Intro to Pressed

Purpose… this is an important word, we all want to know what- is our purpose…

Let me introduce myself, and share a little bit about me and the purpose of starting this blog.

My name is Amanda, and I am newly 30 years old; I have enjoyed the last three decades of my life with a lot of highs and lows. I am married to my hubby of almost six years and we have one son- these are the main men in my life <3. I am an LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker). I went to Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, for my bachelor’s degree and then to the University of Michigan for my master’s degree. Within the last ten years of my life I practiced as a School Social Worker, working primarily in urban areas with at-risk youth and families, and shortly after I began working as a trauma therapist with children and adolescent victims of sexual abuse.

Before you read my next point and exit, hear me out: I follow Jesus. I know some Christians can present themselves in a, hmmm, not so “Godly” fashion; Judgmental, pretentious, exclusive, and closed minded are some of the words that come to mind. Basically, things that ironically Christ taught against. This is why I don’t call myself a Christian, but a follower of Jesus. I may not be the best example of Christ at all times, (as a matter of fact, I know I’m not), but I hope I do not present myself in the ways mentioned above. If I do, then I need to check myself. I do, however, try to consistently practice Christ’s golden rule, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” (Mark 12:31). The emphasis is on both NEIGHBOR and SELF because they are equally important, which I will dive into as this blog goes on. So, if you’re not a Christian I’m not here to force Christianity down your throat, that’s not what this blog is about. Yes, I believe in God and Jesus, and I do like to talk about my faith because it is central to my life; However, I’m aware that not everyone feels this way. Cool, stick around- Welcome!

I have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, aka, OCD. Yeahhh, not fun. Any other OCD sufferers out there know this well. As a matter of fact anyone with any sort of mental health issues, I know you’re the real MVPs, because not only do you have to function in your external world, but you have to simultaneously battle your internal world. Brothers and sisters, I am here for you the most. Living with OCD was one of my main motivations for beginning this blog. I want to reach out to those who struggle with OCD or other mental health conditions as well; you are not alone and there is help out there!

So Why Pressed?
When I was thinking of naming this blog, the word “pressed” stuck out in my mind. I had an awesome friend highlight how the word “press” is found within the word depression, and that stuck with me. Press. Pressed. Then I thought, if we feel pressed in too much, it gets really hard to press on. I’m assuming this is true no matter where you are in life, or how young or old you are. However, I want you to know that there’s a light at the end of the tunnel; At times we may feel hard pressed, but we’re not crushed and we don’t have to stay defeated*.

Now back to that word purpose: I hope I’ve started to paint a picture of what the purpose of this blog is- to continue shining light on mental health, self-care, and figuring out your purpose in life. In my opinion, these three things go hand in hand especially when we are comparing our accomplishments (or lack there of) to our peers, or flat out feel like we’re fading into the background. I think we’ve all been there, and I’m no exception.

Lastly, I would like to highlight that I have listed some mental health resources on the bottom of my home page, for your reference. I may list additional resources as this blog progresses. Please, don’t be a hero; You don’t need to go through what you’re going through alone. Get the help you need, it’s only one click away.

So friend- let’s keep pressing on,

-Amanda