Heather Baumgardner

Background

About Heather Baumgardner

My Story – Why I tried so many different things and why now it’s different. Over 20 years ago, I was labeled as having a bipolar-depression disorder. Finally making sense of my thoughts- sure. Fun being labeled bipolar in such a small town with the same kids you graduated with since kindergarten- NO! What I have, is a medical condition others end up living on disability for. There’s no fixing it, there’s no cure. There comes with this condition: serious clinical depression (and yes, there have been days I reconsidered being alive), anxiety- major social anxiety, memory loss, and sensory overload. “Normal” life was not in the cards for me, but I refuse to resort to living off the government, what little they even would provide me to ‘survive off of’ – besides now, choosing not to even have recognized having a disability – providing for 3 children. I refuse to live in a predicament that would put my children in a predicament that they didn’t ask for. Or choosing which weeks to pay bills, not affording vacations, or taking my teenage daughter shopping. Waiting till Friday to go to the grocery store, because all the money went to bills. I know this is not my life. I know, regardless of what doctors wanted to label me, I was meant for more. Especially more than a less than even average life. I refuse to be a statistic. My children deserve everything I can provide them. I can make it. I can survive. I can be successful! If my husband wants a weekend get-away… we can go. If my little girl wants a new dress… we can go pick out a new dress. If my son wants to sign up for soccer… we can sign up for soccer. I will not be the reason my children are held back in life! So here I am. Now, I can help others overcome how life may be trying to hold them back. I was determined not to be stuck. I was determined to have more. I knew my life had more meaning. Now, I feel so fulfilled by helping others, who are like me in any kind of way. I believe we can all empower each other. It caused me to find my purpose. So here I am.#fliptheswitch #feelbetter #domore I did just that.