I do have a story to tell about my life dealing with depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and suicide attempts. I am working on it at the present time and it will be a long process to get it composed. I want to help others with my story and hope it will inspire others to not give up and know that it will get better.

                                                                                                                  Sincerely,

                                                                                                                   Shonna

7 years ago I was plagued with an overwhelming reign of fear, confusion, anxiety and depression, to the point of suicide. I now know that my demise was the onset of schizophrenia. After several attempts with suicide and hospital visits I was finally referred to a mental health physician. He evaluated me with any insight and information I could give him. Unfortunately I was too paranoid to put all my trust in the doctors. I thought if I admitted all my ailments I would get locked away for good. 

It took 4 years for me to get diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, mean while for the next four years living in unimaginable fear of everything. I was originally diagnosed as depressed. I can’t begin to explain the depression fear and confusion within these next 4 years but things kept getting worse and I didn’t care anymore if they locked me away. In desperation i broke down and finally admitted all my symptoms and relief was at my doorstep. 

My doctor was able to put me on the right medication. Don’t get me wrong it took a lot of work on both of our parts to get the right dosage of meds but perseverance paid off. Don’t give up on the meds because you don’t feel totally right or they cause side effects. Eventually these wear off and you’ll feel like you again.

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Sometimes the trauma we experience is not definable in terms of scientific research or assessments. Sometimes depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are never actually diagnosed but somehow those of us who experience these issues deal with them on a daily basis and find inspiration and hope in our communities and inside ourselves.  

I, like many others, have experienced multiple traumas in my life including rape, abandonment, intimate partner violence, a diagnosis of a “terminal” disease, homelessness, and drug addiction.  Yet, somehow, I have made it through these experiences and found help along the way.  Not from the system of care (as many of us know, the system of care is not really designed to “care”), I found help in the support and love from others who have also experienced similar things.  It is their courage and compassion that gave me the strength to keep moving forward.  It is their determination and insight that helped me work through the pain and fear.  

I am forever grateful for those who guided me along the way.  Your support will never be forgotten.  Your support helped me to not only find a new way to live but to follow my passion and help others.  Even though I have been dragged through the mud, I know my worth and value has not changed.  Today, I am working on a PhD. and hope that the work I do, the community bridges from research and academia to the real world I build, can help inspire others.  May you find love and peace in your hearts

My father was a drug addict, paranoid schizophrenic, dealer and hoarder.

Growing up was traumatic to say the least, I ended up moving out at age 15.

Currently I am 28, a father to be, high school teacher and martial arts instructor.

My whole life I have been dealing with depression, anxiety and other mental health concerns.

I found that the best therapy came from writing my story, first in the form of poetry then in a book. Even if you only write for your self, please do it. It will help!

Hi everyone! This is my story of my mental health journey and how I am still coping with my past. When I was in seventh grade I started self harming. I have always struggled with social anxiety and making friends. It was very minor and started getting worse when my older brother attempted suicide. I started having therapy that didn’t help. When I got into high school everything started getting worse. I started being a top runner in cross country and track and had a lot of pressure on my shoulders to do well. I started self harming again to deal with the stress. My self harming included cutting and anorexia. My sophomore year of high school my best friend was put into a traumatizing situation with a trafficking ring. I was the adult in her situation because none of the adults at our school were much help. I developed ptsd as a result of the things that happened. I attempted suicide once my sophomore year and was in the hospital for a week. I started better therapy, but was still dealing with bad coping skills. My eating disorder got severe and I almost died during my junior cross country season. I continued to cut severely and was put into treatment for 2.5 months. When I got discharged I started to have ptsd attacks, nightmares, and anxiety attacks. I also got diagnosed with OCD during this time. Since I got discharged I have attempted twice. I am now writing this as a junior in high school during the COVID-19 pandemic. I am still struggling everyday, but am trying to be strong for my best friend.

Is it ok to not be ok?

