Photo of Nancy Virden provided by Nancy
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Nancy Virden continued, “Therapy
taught me the value of being me, validated those long-hid emotions, and I began
to feel safer. When asked if I believed I could improve my health, my answer was no,
but still I started to think about it. In September of 2013, I squared off with
addiction and trauma at Timberline Knolls Rehabilitation Treatment Center
outside Chicago. There I learned how addict behavior had interfered with
healthy coping. I left that place with a distinct understanding of
powerlessness with regard to food."
Her hardship has strengthened her
connection to a higher power.
Nancy explained, “Both major
depression and food addiction have served as catalyst for deeper dependency on
God. Despite feeling far from him at times because all my emotions, good and
not-so-good, were consumed with food, prayer has grown into a meaningful
interaction with the Higher Power. I absolutely and unequivocally believe in a
Higher Power. That power is, believe it or not, in a God who thought to be one
of us; of course, I am speaking of Jesus Christ. He is my Higher Power because
I know he walks with me, and he has never left me alone. Because his crucifixion
and resurrection is proof of God's love for me, my hope is not just for a
better life, it is an eternal hope.
I have my Higher Power to turn to
each day; he helps me when I cannot help myself. He is the reason I am alive,
and gives me the strength to say no when food calls my name.”
Nancy wants to share her testimony
to help others.
“Sensitivity to people with shared
pain drives me to tell my story publicly and in writing. My message to people
struggling with depression and perhaps suicidal thoughts is to wait for the
beauty. When it seems as if the path ends in a big hole, it doesn't; the
miracle is around the bend. To people with food (or any) addiction, I speak of
hope and the innate value of their lives, reminding them they are worth
fighting for. I stand as an example of profound recovery; do not judge or dismiss
anyone with mental health or addiction issues. Not only can I openly share with
those who need realness and honesty from someone who has been in dark places, I
can now also feel, and relate to what is happening inside myself
without escaping my reality through food."
Therapy has gifted clarity.
She described, “In Pennsylvania I
found a mental health organization that emphasizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
(CBT). A specialist in that field walked me through a new thinking process that
allows me to exchange false and negative beliefs for reality. My individual
therapist helps me to apply that new insight to everyday challenges. Also, a
support group for food addicts has provided me with substantial help in that
area.”
Nancy talked about the books she
has authored. In her words, “My first book covers one year of my life. Called
to Live: A Chronicle of Recovery After Attempted Suicide, shows the process
of a major depressive episode as it occurs, not in hindsight. My second book, Always
the Fight: A Living Testimony of What Only God Can Do, is my take on the
sovereignty of God with regard to life's struggles. They Were Real: Short
Story Gateways Into the Thoughts of Bible Characters, was released
December 30. It takes key moments in the experiences of ancient people, and
adds what the person may have been thinking or feeling at the time. I could not
have written this before I learned to experience emotions.”
You can interface with Nancy via
her website to gain insightful information.
Her closing words, “My website is
NancyVirden.com and features a bi-weekly blog on depression, suicide, and how
to be supportive to a loved one who is depressed. Information on what I offer
to a group as well as a list of events is also on the site.
When it comes to major depression,
it is vital to get professional help. To start, seek a medical specialist, a
psychiatrist, and take the prescribed medications. Then reach out for support
via talk therapy; I recommend CBT therapists because it is statistically the
kind of therapy that works.
For anyone struggling with an
addiction, support is your answer, too. Get to a recovery meeting and allow the
wisdom there to guide your next steps. If you need rehab, do not postpone
it.
Life begins today! You will never
get yesterday back, and unless you change, tomorrow will be the same. Change is
difficult but possible. Well-being is a challenge to maintain and it is worth it.
Surrender to God can seem useless although it is the only way.
Diets will never solve a food
addict's problems because they place our hope in losing weight. When our hope
is in losing old thought patterns and beliefs, inner change occurs, recovery
begins, and weight takes care of itself. I'm halfway to my goal weight, but
almost 180 degrees from who I used to be.
Depression and despair can be
results of lost or misplaced hope. When I put my hope in food and escaped from
feelings, I added to my suffering instead of finding healing. Now the disease
of major depression is manageable, and food nourishes rather than destroys my
health.
