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This episode is a celebration of resilience, creativity, and faith. Cathy, our esteemed guests, shares her transformative experiences of overcoming depression. She sheds light on the therapeutic power of writing and art, the importance of maintaining rituals amidst the chaos of a pandemic, and the transformative power of mindset and faith. Dive into their inspiring stories that are sure to touch your heart and possibly change your perspective on life's toughest challenges. Listen in and take away valuable insights on healing and fortitude
We have the privilege of unfolding the gripping journey of Catherine Jean-Francois, who began her battle with depression at the tender age of 12. Catherine's raw and honest account of her life portrays depression in a light that many often fail to see, and through her story, she emphasizes the significance of understanding and confronting mental well-being.
This episode is a celebration of resilience, creativity, and faith. Cathy, our esteemed guests, shares her transformative experiences of overcoming depression. She sheds light on the therapeutic power of writing and art, the importance of maintaining rituals amidst the chaos of a pandemic, and the transformative power of mindset and faith. Dive into their inspiring stories that are sure to touch your heart and possibly change your perspective on life's toughest challenges. Listen in and take away valuable insights on healing and fortitude.
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Speaker 1:
Hello, hello. Welcome back one more time. God's Diamonds in the Rough, the podcast. We are so glad you are here with us on today. If you don't know who we are, we are your hosts. I am Catherine.
Speaker 2:
And I am.
Speaker 1:
Michael, all right, and if you didn't know it, we are husband and wife and we are just truly here to help you see the diamond in yourself, despite what it might feel like, despite what it might look like. We all know we got to pray, but we also want to let you know we have a guest today. And we're going to let her introduce herself, because it's very difficult for me to say her last name.
Speaker 3:
And so therefore.
Speaker 1:
I don't want to tear it up like I did the first time, so we're going to actually pray, and then the next voice you'll hear would be. Her first name is Catherine, as mine, so Ms Catherine is going to say hello. After we pray, let us pray.
Speaker 2:
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you right now for your grace and your mercy. We thank you for your love and kindness and tenderness. We pray in the name of Jesus, begging your forgiveness for anything we might have said, done or thought that's not pleasing your sight. That you will grace, you, forgive us and catch us back in the picture of where it came from. We counsel any assignment of the enemy that will be sent back into the picture of where it came from. We pray in the name of Jesus. Your Holy Spirit will just reign in us and through us as it has its way. We pray in the name of Jesus for the ones that have no desire to know who you are. We pray in the name of Jesus for the ones that want to know who you are but don't know how to do it. We also pray in the name of Jesus for the ones that just know who you are but backslidden and feel imperfect. We pray in the name of Jesus. Your Holy Spirit power will just treat them and teach them your way. We pray in the name of Jesus. Once again, counsel any assignment of the enemy, for it has no power, no authority, no dominion. But your word say that we do. We pray in the name of Jesus that you just have your way In Jesus Christ, holy and maximum His name. We do say thank you. We say amen, amen amen, amen.
Speaker 1:
All right, ms. Captain Say hello to us, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Speaker 3:
Hi everyone. I am Cathy Chambresois and I'm a teacher, I'm a writer, I'm an author. I have a podcast called Cathy's Cross a Depressive, positive Perspective. I'm sorry, not a podcast, a blog. It's a blog where I focus on my positive outlook, on my experiences as someone who suffers with depression, and I use my experience to create the inner conflict of my main character in my forthcoming novel, self-published novel, the Box.
Speaker 1:
Okay, that's awesome. I mean, I'm so glad that, anyhow, you're still, you know, moving in the purpose of God for your life, because we know sometimes, when you know things ain't going the way we expected and you know we're dealing with this and we're dealing with that, we allow it to dominate our thinking and our steps. And so, you know, it is awesome thing that you are here and ready to talk about this subject of depression, because so many people deal with it every day.
Speaker 3:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
And so our first question I would say what are the signs? What would you say the signs of depression are and how it has definitely affected you.
