Maja’s Story

If I can recover, there is hope for anyone!! I have been diagnosed (in the past) with an eating disorder, social anxiety disorder, borderline personality disorder, and depression. Over the course of about 3 years I was hospitalized 6 times, overdosed, cut myself badly enough to need stitches twice, was kicked out of a day treatment program, tried over 10 different meds and various combinations, and even my therapist of 2.5 years quit because I was such a difficult client!

But now I have been in recovery for 2 years and will be graduating with my Bachelor's degree in social work this summer. Recovery, for me, doesn't mean that I have no symptoms. It means that I use healthy coping skills to manage those symptoms and that they do not stop me from participating in life! I've experienced hurtful reactions to my illness and symptoms coming from friends, acquaintances, and even medical professionals. When I went to the ER for my cuts to be stitched up once the doctor told me I needed to go to a good baptist church and then I wouldn't have any more problems. When I overdosed, the ER nurse told me to take my clothes off, then yelled at me because I left my undergarments on, saying if I was really strong I would deal with my problems through therapy. A doctor I had seen before for other issues suddenly was cold, her mouth pursed, and refused to speak to me while she took out my stitches from self-inflicted cuts. Just because I cut myself didn't mean I deserved to be treated unprofessionally and disrespectfully!

My parents have been amazing though, patiently supporting me through everything, never giving up on me. Now I facilitate a teen support group, I am working to reduce stigma at my university and hope to help people with severe and persistent mental illness as a social worker. Never give up on yourself or someone you love, there is so much love in the world, and there is always hope!