Just Sayin’

I posted this on my Facebook page recently and wanted to share it here as well. This time of year can be full of happiness and joy for a lot of people. It can also be a very sad and lonely time for others. Seasonal affective disorder is real! Mental illness is real. It’s something that affects so many and I think it’s important to keep the conversation going.

W hat you see: well, you decide. But probably you see a regular mom, wife, friend. Somebody you listen to on the radio. Someone who laughs a lot.

What you don’t see: a woman who has struggled with anxiety for most of her life. Someone who has been in a somewhat debilitating state of it for the past week or so. Internal trembling. Tingling in her face, arms, legs, which leads to fears of deadly diseases. Feeling spaced out. Sort of disconnected from her body. Racing heart. Sweating hands.

I’m feeling a little better today after a wonderful conversation with my doctor and having made the decision, after years of debating, to finally try taking medication to try to get rid of this monster.

Mental illness. Something I was deeply ashamed of for years. Afraid I’d be judged. For those lucky enough to have never dealt with it, it’s really hard to understand and I so get that. But I want to keep sharing my story to try to help break the stigma.

It doesn’t define me. I’m happy! I love life. I love it so much I fear dying on a daily basis! But it’s a part of me and I’ll just continue to navigate my way through it. ■

Written by Q104 personality: Jenny Matthews

Jenny Matthews was on the air at Mix 93.3 for 15 years and in 2019 moved to Q104 to co-host The Morning Drive with Mike Kellar + Jenny Matthews, 6:00 to 10:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. Check out her podcast, Real Life with Jenny Matthews, follow along with her blog and connect at jennymatthewsonair.com.