The Roller Coaster of Life Touched By Psychosis

Much of my life seemed like a rollercoaster. Not necessarily the one you ride over and over again with your friends, because it’s so much fun. But more like the old rickety one-seater that needs constant maintenance and you close your eyes and pray it is soon over.

Mental illness was the driving force of this ride. And it could have ended very badly. Could have is key here. I overcame fears. I had the support of others around me. And I made it through the days I hope I’ll never have to relive. Here is my story.

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Like many, I experienced the typical trauma of being picked on at a young age. From other kids throwing remarks because I was the chubby kid, to the not so funny videos my brother’s friends made of me during their drunken skip day — all contributing to my early-aged episodes of depression. Throw in the fact that I had open heart surgery at the age of five, and my childhood was already looking far from glamorous. Call me a momma’s boy, but I won’t apologize for being pampered as the baby of the family. I’d say it definitely helped me get through the early years.

Heart surgery was just the beginning of my hospital days. When I was in the second grade, I broke my wrist on the growth plate. Five years later, I had to have three inches removed from another part of my arm, in hopes of balancing out the stunted growth in my wrist. This two-week stay in the hospital was not exactly a vacation.