Therese,
I found your book (Beyond Blue) on Amazon, and then found your blog. Both have provided relief, inspiration, and blessing. It is comforting to know that I’m not the only one trying to manage depression, anxiety, and O.C.D. (my daughter, a chip off the old block, says we have C.D.O. – it’s just like O.C.D., except the letters are in correct order.)

I believe your book and blog are a ministry, and that God has given you a talent/gift for writing. You are in my prayers. I pray God gives you strength, encouragement, and the resources to continue doing what you do.

Therese, so sorry to hear you are having a difficult time. Your willingness to share your experiences and the things you have learned along the way really helped me during some of my darkest hours. I hope you are able to find similar refuge.

Mate, sorry to hear you’ve been having a difficult time. I am always here for you. You give me & everyone so much of your generous soul. Hope things improve for you real soon xx

You are welcome.

Dear Therese, I can only tell you that I too sometimes can barely get through 15 minutes at a time, and sit and cry and sob as if the world is coming to an end…but this too will pass, this too will pass, my dear…
Your posts and lovely picture have brought me so much comfort, it is as if you have voiced exactly what I want to say…and that you are writing just for me.
I wish you strength and courage, and send you a big e-hug, and always wait to hear from you.
love,
me..

One of your comments has stayed with me and helped me so much…”Jesus be with me”. I have said it over and over and I rise every time I say it. So, thank you. Please be well. We need each other.

Thank u 4 taking the time to share your day 2 day batlles and overcoming with me. You R a very loving person. Keep on keeping on! (its what a cousin said 2 me when i was down)

Dear Therese,
I have not been reading your posts regularly as of late, been having a bit of a struggle myself, so I was not aware you are having a difficult time until this morning. There have been many times what you have shared has helped me so much and I want to say thank you to YOU. I will be praying for you, for God’s love to bring you comfort and the peace that surpasses all understanding.
Your sister in Christ,
KT

praying for you

So sorry you are having a a bad time God bless you! Please hang in there! I feel like offing myself everyday so I know the feelings very well. I pray God hears us and heals us. Please try to hang on! Love, Rita

REALLY? Well, what about me???
Hope this wee bit of sarcasm brings a smile to your face. Your pain is mine, too, and I will gladly carry yours until you’re through this darkness.
Blessings galore. XO

Bless you.

You will get better. Just breathe. One for your self esteem file…I look forward to your posts, even from your reposts as it is like hearing from an old friend. You inspire me to keep going. I hope that isn’t too great a burden.

Therese, I pray that you have a the source of comfort to turn to that you offer to all of us. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
You are loved by so many!

Therese,
A big hug to you. Do what you have to do to take care of you. That is why you are so good at what you do – you understand – you get it. Sometimes, though, you (we) need a break from the action to regroup and feed our own souls. Why do you think creative people have a fallow time. They are not creative and inspired 100 percent of the time. I will also add you to my prayers. It’s such a damn hard time to go through the lows. Wishing you balance.

Take care, take time, you are important, when you are ready you’ll find your way back. Blessings to you you dear one.
With care, Mary

I THINK YOU’RE GREAT!!!

I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve been having a hard time lately. Remember it WILL get better, before you know it you’ll be feeling good. I know each day feels like an eternity when you’re depressed but before you know it you’ll be your REAL self again!

No, Thank you for helping so many. Remember this is just a moment in your life you are going through. Breathe…life changes quickly,take the time to take care of you. Just know lots of people pray for you and we’ll be here when you are ready. You are loved and so appreciated.Hugs!

Thank you so much for helping all of us feel that we’re not alone in a rotten world. A bad day gets much better, just by opening up a ‘Beyond Blue’ email message. Thanks from all of us.

I will pray for you as I pray for us all to be well and strong and have courage and faith and hope and trust and be calm and know the Lord will have mercy. I pray that we can let our souls rest and restore and our minds to stop hurting and the process allows us to think clearly eventually. I pray for you. You are a blessing. We must count our blessings and it is hard. God Bless.

Hi Therese!
You are so sweet, and intelligent and compassionate. You have made a difference in the world, helping many strangers using your God-given (and Therese-improved) skills of writing. God bless you. We are thinking of you and praying for you.
- Joe K

Thank you for taking your time to help all of us out here! I get great inspiration and hope from your blogs. So sorry to hear you are having a rough time. My prayers are with you. Hope you start feeling better very soon.

I’m so sorry to hear that you are struggling. Know that you are being held in the collective arms of all your fans. Be well soon.

Razz2

Your wisdom and strength have been very important to this depressive, recovering alcoholic, former smoker and ah yes a newly confirmed Catholic. Stay strong and use us all matter of fact you are free to yell at me if it will help. I will pray for you in earnest.

