. I can’t tell you how grateful I am for that celiac diagnosis. The alternatives had me scared.
Unfortunately, even after his disease was controlled, my fear didn’t stop. In fact, it grew. Like someone had lit a match, fear and anxiety sparked and grew, ravaging me. I couldn’t eat. I began to lose weight. A lot of weight. My sleep was plagued with nightmares. During my waking hours, I couldn’t do anything. Each option held so much weight, so much danger, so I did nothing. Instead of doing the important things, I was convinced each day could be our last as a family, but instead of enjoying it, I feared it. This fear, this panic, turned quickly to depression, and then I didn’t even have the energy to tackle the problem.
After many doctors visits (too many to count), therapy sessions, and quite a few prescriptions for anti-anxiety medications (which made my panic worse) I could still barely function. In July, I broke. I hit my knees and begged my Heavenly Father for something, anything, that could ‘fix’ this. And He has answered my prayers, guiding me to books, podcasts, e-courses, my scriptures, prayer, and kind doctors and therapists who have given me very specific, very healing habits that have changed my fear to hope. For the first time in nearly twelve months, I feel like I am living.
I know not everyone suffers from panic and anxiety. But I do think everyone will benefit from these ideas. It has taken me 31 days to get to this point and I journaled all of it so I am going to share a 31 day step by step plan. I’ll be sharing tiny details that have made a big difference. Specific things like ‘donate that unfinished project’ and ‘write down a trait about yourself you love’ And I’m really hoping you will join me. Because really, who doesn’t want to be happier?
The Details – How To Join Us And Be Happier
Like I said before, this is a free 31 day program. Every few days here on the blog I’ll share upcoming prompts, detailed instructions on how I did them, and my results from each one. I’ll be posting daily on IG for the entire month of September, starting tomorrow (September 1st). I’ll be using the hashtag #31daystohappy and I really hope you’ll join me and share your thoughts & progress. These simple ideas make a huge difference. As a sewist, many of my prompts will center around fabric and sewing, but each one will adapt itself to your situation if this isn’t your cup of tea.
Most days, there will be a giveaway via instagram where I’ve put together fun things to offer from our shop and friends and bloggers are contributing things that will bring a bit of a smile to your face. To enter the giveaways, just use the tag #31daystohappy and the specific day tag #31daystohappyday1 (or 2, or 3, you get it, right?)
If you can’t commit to every day, check back and see if one of these ideas resonates. Each one of these meditation prompts made a difference in my anxiety levels.
Nothing I am sharing is a substitute for medical advice, but if you’ve been there, tried that, and it isn’t working for you, maybe this is an option. I can’t wait to get to know you better and hear your honest truth.
Thank you for reading!
Amanda
I am not a doctor and nothing I write here is a substitute for medical advice. If you are suffering from a medical condition, please seek help immediately. For my full disclaimer, please click here
Thank you for sharing this opportunity. I struggle with anxiety, worry, & restlessness. I’ve actually spent the last few weeks just trying to find calm, so this challenge sounds perfect! 🙂
Thank you for commenting, Catherine. This is by far the hardest thing I can imagine. I felt like my own mind had become a prison! Hopefully you’ll find a lot of calm in these little exercises!
Can’t wait to get to know you better!
Amanda
Looking forward to joining you Amanda. I am so fortunate not to suffer from anxiety but love several people who share your struggle. I hope to learn and share with them. ( Have I ever told you I have made and gifted your Hexie Pincushion 4 times already? You are always so generous with your patterns and projects)
Mary Ann, I can’t thank you enough for your kind words & support over the years. I feel like we should be friends in real life! I cannot tell you how much we appreciate you & think about you. Thank you for so much!
Amanda
Thank you for this Amanda, you’re very brave to be sharing. I look forward to following along?
Thank you, Sandee! I don’t feel brave, but I definitely feel like it’s necessary. It’s for me as much as anything! Thank you for joining me!
Amanda
You’re not alone. We all struggle with anxiety at some point. Back in 2012 I went to the hospital in a lot of pain, minutes later they rushed me into emergency surgery. I was terrified of hospitals and even more scared of surgery. A few days later I found out that they removed a tumor and I would need to remove the right hemisphere of my colon. I started having panic attacks after the second surgery, in the hospital, they put me on meds to keep me from having them. Long story short, I learned a lot during this process, about my past, about my present and future. I would like to think I’m stronger because of it all and I’m so thankful to know there was meds available that worked for me (I’m allergic to everything, whole other post ?). I’m glad you too have found something that works for you. Wishing you and yours the very best ?