Speaker 3:
Okay. So this is such an interesting question because I was just looking at on Instagram a post where it says that, a picture of Robin Williams, and it says something like um, people are good at hiding, um, they're hiding how they feel, something, something to that effect. And I think it's interesting that you asked what are some of the signs of depression, because it's not always easy to see the signs of depression, because people do hide it, which is what I did like for many, many years. Um, people would see me and I'm always laughing and joking, but didn't know that I was hurt on the inside. So what depression looked like for me was someone who I, I was always beating up on myself. I did not. I never gave myself any grace whenever I messed up on something. I it was I'm, I'm stupid, this, I'm dumb, this and um, yeah, and I was always so sad, depressed, never wanting to go outside. I didn't want to be around people. Um, I, you know I would, I would smile in people's faces but go home and cry and hate myself, and just you know I so it. It looked for me like just somebody who was filled with self hate and filled with this um, idea that no one in the world understood or could possibly understand what I was going through. I didn't even understand what I was going through, so that that was what depression was for me, and just you know, kind of torturing myself and being in a dark place, yeah.
Speaker 1:
Right, and how long have you been dealing with it?
Speaker 3:
For about, I'm going to say, over 30 years, um, and I first so. So in my, in my effort to really overcome and not really overcome, but to understand my depression, I really reflected and thought about when it had started, what caused it, and I realized that it was when I was around 12 years old, because prior to that I remember being a happy child. I remember laughing and hanging out with friends and just being happy. But after that time where I was sexually molested, I guess you could say I was never raped, I was just touched. Somebody touched me the wrong way and he made insinuation that this was going to be our secret. And when it dawned on me what was happening, I retaliated. I did fight against him, but after that moment it was when I started feeling like you're so stupid, how could you let something like that happen? Just blaming myself, never blaming him, blaming myself for what had happened, and the self-hatred began then. And so, in my effort to really understand myself and what I was going through, I remembered that scene and I remembered how I felt after that time. And so and I never told an adult, I barely told anyone around me, and it was then that I really felt like it was no one in the world that could possibly understand what I was going through, and so what it looked like for me was just constant sadness, crying at times when I could seemingly be happy, just feeling low, not wanting to go out anywhere, staying in a dark place. That's what it looked like for me, wow.
Speaker 1:
Michael, do you have any thoughts before I ask the next question?
Speaker 2:
Yeah, do I.
Speaker 1:
No, I was asking Michael had any thoughts before I asked your next question to you.
Speaker 2:
You know, as I sit back and think, is more of a statement, as what is the question when you say that you didn't feel like nobody knew? You know all that. You kept it as a secret. You know, you didn't tell anybody, and I see that you have a twin sister. Would you say that she might have felt the result of what she was going through you? Know, because they. You know, we all hear that you know our twins. If we have twins, you know they can feel certain things, although they don't experience it.
Speaker 3:
My sister and I have talked about this and, to the best that I can understand it, she felt sympathetic towards what I was feeling, but she never struggled with depression like I did. You know there are times when she's sad and you know she's upset about something, which we all are, because that's the human condition, but she never went into a dark place like I did. She could only feel sympathetic towards me and you know it's funny because a few months ago I found a card that she wrote to me years ago. You know, in the cards she wrote something like I don't know how to help you. This is the best that I can do, you know.
Speaker 1:
So, yeah, you know what I'm hearing? I just hear you say that you're suffering from depression, but I hear you conquering depression, and so no longer are you victim of depression. But you're moving and living in a mind, in a sense, that says I'm conquering and it's to say that the process hasn't stopped for me, you know what I mean and this is what we have to understand that my process might take longer than yours, but it doesn't mean I won't come out victorious because I'm still going through the process.
