Cheering Past Challenges

In the Fall of 1989, I was 7 years old and in the 2nd grade. That's when my mom started showing signs of Psychosis. Although her symptoms slowly started during the summer, it really affected my school semester. After my mom threw away my school textbooks, left rotting food in the refrigerator, and believed she could communicate with her FM Radio, that's when I knew something was wrong with my mom. My entire life changed when she wasn't able to fully take care of her own child, much less take care of herself through her battle with Schizophrenia.

This week, I am sharing what it was like being taken away from my mom at such a young age. This part of my story is raw, real, and honest but I know that by me sharing the hard parts, my story will bless others fighting similar challenges. There's nothing quite like seeing your mom battle a sickness she can't heal from. However, no matter how hard this journey is, no matter how challenging it may be, every now and then I still see my mother's spark. I know that my mom is still with me and that by me caring for her, God has his arms wrapped around us.

If you are a caregiver and/or have a loved one battling Schizophrenia, I want you to know that you are not alone. While there are tough seasons, God is still good and you and your loved one are still incredibly loved. By having these raw, real, and honest conversations, we are able to pick up the pieces and allow God to heal the rest.

Topics Discussed:

• What it's really like being taken away from your mom
• Reversing the role of becoming a caregiver to your loved one
• Traumatic events faced during Psychotic episodes
• Love as the greatest gift between family

Connect with Rebecca Stewart:

• Website: https://cheeringpastchallenges.com

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheeringpastchallenges

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheeringpastchallenges/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mrsbigsky/featured

About Cheering Past Challenges Podcast:

Cheering Past Challenges is a community of individuals seeking to overcome past and current trauma by seeking spiritual solutions.

Join Host, Rebecca Stewart, as she shares her journey of taking care of her mother with Schizophrenia. By focusing on Mental Health & Wellness, Rebecca offers insight on how to care for your loved ones during the most difficult moments of their lives.

About Unbinding Love:

"Bring purpose to your life."

Unbinding Love is a Christian Non-Fiction book that aims to provide hope for the caregiver/family member of someone who has Schizophrenia.

It is a heart guide of how to put yourself back on the to-do list, make the right priorities, and find yourself again so that you can thrive in your caregiving and bring purpose to your life.

Visit https://cheeringpastchallenges.com/unbinding-love/ to learn more!

A few weeks ago, I shared what happens when God calls you to do something big. I talked about how these callings don't happen overnight and how to trust God's timing. More often than not, we find ourselves waiting for God to give us the go ahead on pursuing these callings. But sometimes we're closer than we even realize. The waiting game is never as long as we originally think.

This week, the digital version of my book, Unbinding Love, launched on Amazon. While I am super excited to finally see this calling come into fruition, a few days leading up to the big day, I was terrified. I was nervous about the book launch and if people were going to read it. I had fears that something bad was going to happen and my book wouldn't actually get published. I worried about meeting deadlines, if there were editing errors, and if people actually liked what I had to share.

But then I realized that no matter what happened, God called me to write Unbinding Love and I did what He called me to do. I am blessed to know that despite my fears and worries, God is going to place this book in the right hands. By simply sharing my story and placing my Faith in God, other people will feel less alone in their journey.

Topics Discussed:

• What it feels like after accepting God's calling on your life
• Creative apps for writing down daily thoughts
• Creating hope for others by following God's plan
• Finding blessings through pain and suffering
• Comforting scriptures for times of fear and doubt

Connect with Rebecca Stewart:

• Website: https://cheeringpastchallenges.com

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheeringpastchallenges

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheeringpastchallenges/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mrsbigsky/featured

About Cheering Past Challenges Podcast:

Cheering Past Challenges is a community of individuals seeking to overcome past and current trauma by seeking spiritual solutions.

Join Host, Rebecca Stewart, as she shares her journey of taking care of her mother with Schizophrenia. By focusing on Mental Health & Wellness, Rebecca offers insight on how to care for your loved ones during the most difficult moments of their lives.

About Unbinding Love:

"Bring purpose to your life."

Unbinding Love is a Christian Non-Fiction book that aims to provide hope for the caregiver/family member of someone who has Schizophrenia.

