Mental Health: when running off the tracks
- Alexis Fritz
- Jan 6
- 4 min read
Honestly, I used to be pretty skeptical about mental health and how serious it can be. But anyone who knows me knows about my breakdown due to postpartum depression back in 2021. It got me into a daily full-time therapy program, and I’m so thankful for that. I discovered a lot about myself, boundaries, and the importance of feeling your emotions. Seriously, ugly crying is good for the soul, mamas, so don’t be shy—let those tears flow!
On my first trip to the Mayo Clinic, the doctor looked at me and said, "How are you?" Naturally, I launched into the saga of my body's woes, but he interrupted with, "No, no, no, how are you mentally?" I paused, and thought, "Oh boy, my mental state is a bit of a circus right now." That's when he dropped the bombshell: "The toughest part of this journey is your mental health. Feeling like you do every day and fighting this battle will take everything out of you, so taking care of yourself and your mental well-being is of utmost importance." I realized I hadn't stopped to think about ME—sure, my body's been the star of the never-ending drama, but my mental state was like the forgotten understudy. Naturally, I started asking about timelines, because that's me, the Jewish worrier who must know everything and prepare for every possible future scenario. The doc said, "Right now, we take it one day at a time, then one week at a time once you're stable, and so on..." Just what I wanted to hear, right? 🤣 Not really, but hey, honesty is the best policy, right?! Those words have stuck with me and made me evaluate the decisions I make every day, every hour, every minute.
Life can flip on you in an instant, or in my case, when my spleen decides to swell up. My meds have totally messed with my mental stability. Rational thinking? Hardly ever happens, and I end up blurting out stuff with zero filter. I feel awful because it often spills over onto the people closest to me. It sucks for them, I know, but I think it's because I'm comfortable around them. I'm really trying to keep it in check, but dealing with the meds' side effects is super tough. It definitely causes a lot of tension between me and my teenage daughter because I don't hold back, and she definitely doesn't care about what she says either! So, our house is pretty lively, to put it mildly. I'm now trying the "just walk away" method. It is what it is; when the yelling starts, I just peace out. Any other ideas or suggestions from you mamas?
Being off track is definitely tough for the kids, and I realize that more every day. They're young but not naive... even the 4-year-old might be the smartest of us all! So, when I stumble, I try to figure out how to get back up on my own, be independent; using the furniture and whatever's around me. I hate seeing them cry or be worried about me, they are too young for those emotions. I want them to see that their mom owns her stuff and won't be taken down, quite literally, by this disease. I have far from perfected this skill but when in the moment try to take the time to stop and think before reacting. If you know me, then you know that is freaking hard. My reactions are often immediate and can often be out of proportion to the actual issue because I wear my heart on my sleeve. We are all a work in progress right?! We listen and we don't judge......
Humor keeps me going, especially with my kids. The other evening, my son told his sister, "Ella, pull yourself together" while she was in the midst of a teenage meltdown. We all just stopped and cracked up. Then he started quoting lines from Home Alone: "I'm going to give you 3 seconds to get your..." Yeah, maybe not the best movie for him to memorize, but that laughter was just what we needed at the perfect time! Never stop laughing, that I am sure of. There is a lot of uncertainty right now in my life but the need for laughter and humor is never questioned.....its good for your soul.
This is the ultimate "life gives you lemons" scenario, except I can't even have any darn tequila... which is a total bummer. I survive with a little help from my friends... and family. They bombard me with memes, TikToks, and videos of their kids that crack me up. I'm becoming a connoisseur of life's little joys, savoring those moments of a smile instead of a wild night out, which my ancient self can't handle anymore.
At the end of the day, I reckon we all need to hit the pause button and give mental health the serious nod it deserves. It never seems to knock on our door at the best times or in the best ways... I mean, we're moms, when was anything ever convenient?!
Since this blog is all about humor, I’m dropping this little gem here for you all to giggle at. I went on a treasure hunt through my Ring Camera footage to find it, because as I was waddling to the car, I couldn’t help but laugh at how ridiculous I must look. (Thank goodness I don't live close enough to neighbors who could witness this comedy show.) This is the same step I dramatically descended the day before, hence my cautious snail pace. 41 year old, wielding a cane, draped in a gigantic, unflattering jacket that could double as a tent, carrying a grandma tote bag... oh, and rocking house slippers. Watching this, I can't help but laugh because seriously, what the actual F***, I couldn’t make this up if I tried. Most importantly, after sharing it with my friends for their amusement, I do try to remind myself... it’s temporary... this pitiful portrayal of a 41-year-old Pillsbury Dough Girl teetering like I’m 95 will pass, right?!
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