Crochet Saved My Life

This is a really hard post to write, but I think it's important.  There's been so much sadness and beauty around the death of Wink, A Creative Being, and creator of many beautiful crochet mandalas.  My only connection to her is through instagram, but it's impossible to miss the waves of compassion coming from the crochet community for her family and in her honor.

She was featured in the amazing book 'Crochet Saved my Life' by Kathryn Vircello, author of Crochet Concupiscene blog, and a very talented lady.  I don't usually share personal things here, I don't feel like I want people to see or know that side of me, or feel that I'm looking for sympathy or am somehow weak.  But that's the point, it's not weak, and the more people share their experiences, the less stigma is attached mental health issues, and the more help people can get.

Crochet has saved my life too.  I've been suffering from PTSD for two years now, (I don't want to share why) but I have crippling health anxiety which is overwhelming; fear, terror, depression, they're all things that come unbidden and daily.  But crochet has honestly helped me through, and continues to do so.  The rhythm is soothing, getting lost in counting endless rows and rounds.  When I'm getting worked up and distraught, I can pick up my hook and yarn, and the feel of it starts to work it's magic straight away.  It can bring me peace, often when nothing else can.

It's so so sad that Wink felt that there wasn't another way out, and I truly understand that.  I'm lucky, only very recently was I finally able to ask for help and am now in the process of finding a way to heal.

There is no shame in having a mental health issue, there really isn't.

Love and thoughts to Marinke's family. xxx