It is a heart guide of how to put yourself back on the to-do list, make the right priorities, and find yourself again so that you can thrive in your caregiving and bring purpose to your life.

Visit https://cheeringpastchallenges.com/unbinding-love/ to learn more!

Do you suffer from anxiety? Do you wake up in the middle of the night in a panic? Do you have feelings of fear for no reason at all? You are not alone. This mental condition affects 30% of the population. In fact, anxiety is the most common mental disorder amongst adults. The good news is that while you may be struggling with anxious thoughts, you are not alone in your struggle.

This week, I am sharing a few ways to cope with anxiety and how to find peace when your thoughts are racing. I share how to identify anxiety, what to do if you have it, and how to protect yourself, and your family, from the negative effects of anxiety. As I share personal experiences of when I feel the most anxious, my hope is that you are able to find healthy ways that work for you.

If there is one thing to know about anxiety, it's that isn't your fault. Anxiety isn't anything you caused. But with the help of therapy, community, and even simple breathing exercises, may we peace in the middle of the storm.

Topics Discussed:

• How genetics impact our probability of enduring anxiety
• Identifying anxiety in children and how to help them through
• Different steps to fight anxiety and panic attacks
• Why support from friends and family is necessary for healing
• How to cope during a panic attack
• Why open communication is essential for getting through a panic attack
• Scripture to give you comfort and peace through anxiety

Connect with Rebecca Stewart:

• Website: https://cheeringpastchallenges.com

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheeringpastchallenges

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheeringpastchallenges/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mrsbigsky/featured

About Cheering Past Challenges Podcast:

Cheering Past Challenges is a community of individuals seeking to overcome past and current trauma by seeking spiritual solutions.

Join Host, Rebecca Stewart, as she shares her journey of taking care of her mother with Schizophrenia. By focusing on Mental Health & Wellness, Rebecca offers insight on how to care for your loved ones during the most difficult moments of their lives.

About Unbinding Love:

"Bring purpose to your life."

Unbinding Love is a Christian Non-Fiction book that aims to provide hope for the caregiver/family member of someone who has Schizophrenia.

It is a heart guide of how to put yourself back on the to-do list, make the right priorities, and find yourself again so that you can thrive in your caregiving and bring purpose to your life.

Visit https://cheeringpastchallenges.com/unbinding-love/ to learn more!

Do you know someone who has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia? Whether it's a loved one or someone in your community, life can be very interesting. Unlike the hustle and bustle of everyday society, oftentimes life is much slower paced.

This week, I am sharing what it's like to live with someone with Schizophrenia. Growing up with a mother battling Schizophrenia, I learned a lot about loving people and extending compassion to those around me. While my childhood was unlike many others, life wasn't all bad. In fact, I believe that I am uniquely blessed to share this experience with my mom.

While living with someone with Schizophrenia may feel like a constant roller coaster of emotions, there are still beautiful moments along the way. Individuals diagnosed with Schizophrenia are still beautiful and equally loved by God. While some days may be harder for them to realize God's love for them, we have been appointed to show them that they are not alone.

Topics Discussed:

• Pros and cons of living with someone with Schizophrenia
• What to expect living life outside of social norms
• Living a slower paced, intentional life
• Learning to extend love and compassion towards others

Connect with Rebecca Stewart:

• Website: https://cheeringpastchallenges.com

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheeringpastchallenges

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheeringpastchallenges/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mrsbigsky/featured

About Cheering Past Challenges Podcast:

Cheering Past Challenges is a community of individuals seeking to overcome past and current trauma by seeking spiritual solutions.

Join Host, Rebecca Stewart, as she shares her journey of taking care of her mother with Schizophrenia. By focusing on Mental Health & Wellness, Rebecca offers insight on how to care for your loved ones during the most difficult moments of their lives.

About Unbinding Love:

"Bring purpose to your life."

Unbinding Love is a Christian Non-Fiction book that aims to provide hope for the caregiver/family member of someone who has Schizophrenia.

It is a heart guide of how to put yourself back on the to-do list, make the right priorities, and find yourself again so that you can thrive in your caregiving and bring purpose to your life.

Visit https://cheeringpastchallenges.com/unbinding-love/ to learn more!

