The Roseau Valley and Roseau North District Council hosted a Youth and Mental Health discussion in recognition of International Youth Day 2014 under the team "Youth and Mental Health" - Mental Health Matters on Tuesday August 12 at the Roseau Youth Centre.
This testimony is being published with the agreement of the individual, however all identifiable information has been removed to protect the individual's identity.
The intent is that people who read it, will appreciate the story and will also play their part with regards to raising awareness... whether it includes seeking help for themselves or others, or empathizing with someone suffering from a mental health disorder.
The Testimony -
Good evening everyone:
My name is ------------ from the community of -------. I would first like to apologize for my absence today, however I feel it is more than important to share my story. Today's topic mental health is one that is very dear to me and has affected my life in every single way possible. Many people are of the view that you have to be walking naked on the road to be a “paro” to suffer from a mental disorder, or dance and sing on the highway or even sitting in a rocking back and forth mumbling to yourself. Well that's not true. I have graduated high school with eight (8) CXC subjects comprising of 6 twos and 2 ones. I graduated college last year October with an Associate’s Degree in Psychology; I'm the ----------- of the --------- soon to resign because I got a scholarship to study, amongst many other things. Now not many people will picture me or look at me and say that I am suffering from a mental illness.
At the tender age of 19, I, ---------- was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Every day since the day I was diagnosed, I have been on constant medication. It was so bad that I had to take sick leave from the job that I had only spent three (3) weeks in. I couldn't sit still, I didn't want to speak to anyone, I spent hours upon hours crying for no reason. It was so bad that when I was around people with whom I had to speak to my throat muscles would tighten up causing me to get breathless and cutting me off in mid speech.
A few months before things got worse, my mom told me to go seek professional help. However, I felt embarrassed and ashamed to tell people that I needed to be medicated to seem and act like a “normal” person. When I finally decided to go I was in such a bad state that I couldn't stop shaking and couldn't swallow or speak. Because of my misconceptions of having a mental disorder, it took my first dosage of medication three (3) weeks to start working, and after I had to go back for a stronger dosage and sleeping pills just to sleep and relax my muscles.
Many people know me to be slim; but when I reached my peak of the disorder I was thin. Under my eyes were black and sunken, my face was pale and thin, all my clothes were loose-fitting and falling down. That disorder took everything from me. And, it still continues to do so. I'm writing this and actually crying because who would have thought that a young, successful woman like me would be going through this. But mental disorders do not discriminate. Do not be fooled into thinking that age is the main factor or sex. My mental disorder stemmed from excessive stress and traumas while I was a young child. A lot of young people suffer from stress which is one of the main causes of anxiety.
But I am here to offer you encouragement. Even though you are going through this it’s not the end of the world. With prayer and medication I got better and so can you. So if you know someone who is suffering from a mental Illness it's not their fault or something they, well I mean WE should be chastised for. With that being said, I hope that everyone will take a piece of my story and ponder on it, because it can happen to anyone. If you have any questions feel free to contact the relevant authorities. Once again thank you for the opportunity to share my story, although I couldn’t go into greater detail.
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