Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Overcoming my fear was empowering
Not talking about it lets people think they’re alone in their condition. That’s how I felt at the beginning—very alone.
But when I overcame my fear, it was really very empowering.
Elizabeth knows how important it is to be open about mental health. As a licensed clinical social worker, she helps individuals with mental health issues find the financial and medical resources they need to begin recovery.
She is an advocate for those in need, helping people not only get help but also, at times, admit that they have a condition in the first place.
I work in two of my local emergency rooms and for my local mobile mental health unit.
I evaluate people before they come into the hospital and also people who the community sees as struggling but they refuse to go to the hospital.
Then, in the hospital setting, I help them either be admitted or find resources based on their insurance and their location.
“Not talking about it lets people think they’re alone in their condition. That’s how I felt at the beginning—very alone.
But when I overcame my fear, it was really very empowering.”
Getting crucial resources to people in need is important to Elizabeth. For years, she faced challenges in securing help for her depression and anxiety.
Elizabeth was bullied because of her appearance and sexual orientation. Also, her parents divorced when she was young, which intensified her feelings of sadness.
I pretty much had depression since my early teens, but I didn’t feel comfortable talking about it or doing anything about it until I was in college.
As a college student, Elizabeth studied social work. There, she began to fully grasp the importance of being a strong advocate for her own health needs.
College really opened my eyes to how to be an advocate for yourself. Going through social work school, you’re learning how to help your patients and your patients, and that helped me find my voice.
If you can’t advocate for yourself, it’s really hard to advocate for other people.
Also in college, she attended a presentation on mental health resources and suicide prevention. The experience further pushed her to advocate for her own treatment needs.
That really opened my eyes. I realized that this doesn’t have to be something that I go through alone.
I really opened up to going into the counseling center and starting treatment.
Formal counseling and treatment have been important to Elizabeth’s recovery, but she strongly believes that her pets have also played a crucial role in promoting her overall well-being.
My life has changed because of my cats and my dog. A few years ago, I got my best friend, my cat Derek. P. Morgan, and he literally has been my lifesaver. He helps me every day.
Later, I met my wife, and we moved in together with her dog, Neita. Then, we got two more cats, Jojo and Conner.
They all keep me going and help in different ways when I’m happy, sad, angry, or upset.
These days, Elizabeth draws on her personal experience to continue to help herself and help the populations she engages with as a social worker.
She is a fierce advocate for those with mental health conditions, and she strongly encourages everyone who needs help to fight through the fear and stigma and get the resources and treatment they need.
Starting is the hardest part, but you’ll never be disappointed once you start.
You become very proud of the work you’re doing, and it gives you confidence to keep going.