Has God asked you to do something big? Whether it's a new project or a new adventure, you may be feeling like God has been asking you to do something. But, how many of us know that God is calling us to do something but we've been putting it off? Maybe it's something new and exciting and we're genuinely interested, but we're comfortable with where we're currently at. If there is one thing that I have learned is that no matter how hard you try to ignore your calling, it is there for a reason.

Recently in prayer, I hear God's calling on my life to write a book. I felt the tug in my spirit to write a book about my caregiving journey and what it's like to care for my mother battling Schizophrenia. This wasn't something that I could just shake. I knew deep down by following God's call on my life, He was going to work through me.

Maybe you've recently felt that gentle tug in your spirit. Many of you have big goals and dreams for your life. While it may feel uncomfortable at first, we have peace knowing that God is guiding us on this journey. The beautiful thing about our calling is that God chose us to exemplify that love to those around us. When we step into our divine purpose, we allow others to do the same.

Topics Discussed:

• Viewing discomfort as a sign to change our direction
• Learning to set aside distraction to pursue God's calling
• Finding peace in God's strength when you feel ill-equipped
• Uplifting bible verses to empower you on your calling
• Stepping into your Divine Purpose but letting go of the "shoulds"

Connect with Rebecca Stewart:

• Website: https://cheeringpastchallenges.com

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheeringpastchallenges

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheeringpastchallenges/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mrsbigsky/featured

About Cheering Past Challenges Podcast:

Cheering Past Challenges is a community of individuals seeking to overcome past and current trauma by seeking spiritual solutions.

Join Host, Rebecca Stewart, as she shares her journey of taking care of her mother with Schizophrenia. By focusing on Mental Health & Wellness, Rebecca offers insight on how to care for your loved ones during the most difficult moments of their lives.

About Unbinding Love:

"Bring purpose to your life."

Unbinding Love is a Christian Non-Fiction book that aims to provide hope for the caregiver/family member of someone who has Schizophrenia.

It is a heart guide of how to put yourself back on the to-do list, make the right priorities, and find yourself again so that you can thrive in your caregiving and bring purpose to your life.

Visit https://cheeringpastchallenges.com/unbinding-love/ to learn more!

Do you find that you have a hard time sticking up for yourself? Do you find yourself in the same struggles over and over again? Maybe it's happening at work with a co-worker or someone in your personal life that really challenges you. As hard as it may seem, we need to face these challenges head on in order to strengthen our relationships. But what if some of these challenges were deeper than we even realize? Oftentimes when we tackle the obstacles in our lives, it brings awareness to deeper rooted, internal issues.

This week, I am sharing how to heal your inner child. Whenever we have moments of feeling out of control or find common themes and patterns in our daily lives, it's important to look beneath the surface. Many of the struggles we face in our relationships resort back to a time where we were made to feel small. Traumatic experiences throughout our childhood can be fundamental to how we deal with trauma as adults.

In this episode, I share a personal experience I had with my therapist a few years ago and how I was able to heal my inner child. Healing your inner child is something that I talk about in my book, Unbinding Love, as it's imperative to our healing and self-love journey. When we embark on healing our past, we find that behind our greatest challenges, God shows us even greater blessings.

Topics Discussed:

• Learning to work through our struggles
• Recognizing triggers that aren't healed or identified
• Finding the "why" behind our challenges
• The Power of Therapy and Meditation
• Reminding our younger selves that we now have the tools to heal

Additional Resources:

• Homecoming: Reclaiming and Championing Your Inner Child

https://www.amazon.com/Homecoming-Reclaiming-Championing-Inner-Child/dp/0553353896

Connect with Rebecca Stewart:

• Website: https://cheeringpastchallenges.com

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheeringpastchallenges

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheeringpastchallenges/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mrsbigsky/featured

About Cheering Past Challenges Podcast:

Cheering Past Challenges is a community of individuals seeking to overcome past and current trauma by seeking spiritual solutions.

Join Host, Rebecca Stewart, as she shares her journey of taking care of her mother with Schizophrenia. By focusing on Mental Health & Wellness, Rebecca offers insight on how to care for your loved ones during the most difficult moments of their lives.

