After battling depression since the age of 11, (after seeing psychiatrists since the age of 15) (puberty, hormone changes = chemical imbalance), I finally crashed in the year 2000. I became suicidal. Lucky for me, psychosis was never part of my illness. I put myself in hospital (only for 4 days) and was “allowed” to be released on the condition that I would not be alone. I lived at my parents’ home for 8 long weeks, slowly recuperating. I didn’t think I had much “oomph” left in me; however I asked friends to research anything (especially places) where I could go to recover. I also aligned myself with my pharmacist to better understand the medications I was on, and certainly to be cautious of any interactions with other things I may have been taking.

All this to say, although I didn’t understand it at the time, I had accepted my illness and I was being proactive towards my recovery. Very shortly after, I went to AMI-Quebec and took an education course (on my illness…Bipolar Type 2), attended support groups, volunteered in the education (high schools) program, and then went on to take ‘facilitator’ training, so that I could lead support groups. I eventually became a “presenter” in high schools, cegeps and community organizations. I presented at the “teachers” conferences and even went on to become the co-coordinator of the education program. Presently, I am on the Board of Directors and a co-chair of the fundraising committee at AMI-Quebec.

I want people to know that recovery is possible!!!! It does not come without hard work. Medication alone is not enough. Whatever one’s first step is in taking action against a very painful struggle, it is a beginning of many steps that need to be battled. Relying on a support system (family, friends) is most helpful. They can give you feedback as to how you are thinking and behaving. Communication is so very important….suffering alone is NOT helpful. I think everyone with a mental illness must stop “stigmatizing themselves”….there’s sure enough stigma “out there”! I’ve come to believe that people stigmatize because they equate mental illness with insanity. This is certainly NOT the case.
I wish everyone suffering to hold your heads up high, and fight for yourself. Nobody can do it for you.
Best of luck,

Sherry Ellen