I had the honour of receiving the John Graves Simcoe Medal of Excellence tonight from MP Alex Nuttall, in commemoration of Canada’s 150th birthday.
I want to share this picture with you and ask, “what do you see?”. You will probably say that you see me among many amazing Canadians who have made tremendous contributions to their community and country, and that I am proud to have had the honour to stand among them. This is true. But let me tell you what else I see in this picture.
I see a woman who is scared because she is battling ‘looking normal’ while she stumbles her way through feeling alien and out of place because she is hovering between layer 1 and 2 of her depression. I see a woman wearing earplugs in order to be among the loud crowd. I see a woman who has slept the entire day up until one hour before this event, and who could barely drag her body out of bed. I see a woman who feels guilty for not being excited to go to this celebration – and a woman who doesn’t know why she can’t be. I see a woman who can put on the best smile and give a great handshake. Who can do a news interview on the spot without batting an eye. Who can confidently answer questions from anyone in the room about PTSD and mental illness and injury. Who may have hope in her eyes, but a disconnection from the world in her heart. I see a woman who is trying to take a group photo but needs to look at her friend to feel safe, and no one around her knowing that anything is wrong with her at all.
PTSD and mental illness robs me of being able to truly celebrate and smile. I wish that it was impossible to fake-smile. The world would be able to know who to help so much more easily.
June 21, 2017 at 10:50 PM
Living with PTSD sucks!
You are so honest and brave to post your thoughts.
I pray that it opens the eyes to professionals that treat their patients with no dignity or respect. The minute a doctor or specialist knows that you have a mental illness (PTSD) you are treated differently.
It has happened to me more times than I care to count.
I am so grateful for the people in this world (like you) and Kate Middleton who work tirelessly to remove this stigma.
It is a “illness”
It’s unfortunate that we aren’t treated with the same dignity, respect and compassion as a patient would be with cancer.
It has to be one of the most “humiliating illnesses”
I pray that you will write a post on that.
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June 21, 2017 at 11:23 PM
Thank you Patti xox I hope you are doing well. Sending you love.
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June 21, 2017 at 10:57 PM
Hi Nat. So know how you feel. I’m retiring after 41 years and I don’t want to go to my retirement party. I feel robbed.
I’m having a rough time right now and there is no one to help.
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June 21, 2017 at 11:24 PM
Hi Leo. I’m so sorry to hear you are having a rough time. Can I ask which city you live in? You may enjoy a Wings of Change meeting.
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June 21, 2017 at 11:15 PM
Thank you so much Natalie for being real and honest. Please know how much you deserve this.
Love you my friend.
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June 21, 2017 at 11:24 PM
Love you John!!!
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June 21, 2017 at 11:33 PM
I see a woman…living.❤️
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June 22, 2017 at 12:34 AM
Yes ❤ Thank you friend
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June 22, 2017 at 12:27 AM
Kate Gillie is another amazing lady who fights for those with Mental illness especially PTSD. Kate could use all of our support.
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June 22, 2017 at 1:58 AM
Try my technique… Do you know of Emotional Charge? Or Traumatic Charge? I stopped my PTSD with it, and many other states…. got nothing to lose… http://hnc-today.weebly.com/contact.html
Email me, request my book. “Happiness Is No Charge”… happy to send you a copy…
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June 22, 2017 at 1:59 AM
OR…click my name and message me on Facebook….
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June 22, 2017 at 7:15 AM
Your words represent so many of us. “Smiling bravely” and carefully choosing which “mask” we put on for that given day to make it through is a struggle itself. Its moments like that, we have to accept what is, grieve what was, and find it in our hearts, to trust the path on what’s to come. ❤️ You girlfriend! Oh and don’t be the “grammar police” on this post eh! 😜
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June 22, 2017 at 8:36 AM
Thank you ❤ Hahaha no grammar police here 😄
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June 22, 2017 at 10:33 AM
Oh sweetheart…I know exaclty how you feel. I’m glad that your entry is free of guilt (as it should be). Being there is a HUGE victory that merits a big bottle of Perrier 💖
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June 23, 2017 at 11:05 PM
You smile so bravely!
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