Hi, Meagan,
Medication is such a blessing for so many! I have had pretty bad reactions and they actually trigger my attacks. I too have spent a great amount of time exploring my past, & present, and I’m slowly learning that if I mix that with faith I don’t have to worry so much about the future. 🙂 I hope that everything resolves itself in the very best way possible!!!
Hi, Meagan,
Medication is such a blessing for so many! I have had pretty bad reactions and they actually trigger my attacks. I too have spent a great amount of time exploring my past, & present, and I’m slowly learning that if I mix that with faith I don’t have to worry so much about the future. 🙂 I hope that everything resolves itself in the very best way possible!!!
Thank you Amanda. I’m with you, all the way. I just spent the day crying at my counselors office, so though our journys are different I’m looking forward to seing what has helped you. I know I am capable, but a little push is always nice. Thank you for sharing it your journey with us. With me. Sometimes things are not alright and just plain hard and we are not very good at accepting it and talking about it. I hope we can help each other truly find our joy.
Hi, JaNean,
Thank you so much for sharing. I have been there. Counselors can be so incredible and I think I may always allow myself the privilege of speaking to them. Meeting you was the highlight of my market. Thank you very much for taking the time to think of me. You are a godsend. Life is hard, but I really and truly believe we were created to feel joy. Remember, you are an angel! Thank you so much for everything!
Amanda
I’m so glad you’ve found help and answers. Good for you using th to help others. So many of us struggle with these things. I’m sure it will help many. I’m looking forward to it. xo
You are always an inspiration. Thank you for being one of my favorite people!
xo
Amanda
Thank you. I live in Australia but found this on a day when I questioned everything and just need to find happy. Would love to join you on this journey.
I have been there. I might find myself there again. But I’m pretty sure this is the road out, so if I ever get lost, this is going to be my roadmap! I promise you will be happy again. Persistance is half the battle! Hugs to you. Seriously, I wish I was there to wrap you in a huge hug. Life gets so much better.
xo
Amanda
Hey I love ya! Love you for sharing your world. Your story. Your help. I’ve had a crazy year too. I’ll be joining you as much as I can.
<3 you, Krista. Thank you for always being there for me & keeping my mom’s phone buzzing 🙂 I think of you & your family often!
Thank you for commenting!
Amanda
Oh I love this Amanda! It will be so fun to follow along! And these pictures of your family are freakishly adorable, love love!
What a wonderful and generous idea. You obviously “get” that helping others is almost always the best way to help ourselves. I actually don’t understand the #thing. But I am going to try and figure it out. Already looking forward to tomorrow! Thank you.
I’m looking forward to reading what you will be sharing.?❤?
My life has been plagued with anxiety and panic attacks since I was little. It went undiagnosed until I was 18 and took 10 years to get under control. I don’t know that it is under control in the truest sense, but I now know at least how to manage it. It still creeps up on me, but it happens less. Stay strong!
I think of you all the time! I’m sorry to hear that you’ve had these for so long. Looking back, I have had lesser degrees of this in times in the past, but they’ve never been so debilitating. Thank you for the strong words & the hope! I’d really love to hear your story and how you found your way out if you ever feel up to sharing.
Love to you (and your mom!)
xo
Amanda
Amanda, From someone who has lived this & had a few of my children suffer with those same issues, I am proud to see you sharing what you have been able to accomplished and provide new ways to find comfort as one deals with the challenges life throws at us. Bless you as you continue on your journey to happiness.
Hi Amanda,
I understand your struggle very well, I have spent the entire summer battling my latest bout of panic attacks. Medication made my anxiety worse before it got better, it completely leveled me to be honest. I believe very much in alternative paths in conjunction with traditional ones and I know it is no accident that I noticed you on Instagram and began to follow you recently. I look forward to this! Thank you so much for your brave honesty.
Sincerely,
Christa
Thank you so much for sharing! As a quilting follower, Your IG world looks perfect so I look forward to learning. I have been left functionalless at times in my life and always looking for ways to be more present.
I can’t wait to see what this month brings! I need of calm and reduced anxiety also and in combination with sewing makes it even better 🙂
Hi Amanda! This year has been hard for me too. And I’m trying to grow out of old habits and emotions that lewd to anxiety and fear. So, count me in! Thanks for sharing this with us!
Good for you, Amanda! Life is just so tough sometimes. I look forward to your prompts. Thank you for sharing your story. Big hugs!
You are so brave Amanda! I’ll follow along. ?
Lately I have been struggling with anxiety and stress. What perfect timing! I am glad to hear you are doing better and look forward to trying out your prompts. Thank you for sharing this with us!
Dear Amanda,
I don’t believe in conquisdences and stummbling upon your blog wasn’t one of them. It was divine intervention to a degree. We’re in the middle of moving into a new house (old family house a Frank Llyod Wright plan) and trying to get everything into the new house as we close September 6 is a frustrating task.
