Achieving
Wellness
Hello, allow me to introduce myself… my name is
Aimee. I am a wife and a mother of three beautiful children. I was born and
raised in Lake Charles, LA. I currently
reside on the south side of town close to my family. My family and friends are extremely
supportive and loving and I love every minute of it. As a unit, we like to poke
fun at things going on around us. However, when things get serious, like dealing
with physical and mental health concerns, we truly rely on each other.
I
suffer from a mental illness. I’ve had symptoms since I was about ten. I started seeking treatment in my teen years,
but it wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I took treatment seriously. Social
stigma made me scared and ashamed to seek the help I really needed. I didn’t
want to be labeled by my disorder like others have.
I
suffer from many disorders: depression, anxiety, and schizo-affective disorder
with bi-polar tendencies. Yes, I take meds for my symptoms and most of the time
they have side-effects that are less than desirable. The good news is that my
medications help me function “normally”. It did however, take many years to get
my meds right. I would like to put the
word out there that no matter what disorder a person is affected by, there is nothing
to be ashamed of. Whether your disorder
started from birth, environment, or stress, it’s treatable with the help of a treatment
team which includes a doctor, a therapist, family and even friends. After all,
there is hope!
Personally,
I go to a doctor, a therapist, and I attend support groups at my local NAMI
office. If you are a family member there
is help for you too. For the families who are unsure of how to help a loved one
affected a mental illness, NAMI also provides helpful services. The best thing for everyone is to get educated
on whatever your personal situation and diagnosis might be. There is always
something to learn when it comes to mental health. There are so many ways to
get help or give back, the sky is the limit. If you are reading this, just
know, whatever your situation is, you are not alone and there are brighter days
in your future. I hope to help each and every person find comfort in knowing there
are many options to achieving wellness. J
