Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Book Review: Checking In

How are you? I mean, how are you really? I feel like there are so many people on both my Facebook and Instagram feeds really struggling. I know I have good days, which aren't good but aren't as bad as bad days so I'm calling them good days, and I have bad days. Some days are just really bad. Some days are good and out of nowhere become a bad day. Sometimes I think those are the worst. If you're like me and struggling, this is a GREAT book to settle in with. 

Checking In - Michelle Williams

“I need help.”

Those three words saved Grammy Award–winning singer Michelle Williams’s life. After decades of sweeping her anxiety and depression under the rug—even during her years in the spotlight with Destiny’s Child—Michelle found herself planning her own funeral. Realizing that she needed immediate help and could no longer battle her anxiety and depression alone, she checked herself into a treatment facility. When she came home, she was energized and determined to check in on a regular basis with herself, God, and others.

Practical, engaging, and full of wisdom, Checking In helps us understand that building walls around our vulnerability can hinder our healing; we need to reject the lies of anxiety and depression and replace them with the truth of God’s Word; joy can be found when we release toxic thought patterns;
childhood wounds need to be healed; freedom can be found when we forgive ourselves and others; and
a beautiful life comes from living honestly. An uplifting, behind-the-scenes look at one woman's path to healing, Checking In reminds you that you are not alone, and that God is not yet finished writing your story.

I remember, vaguely, after I had Lucy. I was in no shape at all to be doing anything, let alone being a mom to anyone. I wasn't healthy, I was still recovering from a harrowing birth, I was crying all of the time, and I was a mess. It wasn't the first time I had post-partum depression, but I was pretty confident it was going to be the worst, and I was right. I remember going to a follow up appointment with the doctor who actually delivered Lucy to get a run down of what the hell happened to me, and at some point she asked how I was doing. I think I just started crying and saying I was fine, which clearly, I was not. I remember her holding my hand and saying she really thinks I need to see a therapist who specializes in trauma and maternal health. I was in straight denial about it but there was this hot second that I just agreed and said, "Yes- I need help" and it was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. I know for sure that had I not started therapy and worked with a psychiatrist to get onto the right medication, I would be dead right now. 

I love how this book feels like you are sitting down with Michelle, having some coffee, trading stories about depression. She is so funny, so real, and so endearing, you just want to be her best friend. Invite her over to watch murder shows and stuff (I see you, girl!). I think that's what makes this book so relatable- she's a regular person dealing with problems we all struggle with, and even the rich and famous aren't immune. 

My favorite part was when she talked about understanding feelings versus intuition. I needed this so much. I often don't do things because I have a feeling and it doesn't seem right. I struggle with knowing the difference between it being regular anxiety versus my intuition sounding the alarm. I have to consciously ask myself a series of questions to figure out which one covers my hesitancy, but it is really hard. She also talks about having depression in her younger years and how it manifested itself differently, which was interesting because the longer I go through therapy, the more I am able to look back on my younger years and things make more sense to me now that I know more about mental health. 

I will say, if you are familiar with Michelle Williams, you know she's a spiritual person and is connected with God in every way. Her strong beliefs are reflected throughout the book, so if religious discussion turns you off, this isn't the book for you. If you can still find value around that, I highly recommend this one. I loved the conversational writing, it makes the book so fast to read and I got through this in one night. It probably helped that this was something I could relate to and left me thinking about areas in my life that I need help in. I mean, being able to say "I need help" is the first step, but it's also the hardest step. 

Thank you to TLC Book Tours and Thomas Nelson Publishing for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review. I absolutely loved this and man- Michelle can come hang out with me anytime. We'll eat snacks and watch murder shows. I'm down. 

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1 comment:

Why Girls Are Weird said...

Well... I'm really struggling. Work has been very busy and kind of terrible. My clients are MEAN. We're still pretty strict on our Covid policies, and the amount of people that have been downright TERRIBLE to us is growing and growing. It's hard to take. It's no wonder the suicide rate among veterinary professionals is higher than other professional positions.

I might have to look into this book. I need something to pick me up.