Tremors, sweats and anxiety led her to check into a hospital to overcome her depression: “I thought I was fine, but I had to go back”
“Over time, I realized that I was not getting any better. So, I decided to check myself in because I needed to find tranquility, peace of mind and professional support . The first moment, when I had to leave my house, my things and stay in the place with people I didn't know, was not pleasant .”
Aldana Terzaghi could not take it anymore, she could not cope. She was scared, anxious, hopeless and showed a certain apathy because she could not find a solution to her problem and she saw a very dark future. She was convinced that in order to move forward she needed a lot of time and that her body and soul were not going to be able to meet those deadlines.
“It all started in March 2018. My first symptoms were tremors, sweating , and especially a lot of anxiety : wanting to do everything and not realizing it and not stopping. At that time, I had started a business, in addition to my work as a nutritionist and my occupations as a mother. That pace led me, over time, to sleep less , to have much more anxiety, thoughts of frustration and anguish ,” Aldana recalls.
Two months after starting her business, she decided to start therapy because she needed to control all the symptoms she had. However, despite her therapist’s willingness, Aldana did not feel any improvement. And so, with the support of her family, she made the decision to check herself in. “I remember that what impressed me the most was leaving my shoelaces in the infirmary. My family visited me every day and we also talked on the phone. And although I didn’t have suicidal thoughts, I did feel a lot of anxiety, I cried a lot.”
Aldana was admitted to a private clinic and after the talks she had with all the professionals who were part of the interdisciplinary team of specialists, she was diagnosed with depression and anxiety . From that moment on, even though she was not completely convinced, they decided to medicate her. “I met people who were going through the same thing as me, but also other more complex ones. We did workshops and had shared meetings so I managed to build nice bonds with the other patients. Sometimes we played cards at long tables, we had yoga and drawing classes and every night we did activities to sharpen the mind.”
What she didn't like about the rooms was that the windows were "very small and had horrible bars," but emphasizing the glass half full, she says that there were plants that she watered from time to time to give them life.
At the clinic, she says, she had to comply with strict schedules and the plan of tasks scheduled for treatment. “At first I left early because I thought I was fine, but I had to go back . After being hospitalized, I went to a Day Hospital, where I went for a couple of hours and there were also workshops.”
What she is most grateful for was the professional care and empathy of the specialists who treated her. As they noticed that her thoughts were changing course and that she had managed to lower her levels of anxiety and distress, they discharged her.
Once out of the clinic, Aldana continued therapy with her psychologist and with visits to her psychiatrist, who over time reduced her medication and after three years she no longer needed to take more psychotropic drugs .
“ Physical activity also helped me a lot. At that time I started walking and today I also play tennis. And at first I also took painting classes. My motivation was always wanting to feel better , that helped me a lot to get out and not stay where I was.”
What things did you learn from that difficult moment?
My ability to be resilient, to look for my strengths and to hold on to them. And to be convinced that if it happened, it happened so that I could grow and become stronger.
What precautions do you take to avoid going through a similar situation?
Therapy (I still go once a month) gave me a lot of tools to prevent the same thing from happening again, but I think that not being too demanding, being able to put on the brakes and listening to what my body is telling me is fundamental.
What things do you dream about?
Enjoying everyday life, being a great professional and eventually having my own nutrition center. And traveling to see the most beautiful places in the world with my children.
A message for those who are going through a similar situation
Mental health has its treatment, it is possible to move forward. There are positive changes and we must work hard with all those beliefs or thoughts that led us to discomfort. And when we achieve all that, we find a lot of happiness and we can do things that, perhaps, we never thought we would achieve.
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