Tom Troe is a much different speaker, author and advocate

I did not come to a mental health center to get better. I entered the doors to make my pain go away. My son and I were shot on the front porch of our home. The first year I endured seeing 53 different doctors, had 7 surgeries, spent 32 days in the hospital, had over 400 counseling, medical and therapy appointments, and had 2 suicide attempts (one by police).  I lost my home, business, left a 23 year marriage, spent a month in a nursing home and moved into a group home for the following year.        Along my journey I learned that I had disorders with names like Post Traumatic Stress, Major Depression, and Bipolar. At first I thought perhaps taking my medications would do the trick, but there was more to be done…  I then thought my Recovery Specialists should just wave their magic wands and “fix me” but there was no wand…        Any psychiatrist or psychologist can tell you about the symptoms of mental illness. Primary care physicians can tell you about physical disabilities. Only a person that has been down the road of mental illness, victimization, and physical disability can tell you how it feels and what it takes to recover.

Please visit my web site links to understand why it is important that my message is read and heard.  Advocacy for those with mental health disorders and the victims of violent crime is vital. They should never feel that they are defective and have to hang their head in guilt and shame.