As we spent the first night in our new house, on mattresses, I felt odd, sad as if the ground had shifted below my feet. The memories of our old house are to plentiful to recount and a year ago we lost our 32 yr daughter to cancer. I’ve come to realize our old house represents a lot of emotions I didn’t know would surface and have a slight, undisclosed feeling to my family, maybe I loved our life as it was. So while the rest of the family is spending the night at the new house, Maxwell, our (my) dog of 16 years and myself are spending our last night in the old house together. As for tomorrow morning, we have to put him to sleep. So in a long story sort of way, I can relate to feelings and emotions that come deep from within our soul, and when they surface, we ask…how are we to process and learn and add strength to our life. Looking forward to your series.
I’m so glad to hear that you and your husband are well now. I’m celiac as well so I know it can be a difficult diet to follow but worth the effort. I’m really looking forward to your tips and hints over the next month. I would love to hear the strategies you used to alleviate anxiety.
Amanda, I had absolutely no idea what you have been through over the course of this last year! I just want to give you a great big hug having read all of this. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us and the 31 day challenge – sounds like a fabulous idea!! xox Sedef
Thank you so much for sharing something so personal. I struggle too, I guess we all do in some degree, if we were honest!! I fear the unknown & change. It takes ages to work through things & try to get over my worry. Sending hugs ?
I look forward to following along. No matter what our situation is in life, we can always do with some more happy. Thanks for sharing your journey and I look forward to your insights and continued inspiration.
I am so interested in your journey and words of wisdom. Thank you for being so willing to share. I have young adult daughters and know so many young women suffering from anxiety. It truly seems to be an epidemic in older teens and young adults. Many have been helped so much by hormone replacement therapy. For some that hasn’t helped. I will look forward to your posts and hope to be able to share them with others. ❤️
As beneficial as I think this journey will be, I am unable to fully participate. I don’t have Instagram, etc., because of limited internet. I will follow as best I can. I wish each of you peace and calm, and helpful new discoveries about your own self. ?
Lots of love to you, Amanda. xo
Amanda, this is a well written, thoughtful sharing of your life and feelings.
I am so glad you are on the road to healing.
This is life.
I often wonder, is there anyone that does not live without fear?
Am I the only one that worries about not only my troubles but everyone’s?
I will certainly go and look at the day progress. This is wonderful.
My daughters and I (two adult daughters) have a pinterest page where we share inspirational messages and prayers. I can vouch that it is always so good to not be alone in any suffering, We know we are not, so it is good to seek out and share.
Love, Rosemary
This is such a generous thing you are doing! I hope it brings much peace and resolution to folks! I experienced a tangible struggle such as you describe, back in early 2000s. It was totally vanquished by the repeated “oral application” of God’s Word…but it took some time, and courage, and just plain hanging on for dear life! It opened my eyes and heart to the reality of the struggles of others…cheers to you, and hugs, too!xo, Sarah
Oh Amanda. Thanks for being honest with us and keeping it real. I just wanted you to know that I really look up to you. I don’t really know you, but I admire the way you built a successful business from scratch, and the way you obviously put your family first in all things. I look forward to participating in this program with you.
I struggle from severe depression and anxiety, in fact I haven’t left my house by myself in 2 years. I am on meds and have been for about 20 years. Thank you so much for this. The stigma of mental illness is sadly well and thriving so I never open up to people, but I feel safe here.
Hi, Catherine,
Thank you so much for sharing. I can definitely relate. Mental illness has a bad rap, but a quick survey turns up that so many of us deal with it. I am keeping you in my prayers!
xo
Amanda
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I will definitely be joining in on this journey. Yesterday I had a miscarriage. It has been 2 days now of crying, wondering, and being angry/upset. I was so excited for my son to have a sibling, for us to expand our family and grow together in love. I actually already journaled this morning before I looked at my computer but will go back this evening and answer the questions you have posted for today. Thanks for helping us other moms/sewers/sisters in Christ through tough times. You are such a blessing and I hope one day I can pay this forward to another mom in healing.
Wow this is very much what I have been feeling lately. Thank you so much for sharing and doing this. I’m going to do it. This is an answer to prayers. And I would love yo hang with you again one day in person!
Anxiety has been with me my whole life. Along the way I have worked out all sorts of strategies to deal with it. Growing up I honestly thought that everyone felt the way I did, but nobody ever talked about it. It wasn’t until I had a bout of depression that just wouldn’t lift on it’s own that I verbalised the anxiety I suffer from. Now my kids (mostly grown ups) suffer too and that is so hard to watch. I’m keen to see your strategy and play along.
