We recently had an opportunity to chat with Deborah. She is a registered nurse at a community mental health agency in Michigan. She is 62 and has two adult children and four grandchildren. In her spare time, she loves to camp, swim, pick berries, craft items, and cook. This is her story.
Livongo: Tell us about your experience with myStrength.
Deborah: Through life, I have experienced a lot of stress and loss. My fiancée first and months later my sister both died in a car accident. I survived an abusive marriage, and I ended up raising my kids as a single parent. All these experiences made me stronger, but occasionally they bring back sad feelings.
About 2 years ago, I discovered myStrength through a flyer at work. The name immediately caught my attention: I liked the notion of “my strength.” When I started to use it, I liked the fact that you could look back at your emotions and stress levels, and how they go up or down according to what is going on in my life.
In October 2018, I unexpectedly lost my 80-year-old mother, after two major strokes. I used myStrength quite a bit after her passing, to journal and check in with my feelings. Identifying what I was feeling and doing the meditation activities helped me with the grieving.
Livongo: How is life today? Where do you see things going?
Deborah: I am feeling okay. I am in a good place in my life. But stressors come up periodically — it’s inevitable. myStrength has helped me identify and validate what I am feeling, and quiet down any sad memories.
I do not meditate often, but I do when I have a lot of stress. This is something else I learned through myStrength: The activities about being aware, focusing on being in the present and noticing where you are at, have been very helpful.
In a few more years, I hope to retire, find something different than nursing, and spend more time with my grandkids and my family.
The testimonials, statements, and opinions presented are applicable to the individuals depicted or quoted. Each member’s exact results and experience will be unique and individual to each member. The testimonials are voluntarily provided and are not paid.
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