I have to tell myself at times that it is ok to not be ok. When the depression comes at times, instead of fighting it, I stop. Cry it out. When I get anxious, I do what I need to do to calm down. I have coping skills and my support system to help me managed my mental health. Although times are good, but the times that are not so good comes to surface. I get angry with not only others, but myself as well some times. No one understands me, but those that goes through the same thing. Only us that has been diagnosed with a mental health disorder understand each other. Opening up is not always easy as people think. Telling others that I am not ok can bring a lot of questions that we are not wanting to anxiety. Afraid to call in to work again because your anxiety is high. They’re aware of your mental anxiety, you tell them that you have been anxious because of the crowded room they put you in. Plus they add more people, and still expect you to tough it out. Is it really to be ok when its not ok? I understand shutting down, go into that comfortable place alone, and not talking about what is wrong. I promise I know that place all so well. Whether ok or not ok. It is ok! You are not alone at all. We may never meet, but we all are fighting together. We all have a voice for each other! When one can’t speak, I promise you we speak for each other! 😇😀

Many people who don’t know me on a personal level may be surprised to learn that I have suffered with depression and anxiety, at times very severe, for over 15 years. I’ve always been an “emotional” or “sensitive” person, but in about 6th grade I realized I could not handle my emotions without becoming overwhelmed. My thoughts often turned to suicide and I began harming myself. I discovered writing and it became an outlet for me to express my pain. And yes, I was in pain; mentally and physically, I hurt everyday.  No one in my family or my circle of friends ever expressed any real concern in my condition, instead it was mocked or joked about, so I assumed it was in my head and I could handle it myself.

Over the years my anxiety and depression got worse and I just continued to ignore it. It interfered with my relationships, be it family, friends or romantic, work, school; every aspect of my life. After having my son I developed what I know now was postpartum depression. I felt worthless, hopeless and again had thoughts of suicide. My mental state had gotten so bad it was destroying my marriage. Deep down I knew my inability to control my depression and anxiety were destroying my marriage and my family.

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Hi I go by Brooksie D. Thompson and here is my story. Since I was 17 years old, I was in and out of the hospital, it became a revolving door. I was there for suicide attempts, bipolar, depression, anxiety, self-injury, and PTSD. I was labeled the “crazy girl” at school, but I’m not crazy. We all have battles we fight and we all fight them differently, we are all soldiers fighting wars in our head. The good news, if you’re reading this, you have a 100% chance of success through hard days, yes we all have them! I was determined I was going to help people who were like me and I did. I finished high school and went to college (all while dealing with the revolving door of therapy, trial and error medications, and multiple hospitalizations). After I graduated from undergraduate school, I moved for my dream job at the hospital where I was a patient and worked as a Mental Health Counselor. I no longer work in the field, but I miss it. I miss being in a place where there’s no judgement, at least not from me. I have been on at least 3 sides of mental health as the one who struggles (and it’s still a struggle); I was on the giving side as a Mental Health Counselor and now I am on the conveyor side as an author who writes poetry about the struggles of addiction, depression, grief/loss, PTSD. Mental Health will always be dear to my heart and I will always speak out against stigma! I pray you find my story to be an inspiration. Here I am 26 years old now, with 3 degrees, a job I love, and 2 published books (3rd one on the way)!  My goal in life with my books, is to let people know they are not alone. You are not alone! I used to hand this out at the end of my grief and loss group: I may not know you at all or even very well, but I am thankful for you. You have made a difference in somebody’s life and I’m thankful for you.

Be encouraged today!

Brooksie D. Thompson

I have five children 3 girls and 2 boys. I personally have anxiety . My boys were born and by age three or four both started showing signs of ADHD. My youngest son who is thirteen now also presented with a mood disorder and a behavior disorder. We now know he is also bipolar and has a destructive behavior disorder.. My girls  the oldest two have now been diagnosed with bipolar depression disorder. On due to health issues and the other due to many years of physical and mental abuse by significant others. One of them is medicated the other is not. Due to no insurance. And my last girl is a normal moody teenager so this is my mental illness story. Which I still deal with all of their behaviors daily even though the teens are the only ones that live with me.