Anniversary Month... (approx. 2½ min. read)

If you’ve been following my blog you know it was the 11th anniversary of the day that “changed my life forever,” three days ago.

Since that fateful day my life has changed and although in the beginning I thought my life had changed for the worst, it’s turned out to be one of the best things that have happened to me.

In the beginning the questions and doubt started coming from everyone and everywhere; was I really diagnosed with PTSD or did I make it up?

I went to Doctor after Doctor to find out the answer to these questions because even the people that knew, and loved me doubted the diagnosis I kept getting. 

Unfortunately after five diagnoses and five years of therapy it turned out that yes, I did in fact have PTSD and that I didn’t make it up.

After my diagnosis my life really did change...

I had to make the choice of whether I did self-care, or whether I did family-care.

I had to decide if I wanted to hide my PTSD symptoms from close friends and family as to appear normal, or seek out the help I needed to keep me this side of the grass.

I had to learn how to cope with my new reality and figure out how to do everything for myself because other than a small group of people, most people turned their backs on me.

I had to learn how to function with a new brain; one that was/is completely damaged from trauma.

I had to defend myself EVERY (single friggin’) day to friends and family when they accused me of lying and faking.

I had to deal with health issues (Type II diabetes, shingles, central serous retinopathy) brought on by the stress from not being believed.

It’s been really, really friggin’ hard, but somewhere during the last eleven years I figured out how to get through this new life that has been thrown at me and...

I went back to school to become a medical laboratory technician and graduated with honours.

I learned that I was really smart and that my looks weren’t the only thing I had going for me; I really could “do the math.”

I found a really good support group.

I found out who my true friends and family are, and distanced myself from anyone and anything that's toxic.

I started a website/blog to help end the stigma around mental health.

I started to speak openly about how PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and mental health has impacted my life; as well as how I manage the day to day stressors thrown at me by society.

I became a writer by having my first article published in Moods Magazine, and I’m getting close to having my first book published.

...And the most important thing - I’ve learned how to love myself for who I am.

Stay safe and stay strong. Thanks for following.