Speaker 3:
Does that make sense? Oh, absolutely, absolutely. I'm still going through it because I still feel it every once in a while and you know, with life changes and big moves that I'm making, I doubt myself and sometimes I struggle with feelings of inadequacy and feelings of worthlessness. I still struggle with that, but I am conquering it because I've made a conscious decision to do so and because I'm going to say this this is really, really important when someone is suffering with depression, they don't want to stay in that place. However they are, it's almost like it renders them unable to move out of that dark place. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So it's really important that we have people around us that will help us. That will be where we need to be. Like, if we need to be in that dark place, they will understand that. But once we are ready to make that tiny move out of that dark place, they're there to help us, to pull us out, and I feel like that. That's what my sister and my cousins did for me. So I didn't do it alone. I could not have done it alone.
Speaker 1:
I get it. So you know and what have. What are some of the things that you've done? You mentioned the blog. How has that helped you?
Speaker 3:
How is that helped? So it's so interesting because it was when I decided that I was going to start a blog to talk about the ways that I conquered depression. I felt almost like, wow, this is my calling. And it felt really good. And because I started that blog, I started really going back to my therapy sessions, thinking about, you know, reflecting about all the times when I was at my darkest moments and writing it down, writing about how I conquered that, and it sort of became a release for me. Like it was cathartic in writing down what had happened to me, writing down the feelings that I felt in my lowest depressive states. It almost as if I call it my depression monster. It's almost as if I was taking my depression monster out of me and just slapping it onto the page and letting it live there. So it was a release for me. So that's I think writing helped me, has helped me and continues to help me tremendously in that manner.
Speaker 1:
Right. So I know that here we do. We do what we call healing art and we had a young lady who came in about two years ago with this idea. You know that art can help people heal and reach those places that a therapist can get to and reach places. You know that we didn't realize that we could go and you know, pointing to the word of God and art was, you know it was, and it is a way that speaks in ways that a lot of things just don't work for some people. So you know I said all of that to say. Would you definitely, would you agree that you know that God has, in his wisdom, given us things that help alleviate the stress of the world? You know the traumatic experiences and all of that.
Speaker 3:
Absolutely. First and foremost, I believe that that God has a very specific intention with each of us. He never, he will never, give us issues that he knows we cannot deal with. You know what I mean? So I was, I was, I'm gonna say I was given this, but I suffer with depression, and for many, many years I suffered it alone. But eventually I was able to see that I could do something with it, and not just for myself, but for other people as well. But first and foremost, I had to help myself right. So, by writing, by using it, by doing all the things that I'd done, which I could talk about a little bit more detail later that I was able to lift myself out of that dark place enough to start preaching it. Not preaching it, but, like you know, sharing it with others. Yeah, absolutely so. I was. In essence, I had to go through this depression in order to help myself and in order to help others. So I really believe that God has provided me with the tools that I need in order to conquer this thing called depression.
Speaker 1:
The hazard impact of the way you teach.
Speaker 3:
You know, I feel like it does, because part of what I do to combat depression is I keep a positive mindset, because at one point in my life I was very negative. Anything that came out of my mouth was negative. Anything that people shed some light on, I'd be like I'd be poo-pooing on it, you know, right right. So in my effort to overcome depression not even before my effort to overcome depression when I started going through positive self affirmations and positive quotes of the day, I found myself really resonating with these positive quotes and positive messages and I brought them directly to my students. I'd be like, hey, you guys, what was the best thing that happened to you today? You know? So that has helped and the students love talking about the best things that they happen and they look forward to it. So I feel like in that aspect, in that respect I have it has helped with my teaching.
Speaker 2:
I got a question for you. So was your depression impacted or changed by COVID?
Speaker 3:
I'm going to say very little. There was a point where, because I'm a teacher, we were still work, teachers were still working, but we're just working from home, and so it was just a different stress. And I have to say that, being an introvert, I did not mind at first being quarantined, I didn't mind staying home every day and working from home, but I think after a while it kind of got to me. After a while I was just like OK, this is not normal, I need to step out. And my husband and I would go on walks in the mornings and I found that I really look forward to those walks, wear our masks and we just take a walk to the park around the neighborhood and then come back. And I really felt that that helped me and my husband actually keep a positive mindset, because I think fresh air really helps with that. But I have to say that in that time, during COVID, I kept up all the rituals that I had already set in place that conquered the depression, for instance, meditating every morning, saying the self affirmations, positive self affirmations, and writing. All of those things I continued doing through the depression I mean, I'm sorry through COVID and the quarantine and so the lockdown, I should say, and I think that helped me overcome any type of serious depression that I would have gone into during that time, because it barely affected my mental state, I think.