Therese, Generally I save your posts for last because I know that you will give me the inspiration that I need throughout my day. You, and all the others who have posted comments, have become my family. I would not mind if you took a FEW days off to renew yourself, but ONLY if you go to see a funny movie or do something else that makes you laugh! We all need you in our lives, Therese…so please keep on keepin’ on.
Love, dkg

Oh Therese I am so sorry that you are again having to struggle. I know not what to really say but wanted you to know you are a HUGE inspiration to me. My son is Bi-polar and I have understood him more through you. Your book and blog are a light in this world. Hang in there. Prayers,thoughts, positive energy, laughter,light,and love to you and your family.

Theresa… My thoughts and prayers are with you. You have been a bright spot in my morning for several years and I think of you and your strengths to be open and honest when I need that to get through the day. Hoping these wonderful comments I have read today do the same for you! Blessings, Kathy

Oh Therese, I so understand. Or think I do. Maybe I don’t. But I am in that hole-filled boat with you right now — figuratively — and am bailing and bailing and sinking seems like the easier, gentler way. AND I am a woman of faith. And a mom. And a daughter. And a wife. And I write things that are supposed to inspire and uplift, too. So I will remember that “this too shall pass.” I will practice extreme self care. I will admit my powerlessness over this situation – all situations – and work through those steps that always work, if I will let them. And I will look for some way to help someone else. And I will look for something beautiful and/or funny: God gives me so much of those healers. I will take my medication, see my therapist. SPEAK MY TRUTH WITHOUT FEAR (WITH GOD’S HELP) and rest in the knowledge that God loves me. I am sorry that the monster D is sitting on our chests right now. ARGHH. It makes my shoulders hurt, my heart heavy, my feed leaden. With God’s help and our willingness this too shall pass. Pray I get to meet you someday at Diana K’s (I write for ShareWIK), or on a trip to The Academy in September or October to watch a young friend who plays QB. Some day our paths will cross, and I look forward to that. In the meantime, I will breathe deeply and seek peace, as is advised in one of my favorite children’s books, Dinotopia. And I will pray that this sense of doom leaves us both.
Love, Carey

we need each other, and thank you for your gift in our worlds. Please give yourself the break and talk to self as you would be talking to your readers. Hugs.

Therese, praying for you and know how much you help others!

Dear Therese
You are in the thoughts and prayers of many people.
I hope the difficulties you are going through now are soon past you.
Thank you for sharing your up and downs with us. You are an inspiration to me.

Praying for you! Thanks for all the encouragement you’ve given us. Hang in there!

How I wish I could walk down the block to see you right now and help with whatever I possibly could. You are a wonderful person speaking freely to all of us. I have a situation where it is impossible to be happy and optimistic all the time, can’t even worry about me most of the time. Please get well, that is the wrong term for us, I should say out from under that dark cloud that just seems to appear and send more posts to keep us all going. Prayers

Take care and know you are loved.
May the peace of God be with you always.
Mike

I am so sorry to hear things are difficult for you right now. I will be praying for you, Therese. Always remember that God loves you dearly and is right there beside you to comfort you and help you. Even though I cannot be there in person, just know I would give you a great big hug if I was. We all love you.

And you inspire us, totally.

You have helped me . MayIi do the same for you by including you in my daily prayers for your intentions . God is there for YOU .

With LOVE and Prayers ,
BEV

I pray for our Dear Lord in Heaven to keep his Loving Arms around you. May his light now be brighter then ever for you right now. Take his hand He Loves You Trust in Him He can help you . May any darkness become Light Again. In your Holy name I pray,

Amen

Gracious God,
Hold Therese fast in your loving care.

Your blog and your book have helped me enormously. I am also going through a setback now. I will pray for you and me.

Many blessings,
Theresa

Hi Therese:

I had a major physical health crisis this past year and for the first time came face to face with depression. It was daunting. Your book “The Pocket Therapist” helped me get through many of the days with humor and insight. Remember what you have written….I will keep you in my prayers:-)

Deb

Praying. Will light my prayer candle.

The Lord Is With You

My desire is that God will receive glory through our difficult times and what HE does in and through us will follow us into eternity for HIS pleasure…my arms around JEsus and breathing.

Thank you. Your inspiring and realistically workable ideas and thoughts have helped me in so many ways. It’s nice to know it works both ways. You are loved and admired by many. I am holding good thoughts of wholeness and peace for you.

Julia

Therese, your blog and both your books have meant the world to me. I’ve struggled with depression most of my life and my niece and brother are both bipolar. You’ve made us laugh, made us cry, and always, always given us a ray of hope. Your writing is truly a ministry to all of us and we feel blessed to share this path with you. Hope you can feel the virtual hugs and support we are all sending your way as you weather this storm. God bless you!!

