Who is hellnwheels?

Hi readers! I thought I'd write a first post to tell you who I am. I'm not sure how you found my blog, whether your a friend, family member, classmate, etc, but I'm glad you are here! Now, let's boogie.

First, I'm a wife. I met my husband nine years ago, we've been married for almost three, and he is my very best friend. I know that sounds cliché, but it's true for me. I think we're lucky, as most people don't find that these days. We have fur children, five cats, and that's enough for me! No human children will happen in this house. I like kids, and babies, but I just prefer they go home with who they came with.

I'm also a student. I'm an older student. I've gone back to school to get a doctorate in Audiology. That's the study of hearing and balance! I just started my third year of a four-year program. Countdown begins! I might throw in some interesting topics about hearing and balance here and there. It's a passion! I love school and love learning, but this program is intense and sometimes a little much for me and I melt down a bit.

Which brings me to the next items  I may talk about on here: Generalize Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and Depression. I have both. And I battle both. I will talk about my ups and downs and what works for me, but I will not give advice on what someone else should do. What works for me might not work for you, so the best thing to do and the ONLY advice I give is to talk to a mental health professional.

Part of talking about GAD and depression is to help break the stereotypes we live with in our society. In the United States, both are still a bit taboo to talk about. People still cringe when I say I see a therapist or that I'm on anti-depressants. What's the best way to fight this? Talk about it. So, I do!

One of the ways I battle both of my mental health disorders is to craft. CRAFT PEOPLE! It's fun and I usually end up with something beautiful. I like to knit and I also like to spin my own yarn. I've done a little dying of fiber here and there, but not much at all. I also like to do paint-by-numbers. Not a hugely popular craft, but something about filling in the little boxes with color and then getting a pretty picture makes me happy and calm. I'll try to post pictures of my crafts as I do them! But I may miss some here or there.

I really want this space to be a place that reflects me. I don't want to adhere to a posting schedule. So, there may be weeks I don't post and there may be weeks I post a ton! Because that's how my brain works.

Speaking of brains, here's one of me at school about three years ago holding a brain.

Brain Pin-up Girl

That's me! Thanks for stopping by. See you soon, friends!