Speaker 1:
Right. So what it sounds like you're saying your mindset has everything to do with everything, because if you are wavering in what you're going to do, then you'll be moved by your emotions. You'll be moved by this, that and the other, and so depression and anything else. If you want to defeat it, that means that you got to make up your mind that you want to defeat it.
Speaker 2:
You know what I mean I say it all the time.
Speaker 1:
It's kind of like one of those things we pray and pray, ask God, take this from me, take this from me. And it's like if you don't give it to him, then he can't give you the way to get out of it. You know what I mean. He can't even set up the process for you until you're ready to walk in the process.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, absolutely, it is a mindset and unfortunately it's a very challenging mindset for many people to adopt.
Speaker 1:
Right.
Speaker 3:
So yeah.
Speaker 1:
Absolutely so. Tell everyone how they can read your blog and how they can get connected to you.
Speaker 3:
Sure, so my blog is kathiescrosswordpresscom and I have an Instagram account as well where I promote the blog, and it's kathy underscore, marie and the number one, and on Facebook I'm kathy jeffresois on Facebook, and you could always. I don't have my own landing page or a website or anything. The only website I have is my blog, but people have sent me messages through Instagram and on Facebook as well. But other than that, I am working on the final edits of my novel and I'm going to be promoting it highly and I pretty much feel like it's kind of important for me to have a landing page for that. But I'll be putting it onto my social media sites as well.
Speaker 1:
Right. Well, there's definitely ways, or there ain't ways, for us to really do. I'm going to say like this do things that we really don't. For me he's going to put ways in front of me that I was just like I don't know how to do this. I need to do a website, I need to do this and I need to do that, but I don't really exactly know how to do it. And he just kind of put it before me and say here you go, and so, after we're all done and done, I'm going to give you a link. So that way that'll help you, because it helped us.
Speaker 3:
So I'll definitely give it to you, I'm sure that it will help you.
Speaker 1:
But at the end of the day and you look at what you've gone through, what you're going through, what is, let me say, what have you learned in this process of moving? Because really there was a shift. Whereas one time you was a victim, now you're walking in victory, though you don't even though you still deal with the same issue. You're at a different space of time, place.
Speaker 3:
Yeah.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, and so tell us what have you learned during the process and as you continue to go through it.
Speaker 3:
Oh gosh, that's a really good question. I'm going to say that I've learned oh, I know I've learned patience with myself and I've learned grace to really forgive myself for being so hard on myself, forgive myself for the little things as well as the big things, and to take it one day at a time, really, because it was a slow process. It didn't just happen overnight. You know what I mean, that's right.
Speaker 1:
And that's a powerful thing, because it don't take a whole lot for us to start to get into stuff, but it takes us a while to get out of it. Yes, Actually. So we just have to allow grace to be effective in our life. We got to allow mercy to be. Allow mercy to work for us. Not against us, but for us, and four and verse eight is powerful because you know the writer, which is Paul. He says to us you know, for us to really focus on what's true, focus on what is just, focus on what is honest, pure, lovely and if you know a good report and whatever you know, whatever you, what you're focusing on in doing that, that's virtue. And he said what? That's the thing. On those things, no matter where you are, no matter in your process, where you are, look at what's true.
Speaker 3:
You're here, you know what I mean.
Speaker 1:
You are above ground and not underground. You know, things ain't everything. Things may not be exactly the way you want it to be. But, with the hand of God, he can make you know you feel like you at the back of the line. He could turn that thing around you at the front of the line.
Speaker 3:
Yep.
Speaker 1:
You know what I mean, so depression doesn't have to defeat you.
Speaker 3:
No.