About Unbinding Love:

"Bring purpose to your life."

Unbinding Love is a Christian Non-Fiction book that aims to provide hope for the caregiver/family member of someone who has Schizophrenia.

It is a heart guide of how to put yourself back on the to-do list, make the right priorities, and find yourself again so that you can thrive in your caregiving and bring purpose to your life.

Visit https://cheeringpastchallenges.com/unbinding-love/ to learn more!

I'm going to be real with y'all and say that I'm struggling right now. If I'm being honest, we're all struggling right now with what we should or shouldn't be doing during a Global Pandemic. The holidays this past season were entirely different as many of us missed out on family gatherings and enjoying simple things like attending a Christmas Church service without feeling judged or intruding on someone's health. Things are very different right now. And as we're nearing an entire year since Covid-19, it's more than okay to acknowledge that times like these feel extremely tough.

This week, I am sharing 8 Things I'm Struggling with Right Now to give a little insight into where I am at mentally and emotionally. By sharing these obstacles that I am facing, I am setting the standard of embracing the hard things. It's so easy to run away from our problems. But if we don't first acknowledge what's going on in our environment, we can't truly heal and overcome them.

These are my honest thoughts and feelings about what's going on in our world right now. I can't help but think that these aren't entirely my own. If you're listening to this episode and are feeling the weight of the world, know that you are not alone in your struggle. There is hope and even though it may not feel like it now, things will look up from here.

Topics Discussed:

• Dealing with hardships and missed gatherings during the holidays
• The importance of self-care during isolation and quarantine
• How COVID has impacted familial decisions and increased worry
• Learning to protect myself and my family during a Global Pandemic
• Creating the mental space to be honest with our current struggles

Connect with Rebecca Stewart:

• Website: https://cheeringpastchallenges.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheeringpastchallenges

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheeringpastchallenges/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mrsbigsky/featured

About Cheering Past Challenges Podcast:

Cheering Past Challenges is a community of individuals seeking to overcome past and current trauma by seeking spiritual solutions.

Join Host, Rebecca Stewart, as she shares her journey of taking care of her mother with Schizophrenia. By focusing on Mental Health & Wellness, Rebecca offers insight on how to care for your loved ones during the most difficult moments of their lives.

About Unbinding Love:

"Bring purpose to your life."

Unbinding Love is a Christian Non-Fiction book that aims to provide hope for the caregiver/family member of someone who has Schizophrenia.

It is a heart guide of how to put yourself back on the to-do list, make the right priorities, and find yourself again so that you can thrive in your caregiving and bring purpose to your life.

Visit https://cheeringpastchallenges.com/unbinding-love/ to learn more!

Did you know 75% of all caregivers are women over the age of 45? Of that group, 25% are taking care of their own children and an aging parent at the same time, also known as a "sandwich caregiver". There are many lessons that I have learned over the last decade of taking care of my own mother. Some of which I am still learning today.

As caregivers, we all need simple reminders of the important work that we are doing. From self-care and creating healthy boundaries to healing your inner child and allowing God to work in your life. There are many things that we aren't able to control in life. Life may throw us curve balls and give us leadership positions we didn't ask for.

However, by taking hold of a few key reminders along the way, we can show up as our best selves in any given situation. As I share 10 truths every caregiver needs to know, may you be encouraged and inspired to keep pressing forward.

Topics Discussed

• How to take care of yourself before you take care of your loved ones
• Why you need to focus on healing your inner child
• Practicing self-care and embracing God's gifts within you
• Learning how to deal with things you have no control over in a spiritual manner
• Remembering to focus on the relationships
• How to go from a "scarcity" mindset to an "action" mindset
• Why we should set boundaries with safety mind

Connect with Rebecca Stewart

• Website: https://cheeringpastchallenges.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheeringpastchallenges

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheeringpastchallenges/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mrsbigsky/featured

About Cheering Past Challenges Podcast

Cheering Past Challenges is a community of individuals seeking to overcome past and current trauma by seeking spiritual solutions.

Join Host, Rebecca Stewart, as she shares her journey of taking care of her mother with Schizophrenia. By focusing on Mental Health & Wellness, Rebecca offers insight on how to care for your loved ones during the most difficult moments of their lives.

