Mental Health Advocacy: My Crazy Journey

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I've struggled with mental health my whole life, not realizing it until my ADHD diagnosis in 2022 when I was 44 years old. My mission is to speak openly about my mental health struggles...and oh boy... do I mean openly. If we're going to have a conversation about mental health, we need to address the ugly truth and how it plays out in the life of a surveyor, including the challenges of C-PTSD and Bi-Polar. My goal is also to promote how perfect this profession can be for those suffering with mental illness. Don't believe me? Remember those guys Lewis and Clark from a long time ago? They are my mentors, my guiding light...and oh yeah...that guy Clark...he was Bipolar, and good ol' Tommy Jefferson was pretty sure Clark killed himself. Nonetheless, there will never be a better Surveyor than he... in my crazy mind.

It's simple really... After three years and nine doctors, I finally received my ADHD diagnosis along with two other challenges: C-PTSD and Bi-Polar. What? ...Yup! I'll share what these mental health struggles mean to me and recount my awful experiences with the typical blunt, direct, explicit personality that you've all come to know and love. I hope to share my journey, and maybe you'll feel inspired to share yours too. From mistakes to scary moments, and even hysterical instances, I hope my story helps others not feel alone in their own battles with mental health.