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An Open Letter to My Daughter’s Therapist on Mother’s Day

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open letter to my daughter's therapist

Dear [Therapist],

We met you for the first time on April 9, 2018, the date etched in my memory forever, as it was the first time that I truly felt understood.

Thank you.  Without you, I cannot begin to imagine what our life would be like.  While physically, I was alive when we first met, I was not living. I was broken and hopeless.  My dreams of motherhood were shattered, my heart broken in pieces so small, I did not believe they could be mended.  I came to you seeking a therapist for my daughter’s severe anxiety, and in you, I found the support I didn’t know that I so desperately needed.  

You gave me the confidence to believe in myself as a mother again.  You taught me that the role of a parent is not to “fix their child, rather guide them through their journey.  You gave me the knowledge to focus on the whole of my daughter’s anxiety rather than the parts of it. You opened my eyes to the role I play in her health.  You reminded me to focus on the positives that are a part of our everyday life. You encouraged me to take care of myself in order to be the best mother I can be.  You allowed me to grieve for what has been lost through my journey of motherhood.

The compassion, acceptance, and understanding you have shown me have given me a second chance to find the joy and passion that I need to have to be true to myself.  I am proud of the lessons I have learned, and because of you, I am a better person today than I was a year ago.

Even more than the gratitude I feel for what you have done for me, is what you have done for my daughter.  When my daughter laughs, spends time with her friends or receives praise from a teacher, I have you to thank.  On that bleak day in April 2018, you met the shell of my daughter, as she was ravaged by anxiety. Even in those dark times, you saw her strengths.  You understood the severity and reality of her illness, invoking a sense of hope that had been lost.

Your commitment and confidence in my daughter allowed her to put the hard work into slowly coming out of the grasp of anxiety and returning to happiness.  Your beliefs showed her that hard work pays off. Rather than attempting to “cure” her, you gave her the skills needed to manage her anxiety, allowing her a lifetime of success.  

The dedication to our family went far beyond what I ever expected to receive from any patient/client relationship.  From now until forever, you will remain a part of my heart. I silently thank you each time I feel joy and each time I feel sadness.  Small moments of joy will never be taken for granted and sadness no longer becomes overbearing. I have hope, love, passion, and gratitude…all because of your dedication to our family.   

 

With Extreme Gratitude,

A Happy Mama

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Meet Colleen

Colleen Wildenhaus is the mother of a now 17-year-old girl suffering from severe anxiety and OCD. Her blog Good Bye Anxiety, Hello Joy shares with readers the journey her family takes to enjoy the small moments each day, keeping the beast of anxiety from taking away the joy of life.

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Meet Colleen

Colleen Wildenhaus is the mother of a 18-year-old girl who suffered from severe anxiety and OCD for most of her life. Today, she manages it well and is attending college as a freshman, something we didn't believe was possible given her intense mental health needs. Colleen's blog Good Bye Anxiety, Hello Joy shares with readers the journey her family takes to enjoy the small moments each day, keeping the beast of anxiety from taking away the joy of life. She shares real life experiences that have helped her daughter manage her anxiety and OCD as well as vulnarbale posts about what it feels like to move through these daily challenges.

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