About Unbinding Love

"Bring purpose to your life."

Unbinding Love is a Christian Non-Fiction book that aims to provide hope for the caregiver/family member of someone who has Schizophrenia.

It is a heart guide of how to put yourself back on the to-do list, make the right priorities, and find yourself again so that you can thrive in your caregiving and bring purpose to your life.

Visit https://cheeringpastchallenges.com/unbinding-love/ to learn more!

Have you ever been to a Psych Hospital? Is it really like a prison? Does Hollywood portray an accurate experience? I'm here to tell you a few surprising facts about Psych Hospitals and what you can expect if you're going to one for the first time.

In this episode of Cheering Past Challenges, I walk you through what to expect and dispel any myths behind Psych Hospitals and Mental Wards. The truth is, it's going to feel awkward and uncomfortable at first. But, as I share a few of my experiences with my mother, my hope is that I am able to normalize the experience for you.

It can feel daunting visiting a Psych Ward, especially for the first time. But, there is peace in understanding that it's a safe environment for you or your loved one to rehab and get back to mental wellness.

Topics Discussed

• Differences between state medical/mental hospitals and privately owned hospitals
• What to expect checking in and visiting a loved one for the first time
• Normalizing the health, wellness, and care behind seeking professional help
• The various bizarre and unsettling behaviors from loved ones struggling mentally
• Dispelling the myths and stigmas behind visiting a Psych Ward

Connect with Rebecca Stewart

• Website: https://cheeringpastchallenges.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheeringpastchallenges

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheeringpastchallenges/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mrsbigsky/featured

About Cheering Past Challenges PodcastCheering Past Challenges is a community of individuals seeking to overcome past and current trauma by seeking spiritual solutions.

Join Host, Rebecca Stewart, as she shares her journey of taking care of her mother with Schizophrenia. By focusing on Mental Health & Wellness, Rebecca offers insight on how to care for your loved ones during the most difficult moments of their lives.

About Unbinding Love

"Bring purpose to your life."

Unbinding Love is a Christian Non-Fiction book that aims to provide hope for the caregiver/family member of someone who has Schizophrenia.

It is a heart guide of how to put yourself back on the to-do list, make the right priorities, and find yourself again so that you can thrive in your caregiving and bring purpose to your life.

Visit https://cheeringpastchallenges.com/unbinding-love/ to learn more!

Have you had Psychosis? Or have you known or loved somebody that has had Psychosis? If you're not sure, here are 10 signs to know when someone is about to enter Psychosis or if they are already in Psychosis.

As a disclaimer, I am not a Doctor or a Medical Professional. Everyone's experiences with Schizophrenia and Psychosis may differ from others. However, these are my thoughts, feelings, and emotions based on personal experiences with my mother.

If you are or a loved one is suffering from Schizophrenia and/or Psychosis, know that you are not alone. By having open and honest conversations, we are able to find freedom from our illnesses.

Topics Discussed

• Recognizing isolation as an indication of the early onset of Psychosis
• How our environment is shaped by our thought patterns
• Why patients often resort to taboo behaviors and inappropriate discussion
• How to spot delusional thinking and abnormal behavioral patterns
• Behaviors to look for in the later phase(s) of Psychosis

Connect with Rebecca Stewart

• Website: https://cheeringpastchallenges.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheeringpastchallenges

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheeringpastchallenges/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/mrsbigsky/featured

About Cheering Past Challenges Podcast

Cheering Past Challenges is a community of individuals seeking to overcome past and current trauma by seeking spiritual solutions.

Join Host, Rebecca Stewart, as she shares her journey of taking care of her mother with Schizophrenia. By focusing on Mental Health & Wellness, Rebecca offers insight on how to care for your loved ones during the most difficult moments of their lives.

About Unbinding Love

"Bring purpose to your life."

Unbinding Love is a Christian Non-Fiction book that aims to provide hope for the caregiver/family member of someone who has Schizophrenia.

It is a heart guide of how to put yourself back on the to-do list, make the right priorities, and find yourself again so that you can thrive in your caregiving and bring purpose to your life.

Visit https://cheeringpastchallenges.com/unbinding-love/ to learn more!