You know the saying things happen for a reason? Well, I don’t usually buy into that but… Today, my son returned to school, my usual friends are moving onto new jobs (one actually even moved cities) so my usual Mom’s club has disbanded… I am unable to work anymore and I felt so incredibly lost today. I was questioning who I was, my value, my identity…
And what pops up in my feed? This. I read your posts eagerly, searched for a notebook and once bedtime comes for my young man, I am exploring this and hope to find some direction. I’ve long suffered from depression and know all to we’ll how quickly a path can erode beneath your feet.
Thank you for sharing your journey, it takes great courage.
I really feel for you Amanda. Earlier this year I went thought a similar experience (although nowhere near as bad from the sounds) and it was a kindly asked question from a gp that helped me realise that I was suffering from anxiety and subsequently get it under control. I wish you all the best. It is horrible feeling like you can’t enjoy the day to day. Xx
Thank you for sharing. I’ve been there, too. Being the real version of one’s self can be scary. I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ve got for us. I know you are going to inspire so many people. ❤️
Amanda! Thank you so much for posting this and sharing- I suffer from dibilitating anxiety attacks…. and the past six months have locked me into a mental prison beyond understanding- you shared my quilt today on your shop IG which brought me here…. today I reached out to a professional mentor, my goal this three day weekend is to sew for me and to get me right- I think God knew I needed this to read this…. so count me in for the next 31days!!!
It is wonderful to see everyone feeling safe to share. Mood disorders are such a struggle because we can’t “see” them. We have compassion for those who struggles we can see and quantify. There are well-needed laws in place to protect and promote the rights of the disabled. But there is little to no protection for those who do not show a “positive attitude” at work… who are too ill at ease to function in social situations… who are perceived as the “storm cloud,” ” the downer,” “the worry wart.” We are all urged to embrace positive thinking as if it is a choice — but, with or without medication, it is not a choice for many — it remains the elusive unicorn that is chased after but still out of reach. I admire your courage and hard work to reach a better place and hope that by sharing the strategies that worked for you, others may be helped. But for those who can’t get there, it’s OK and you are not alone.
Thank you Amanda,I maynot say much but Im fallowing. I feel as if my Heart is literally breaking in to shreds and theirs nothing I can do. I believe every one has some anxiety. But lately its not the normal anxiety. Im not sure realy what is. Im scated to get help. For reasons I cant post. And its wrong that people should be so scared they cant get help. Good luck and Thank You !
Thank you for sharing your experiences, your journey, and being willing to help others. I have been experiencing a lot of anxiety and stress lately as the wife of a police officer. It hasn’t been easy the past 6 months and I have been trying to hold it all together for my family. The world is so uncertain and I am having a hard time staying positive with all the negativity lately. I am a little late, but I will start my 31 day journey today. Thank you!
God bless you for doing this. I’m so sorry you had to go through what you did, but am very happy you found a way out! I have been at my lowest point lately and have been praying for God to help me find some sort of relief. I saw a post from one of my IG friends about this and truly feel this is an answer to my prayers. Thank you doesn’t even seem appropriate for this, but that’s all I have to give you right now….my deepest and sincerest ‘thank you’ for sharing what you’ve gone through and what you’ve learned to dig yourself out. I look forward to the end of the 31 days! (even though I’m a few days late starting!) xoxo
I’m a bit behind on my blog reading and social media and just found your new plan. I have often felt like you as a “prisoner in my own mind” with worry and anxiety. Excited to catch up.
Man, sorry about the Celiac Diagnosis. I was diagnosed two years ago, and it’s an emotional roller coaster–relief at a diagnosis. but mourning the loss of a simple diet, not to mention dealing with the physical recovery. I was fortunate in that my mom was diagnosed 15 years ago, so when I started feeling weird, I specifically asked to be tested. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to not have any idea what might be wrong. I’m glad you and your husband are doing better.
I am here in the middle of it! My husband has had 8 back surgeries. He needs another as his back is severely deforming. His pain is constant, dehabilitating, and robs him of any rest, sleep, activity, or even the ability to enjoy the activities of our 4 girls. He is at the end of his rope physically, emotionally, mentally and even spiritually. He recently started a new job, and he is not promised insurance benefits or short term disability until he has been there at least a year. Now the practice is being sold, and we are unsure where that will leave us. My husband keeps saying that he doesn’t know if he can go another day. My heart is in my throat constantly. I work from my home and it is all I can do to focus on that, be joyful and encouraging to our children, to patiently and faithfully carry the weight of running and maintaining our home by myself. I worry about my husband. I worry about our ability to help our little family make end meet and survive this. Sewing is my breath of fresh air, but many times, I don’t even have the energy for that. I am absolutely weary. It was unusual for me to check this blog, but I did this morning and found your post. Thank you.