tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-565180487942417406.post376010971575724733..comments2022-03-31T11:28:13.536-04:00Comments on The Whitfields' Guest Blog: Dr. Whitfield's Powerful New Book: Not Crazy: You May Not Be Mentally IllUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-565180487942417406.post-13172647753531153912011-03-23T14:43:39.595-04:002011-03-23T14:43:39.595-04:00Hello! I just read a comment on Darlene Ouimet'...Hello! I just read a comment on Darlene Ouimet's popular ''Emerging From Broken'' mental health blog, in which someone recommended your latest book. After doing an online search and reading the great reviews on Amazon, I'll be buying this, and several other of your books, as soon as my next check hits the bank.<br /><br><br />My name is Lynda. In 1967, at the age of 14, I was diagnosed with schizophrenia ~ the catch-all psychiatric diagnosis of that era ~ and committed to a State Mental Institution, where I remained for 2 years. Although I've been told by numerous doctors over the years that I was badly misdiagnosed, I have been branded with the stigma of "mental illness" ever since. To this day I am treated like an embarrassment, and a social outcast, by the majority in my family of origin. <br /><br><br />In 2003, a few weeks before my 50th birthday, I took the settlement money from my last miserable divorce and, in sheer desperation, checked myself into the renowned Meier Clinic (formerly Minirth-Meier Mental Health Clinic), in Richardson, Texas. I paid cash, having lost my health insurance, along with my monthly support, in the divorce. I had enough money to buy a modest home for my old age, but I chose to use it in a last-ditch effort to save my life, and my sanity, instead! <br /><br><br />After a full battery of psychological tests, Paul Meier, MD, was finally able to tell me what has been "WRONG" with me all these years.... <i>Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.</i> <br /><br><br />The most healing and liberating thing Dr. Meier taught me is that having PTSD does NOT mean I am ''crazy,'' nor does it mean that I am ''weak,'' or a malingerer who stubbornly ''refuses to forgive, or let go of the past.'' Dr. Meier explained to me that having PTSD after going through extreme trauma is no less NORMAL, than it is to bleed when you are stabbed. Trying to forget about the event of being stabbed, and forgiving the person who stabbed you, does nothing to heal the physical damage caused by the stabbing.<br /><br><br />My Best-Friend-Husband Stan, whom I married in 2004, is a Vietnam Combat Veteran with severe PTSD. He is heavily medicated. Stan loves to read, so I'll make sure he reads your books, too.<br /><br><br />Strangely, even our sweet Australian Cattle Dog that we rescued after she had been abused and abandoned as a puppy, seems to have PTSD. Lady still has nightmares nearly every day, even after 4 years of our loving her and spoiling her rotten. She cries in her sleep like a lost child, then she moans and growls, loud and long, when she wakes up and we are petting her and assuring her of our love; it's like she's trying to tell us all about her trauma. Lady also startles easily, and certain sounds, movements, and situations appear to cause her to have a terrifying flashback. She's the perfect pet for us, anyway!<br /><br> <br />Earlier this year I started a blog that I call ''Coming Out of the CrAzY Closet.'' Here is the URL for my blog: http://comingoutofthecrazycloset.blogspot.com/<br /><br><br />I'm very excited about reading your books!<br /><br><br />Lynda<br /><br><br />PS: The following saying is mine:<br /><b>''Turn PTSD into C.U.R.E. with Compassion, Understanding, Respect, & Encouragement.''</b> I came up with that saying after the wonderfully compassionate, understanding, respectful, and encouraging treatment I received at the Meier Clinic ~ quite a change from the condescending attitude I had experienced nearly everywhere else I had gone for help! However, I do believe that Dr. Meier relies much too heavily on psychotropic drugs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-565180487942417406.post-73821483291014860352011-03-23T14:42:34.365-04:002011-03-23T14:42:34.365-04:00Hello! I just read a comment on Darlene Ouimet'...Hello! I just read a comment on Darlene Ouimet's popular ''Emerging From Broken'' mental health blog, in which someone recommended your latest book. After doing an online search and reading the great reviews on Amazon, I'll be buying this, and several other of your books, as soon as my next check hits the bank.<br /><br><br />My name is Lynda. In 1967, at the age of 14, I was diagnosed with schizophrenia ~ the catch-all psychiatric diagnosis of that era ~ and committed to a State Mental Institution, where I remained for 2 years. Although I've been told by numerous doctors over the years that I was badly misdiagnosed, I have been branded with the stigma of "mental illness" ever since. To this day I am treated like an embarrassment, and a social outcast, by the majority in my family of origin. <br /><br><br />In 2003, a few weeks before my 50th birthday, I took the settlement money from my last miserable divorce and, in sheer desperation, checked myself into the renowned Meier Clinic (formerly Minirth-Meier Mental Health Clinic), in Richardson, Texas. I paid cash, having lost my health insurance, along with my monthly support, in the divorce. I had enough money to buy a modest home for my old age, but I chose to use it in a last-ditch effort to save my life, and my sanity, instead! <br /><br><br />After a full battery of psychological tests, Paul Meier, MD, was finally able to tell me what has been "WRONG" with me all these years.... <i>Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.</i> <br /><br><br />The most healing and liberating thing Dr. Meier taught me is that having PTSD does NOT mean I am ''crazy,'' nor does it mean that I am ''weak,'' or a malingerer who stubbornly ''refuses to forgive, or let go of the past.'' Dr. Meier explained to me that having PTSD after going through extreme trauma is no less NORMAL, than it is to bleed when you are stabbed. Trying to forget about the event of being stabbed, and forgiving the person who stabbed you, does nothing to heal the physical damage caused by the stabbing.<br /><br><br />My Best-Friend-Husband Stan, whom I married in 2004, is a Vietnam Combat Veteran with severe PTSD. He is heavily medicated. Stan loves to read, so I'll make sure he reads your books, too.<br /><br><br />Strangely, even our sweet Australian Cattle Dog that we rescued after she had been abused and abandoned as a puppy, seems to have PTSD. Lady still has nightmares nearly every day, even after 4 years of our loving her and spoiling her rotten. She cries in her sleep like a lost child, then she moans and growls, loud and long, when she wakes up and we are petting her and assuring her of our love; it's like she's trying to tell us all about her trauma. Lady also startles easily, and certain sounds, movements, and situations appear to cause her to have a terrifying flashback. She's the perfect pet for us, anyway!<br /><br> <br />Earlier this year I started a blog that I call ''Coming Out of the CrAzY Closet.'' Here is the URL for my blog: http://comingoutofthecrazycloset.blogspot.com/<br /><br><br />I'm very excited about reading your books!<br /><br><br />Lynda<br /><br><br />PS: The following saying is mine:<br /><b>''Turn PTSD into C.U.R.E. with Compassion, Understanding, Respect, & Encouragement.''</b> I came up with that saying after the wonderfully compassionate, understanding, respectful, and encouraging treatment I received at the Meier Clinic ~ quite a change from the condescending attitude I had experienced nearly everywhere else I had gone for help! However, I do believe that Dr. Meier relies much too heavily on psychotropic drugs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com