Dear Therese,
I get such encouragement from your honesty and what seems to be a very loving and generous spirit! I pray for you that you be more aware of all the good you do through the courageous sharing of your own brokeness. Here is a prayer that helps me: “Thank you God for making me ME!”(Father Briere from Madonna House in Combermere,Canada)May God continue to BLESS you.

Thank you for being a willing vessel for our Lord to minister to all us wackadoodles( said with love). I’m 64 yrs. old and for the last 10 yrs there have only been a few days I have not been serious about dying. I have found you only recently- you have so spoken of mental illness as I know it. I too have an arsenal of self help tools- sometimes I have to just stop and ride the wave of this insanity until it abates- it’s more bearable with your support- I carry you in my heart.

You have been taking care of us depressives for such a long time. I know how important your writing has been for me.
Therese, being a wife & mom are 2 full-time jobs. In your professional life you have been wearing many hats for many years.
A few years back YOU suggested to me to email:Samaritan.org.
These well trained folks will help put your life back in order. You gave that to me. I just want you to know how grateful I am for that. You reach out to all others. God has been keeping score. I pray an easier way for you and your family.

Dear Therese,

You are greatly loved!! You are such a wonderful inspiration that has affected my life very deeply. Don’t forget how strong and great you are!

Hi Therese,
I am new to your blog and I have found it very helpful. My mom is bipolar and I have on the edge of depression/anxiety issues for most of my life. Thank you for your courage. And you are in our thoughts and prayers. It will get better again.
piper

Dear Therese, I have enjoyed your blog since reading a reflection you wrote in my Lenten prayer book. Our son has battled depression and your reflection caught my attention. I since have discovered you too are a St. Mary’s alum. Look to your experiences there for strengh….I know I credit St. Mary’s for discovering the depth of my spirituality.

I am so sorry to hear of your “dip in the road.” You have inspired me many , many times and made me realize that I will make it though. You will too!

Theresa, I think you last month of posts have been absoluetly inspirational. I have shared a lot of them. Thank you and remember if he brought you to it he will bring you thru it. You have friends and a loyal following that care deeply about you. Much love on your journey

Dear Theresa, I’m sorry to hear of your recent struggles- how well I can relate. I subscribed to your blog as soon as your book came out. Not only do you offer daily inspiration, helpful tips & the latest research but you offer YOU! I believe it’s your authenticity & willingness to share your experiences that set you apart from the rest. In an attempt to return the favor, I’d like to suggest a YouTube clip: “inspirate nodig? Nick Vijicic” – I hope he will give you that lift you need right now.

The YouTube post mentioned above misspelled Nicks name. It should be Vujicic. My apologies.

NEVER give up! You are LOVED.

Right there with Rita (0715), but somehow, you help me keep going. My mom and therapist adore you.

Blessings and prayers…

Therese,

Thank you for being there for us and now give yourself the space to feel the love going back to you. You will feel better.

Hang in and stay strong — take good care of yourself. You deserve it and it will get better. It really will.

Love and light..

Therese. I’m sorry to hear things are harder right now. Remember you won’t feel this bad forever. A quote that has helped me lately is: Look at hopelessness in the face and say “we are simpy not meant to be together.” Hold courage’s hand and walk away. ~Dodinsky Hold on…

I am sorry to hear about your hard times. I am praying for you. Thank you for the time and the effort you put in making Beyond Blue.

Therese — I read your blog most days, and of course I value The Pocket Therapist very highly. I’m so grateful for your input into my life. It’s clear life has been demanding for you lately…. and this is just to wish you all the best. “To love yourself as you are is a miracle, and to seek yourself is to have found yourself, for now. And now is all we have, and love is who we are.” (Anne Lamott). Take care! Tony

Prayers for blessings…
Frank

Therese,

I am a night owl so I love it when my phone dings to indicate that a post has arrived – I know it will be from you! I wait every night to see your beautiful face and read your inspirational words before I go to sleep. Mornings are the worst for me so having a little bit of Therese as my midnight snack is part of my prescription – it helps w/the morning blues!

I too, like so many of the others here, suffer from depression and anxiety. I’m currently in the midst of an episode (it seems like a lot of people are) so it was wonderful to read all these positive and powerful posts tonight and see how many lives you have touched. (I feel better just having read how many people are praying for you – the positive energy this group is sending your way is incredible and inspiring.)

Someone else mentioned how they don’t mind your “reruns” – sometimes I don’t take everything in until the second time – I realized it as I was reading her post! Fascinating – your posts are like a good book – you find new meaning every time you read it.

As I write this I’m picturing you sitting across from me – I can see your bright blue eyes and beautiful smile – and I’m sending you love, healing and the power to ony worry about the next minute (rather than 15 minutes!)

You can do this… get through the next 15 minutes… breathe and believe. You have been there for others so let others be there for you. Prayers and Hugs

i love this blog, keep it up!