Speaker 1:
And nothing else has to defeat you, because Jesus defeated depression. Jesus defeated anything that can come at you that would move you out of position and out of purpose. Just trusting in him, would you say that has been what has really brought you through this journey, that you're on trusting in the Lord.
Speaker 3:
Oh yeah, I think most definitely Real quick. I just want to say that I used to always pray the Lord, lord, please be with me, please be by my side. I used to always repeat that to me and then one day I realized I was like, no wait, I'm saying the wrong thing, because he is always on my side. So then I started saying the Lord is with me, the Lord is by my side, the Lord is with me, the Lord is by my side. Any time that I feel a little bit, you know, not as confident in myself, any time I feel like I'm going through a situation that may be nerve wracking, anytime I always repeat that and I always feel so much better.
Speaker 1:
Hallelujah, amen. So, michael, you have a final thought to everything this man's saying.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I would definitely say we got to take it for granted and ready to listen to what God tells us. Because there's a scripture in I think it's in 1 Corinthians 50, I mean 15. And 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 55, that he takes the sting out of death. And we got to realize, you know, everything that we go through he takes it, he takes the sting out of it so that the things that we go through in life it doesn't hurt, and you know it doesn't hurt, but it teaches us the lesson of life that everything and it goes further back to our very first episode of Ecclesiastes 3, that everything is a purpose in life. You know, it's everything that we go through, whether it's the depression, the guilt, the shame, the sorrow, the hurt, the pain, everything has to happen to get us to the point where God wants us. Because and I said this plenty of times and I said again, if we do not go through things in life, would we really turn to God? And that's the question because you know, if we don't go through stuff, would we get into our word or would that word just collect dust sitting on the shelf? That's right and that's a thought that we all can reflect on is if we don't go through things and, as they always say, go through hell and hot water. If you don't go through hell and hot water, would you really turn to God, would you?
Speaker 3:
really ask.
Speaker 2:
God to save you through things in life if you don't go through stuff.
Speaker 3:
Right.
Speaker 1:
Ms Kathy, what's your final word, honey?
Speaker 3:
That message. In my message, I want to say that we all are dealing with something. I feel that it's important that we turn to the things that we love in order to help us out of the desperation that we may feel. I just want to land with that, amen.
Speaker 1:
Father, we thank you so much. Thank you so much for this opportunity to be able to speak to a problem that's overcoming so many people. Thank you, god, that you have given us a living testimony that you can make it through. Pray, god, that you will continue to bless her, bless her ministry, bless her writings, bless her mind and her heart, bless everyone that is associated and attached to her, or that she goes forth to do what you have called her to do. Pray, god, in the name of Jesus, in the darkest hour, that she won't quit, she won't give up, and I speak that not only for Miss Kathy, but for every diamond that is here. We're all going through things, through life. I pray, god, that you will give us the strength, give us the power, the endurance to go through. You say you did not give us a spirit of fear. I pray, god, that we would always remember that you did not give us a spirit of fear, that without faith it is impossible to please you. I pray in the name of Jesus, lord, you will continue to shape us for the walk, for the journey, god, that you have placed us on, that we will be faithful and ready to do what it is that is needed to be done. Father, we bless you and we bless everyone here. We pray to thy prayers. I'm pleasing in your sight. In Jesus' name, we do pray, amen, amen. We thank you so much for being here with us. Well, I was going to say one more time, but thank you for being here.
Speaker 3:
Thank you. Thank you so much for having me. I really enjoyed our discussion.
Speaker 1:
Yes, ma'am, we surely do appreciate it. Just hold on one second. We're going to talk to you after All, right?
Speaker 2:
honey. All right, y'all. Y'all know what time it is. Until next time, remember you are a diamond in the rock.
Writer
I have suffered with depression long before I even understood what depression was. In an effort to alleviate my suffering, I treated my depression with acupuncture, talk therapy, medication, meditation, positive self-talk, exercise and research to get a better understanding of what I was dealing with. I am very proud to say that I found the perfect combination of treatments that helps me get through my daily life. I would love to share my experience with those who continue to suffer.
