It’s been an interesting day. In homeschooling, my son and I we’re talking about tornadoes. For this post, I was already planning on talking about the idea that a storm can actually result in a breakthrough.

Then on Hulu, I was watching Station 19, S3 E16, “Louder Than a Bomb”. Meredith Grey, from Grey’s Anatomy, was talking with Andi Herrera from Station 19. Andi had been through the recent loss of her father who actually gave his life in order to save the Station 19 department which were trapped in a burning storage facility. Andi then finds out that her mother, whom she thought had died, is actually still alive.

Andi was in a mental and emotional storm. It also affected her physically as the stress of finding out her mother was alive caused her to hyperventilate, jerk her arms in certain motions, and cry. In the episode, Meredith Grey tells Andi,

“Sometimes what seems like a breakdown can actually be a breakthrough.” 

In preparing for this post, I searched specifically “can a breakdown cause a breakthrough” and I immediately found this,

“Often breakdowns can lead to breakthroughs. They can lead us down a path to better understanding ourselves and our emotions. At first, we can feel out-of-control and overwhelmed with our feelings of despair and anxiety.  It’s hard to see that what we are going through is often a gift wrapped in a not-so-pretty package.”

https://kristendboice.com/breakdowns-can-lead-to-breakthroughs/#:~:text=Often%20breakdowns%20can%20lead%20to,not%2Dso%2Dpretty%20package.

I don’t know about you but there’s been many times in my life when the storm has been so disastrous, I never thought I’d see the light of day. Sometimes, like a hurricane, the calm of the eye was quickly replaced by the second wave.

No one is the same.

No one experiences things the same.

No one goes through the exact same things.

What you’ve gone through and endured is important and real. Your perception of what happened is real because it’s YOUR perception. You are unique. Your personality, feelings, and thoughts are unique.

Don’t let anyone tell you different. Don’t let anyone tell you that what you’ve gone through shouldn’t be ‘a big deal’.

What I’ve experienced in life, is the variety of people I encounter. Some put on a facade. You know that look when they are trying to conceal something unpleasant. Many are very good about hiding behind a mask. Some just stuff it down and say ‘nothing happened’. Others talk about it in a way to gain sympathy. There are those who use their experiences as a crutch and an excuse. Some are open to talking about what they went through because it’s more of a THERAPY and they want to Help Others who may be stuck. Even if that other person is in the outside bands of the hurricane, they are technically in the storm.

There’s been times when I thought I was crazy. Times when I’m pretty sure family thought I was crazy. Yet those times have led me through therapy and out the other side to ‘see the light of day’ once again.

Covid-19 made the perfect slide for me to go down into a dark hole. My persistence to fight found a way out. Then with a helping hand, a.k.a. therapy, I was able to walk through those outer bands of the hurricane.

For me, it was PTSD in relation to my childhood. Growing up in an abusive home of all types, including sexual abuse. Even though I thought I had fought to get past it, there were still remnants that I was made aware of. It came up like a brand new storm.

Let me encourage you. Do not listen to ANYone who tells you anything resembling, I thought you dealt with that. You have a right to peel one layer off at a time. Even only part of a layer. You have a right to process the storm in your life, YOUR WAY. Some people don’t want to hear about problems because it might bring light to their own. Don’t worry. If someone doesn’t want to listen then they are not worth your time. You are valuable. What you went through or are going through is a big deal.

My prayer for you is that you begin or continue finding your way out of the storm. That you find a way to and can say, I’m “getting my joy back”.