SYTYCS Round 6 Entry

This weeks challenge for SYTYCS at Scraptacular was pretty tough going. For the most part, the criteria were pretty easy... at least 100 handwritten or 200 computer generated words, at least a couple of words of handwritten journalling, one 6x4 photo (or smaller), and only one patterned paper. The hard part came with the final of the five criteria; to journal about a sad time in our lives.

I chose to document my battle with Post-Natal Depression. Very few people know of my condition. I have kept it private out of pride, fear, and the risk of humiliation. So to have my words out there for the whole of cyberspace to see is not a decision I made lightly. In the end I figured that PND is part of who I am, I am not alone, and my words could help another person in some way, however small.

Given that this week we were asked to focus on story-telling, I felt it best to create a fairly minimalist design in neutral tones so as to keep the focus on my photo and my handwritten journalling. Here's my creation;

I have used pp, chiboard, and stickers from one of BG's newest lines, Granola. I have also used Carolee's Creations alpha stickers as part of my title.

My journalling reads;

In 2006, after giving birth to my first daughter, I developed Post-Natal Depression. For someone who didn’t even believe in PND, my diagnosis was a harsh reality check.

I was not officially diagnosed with PND until my daughter was about 3 months old. Before then, the days passed in a blur of tears, tantrums, and a sense of overwhelming sadness. I felt as though I was existing at the bottom of a big, black hole in the ground; a hole so deep that it was impossible to escape; a hole was getting deeper by the day.

Eventually, in spite of my pride, I mustered the strength to confront my GP. It was then that I finally received the help I so desperately needed.

Two years on, my life is far from healed. I still suffer from depression - it’s a battle I fight every day. The difference now is that I am lucky enough to experience the odd good day when I feel happy, calm, and positive.

So, although the battle continues, I am positive that I will one day overcome my condition, and reclaim the life that is rightfully mine!

9/10/08

Much to my relief, there will be no voting this week. The lovely ladies running the competition have decided that it is unfair to have people eliminated given the heartfelt and emotional context of this week's challenge. Of course that means a few more ladies will have to be eliminated in fututre Rounds, but that's fine by me! I couldn't have handled the responsibility of voting this week!!!

Well, that's it for me... thanks for sharing my story.