New Patient Story

I've had issues with my mental health for as long as I can remember. The feeling that I lacked either the looks or the social skills to make it in the "popular" scene at school, be accepted by my family, or easily make friends. Over the years, I wasn't able to talk about how I felt, because it wasn't acceptable. You didn't share what you were feeling outside the family, and sharing how you felt with your family made them uncomfortable - which wasn't OK, either. By the time I was 20, I had an eating disorder, was depressed and anxiety-ridden, and had attempted suicide 3 times because I simply didn't feel supported or loved. I continued to fight my own mental health battle for years, and attempted suicide another 3 or 4 times. I'm now 50, and I've learned through reading, counseling, and learning how to communicate properly with my 16 year old son who is on the Autism spectrum and has ADHD, that most likely I am on the spectrum as well, and I never knew it. I'm learning how to communicate better, and I'm feeling better about things in general. It's just proof that if you are open to trying new things and learning more about yourself and the journey we're on, you might find a better way to move through life.