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Text: How I Got Help – Christine Deneweth
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Crass talking and smiling. There is an arrow pointing to her hair with words that say “snazzy new haircut.”
Crass: Hi everyone! It’s me! Crass! I’m here to talk about the process of getting psychological help.
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Crass talking and beckoning
Crass: Let’s get personal!
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Woman sitting talking to psychologist
Text: First of all what is psychological help?
Text: Talking to a psychologist or psychiatrist
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image of pill bottle opening with pills coming out
Text: Taking medications
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Guy sitting talking to woman and another guy
Text: And group therapy
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Text: Some less known about therapies:
Man with eyes closed and electrodes on head
Text: Electroconvulsive therapy: used when meds don’t work. There can be some memory loss but no brain damage
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Man standing with magnets on the top of his head
Text: Repetitive Transcranial Magnet Stimulation: Magnets stimulate the surfaces of the brain that are inactive in certain mental disorders
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image of scalpel
Text: Psychosurgery: surgery that removes or destroys damaged brain tissue to change behavior
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Crass sitting with her head buried in her arms
Text: I refused all of it
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Crass looking down sadly
Text: I felt like there was no point in getting help because I was so far-gone
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Crass looking at a crystal ball with a ? in the center
Text: I couldn’t see a future for myself
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Crass looking sadly at her friend who has a medal
Text: I was tired of watching my friends reach their goals while nothing happened for me. I was happy for them but empty inside
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Crass crying with her hand over her face
Text: I wanted to die so I wouldn’t have to live through the uncertainty and frustration of stagnation
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Crass scared and in-between two monster doctors
Text: I was also scared to go get help because I thought they would say mean things to me
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Crass in straight jacket and padded room
Text: Maybe my diagnosis would be worse than I could have imaged
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Crass looking down with an empty wallet in her hand
Text: How much would it cost
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Crass with a skull for a head
Text: But mostly I felt like it was a waste of time because I was already dead
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Crass sitting with friend and both smiling
Text: I went to my friends because they were who I confided to the most. They helped me see that I was worth it. And that it was strong to ask for help
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Crass sitting and typing on her laptop
Text: So I did some research and found a place near-by that specialized in youth and college-aged patients like me.
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Crass standing at sign in desk
Text: I was nervous, but I went in there and made an appointment
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Crass sitting on examining table with doctor
Text: First I had to see a doctor and fill out a lot of paperwork because I was new
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Crass sitting and talking with Psychologist
Text: I got to see a psychologist on my next appointment
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Crass looking up at words
Text: First they looked at my symptoms to figure out a quick diagnosis
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image of syringe
Text: But you have to keep in mind that this process take time. After three visits they took my blood before putting me on medication
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Crass walking with backpack on
Text: I took each day at a time and waited for the medication to kick in
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Crass looking up at words
Text: A few months went by and my diagnosis changed as my psychologist got to know me
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Crass shouting and waving her arms
Crass: Medications take Months to kick in!
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Crass shouting and waving her arms
Crass: And the medication they put me on didn’t work
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Image of pill bottles
Text: But that’s part of the process. People react to medications differently. It takes a while to get it right
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image of meds being thrown in the trash
Text: I got frustrated and quit taking my medication
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Crass scared wit her hands up with the words HEY and Crass and birds around her
Text: But then the hallucinations and voices started to come back
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Crass looking up
Text: I remembered that I could continue to live with these symptoms or be put on something new so I could function. So I decided to speak up
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Crass talking to psychologist
Text: It was a simple fix. I just told my psychologist the medication wasn’t working and I was taken off of it and put on new ones that worked.
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Crass standing confused with Depression, Anxiety, Bi Polar, and Schizophrenia around her head
Text : Getting diagnosed took two years. Psychologists need to observe you for a long time to rule out possibilities and find a diagnosis
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Crass happy with the word Schizoaffactive Bi Polar over her head
Text: It was worth the two years to finally get diagnosed
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Crass talking and smiling
Text: Being diagnosed was the best thing that ever happened to me
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Crass typing on her laptop
Text: I was able to research my diagnosis and find information about myself and helpful ways to manage it
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Crass typing on her laptop to another person
Text: I also had a way of reaching out to people that share the same experience as me
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Crass talking
Text: Honestly, if I didn’t get this help, I wouldn’t be alive to make this comic
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Crass talking and smiling
Text: I know myself betting and I feel better than I ever have
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Crass smiling and talking
Text: As a better me I am more stable, caring, confident, positive, happy enthusiastic and I have my will to live back
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Crass driving
Text: I’m finding myself ready to take on new challenges instead of avoiding them
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Crass talking and smiling
Text: Please remember that you are important and you are loved
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Crass smiling with her eyes closed
Text: You deserve to have the best possible life
