An epidemic of meanness that shows no remorse and takes no hostages, bullying has taken the media by storm, stirring people to fight for legislation, and bringing forward champions to help protect those that are suffering. Children are killing themselves. Adults are killing themselves. And it has to stop.
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Original Photo Credit: Flickr
Image Design Credit: Katie Foley Article by: Rebekah Bavry
Original Photo Credit: Flickr I have PTSD. PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. An estimated 5 percent of Americans – more than 13 million people – have PTSD at any given time, according to PTSDalliance.org. It can be debilitating, but is treatable. Let me tell you my story. The leading cause of death in the US is heart disease, according to the CDC. That’s almost one fourth of all death. Wow. Cancer is number 2. Do you know what one of the biggest risk factors for both heart disease and cancer is? Obesity and being overweight. Yep, I am so going there.
Fat, fatty, thick, cow, pig. “You’re the new skinny!” the cashier at the store told me. Me? Skinny? I have never been called skinny, up until now that is. I am still not convinced that I will ever be skinny. In fact, I am still pretty sure that I am fat. I look into the mirror, and still see a fat person standing there. It’s not just my reflection either. It is in my thoughts. I almost feel like I have a super-imposed fat person over my image in my full-length mirror.
My mind whispers old thoughts still to me. I can’t sit in that chair together with my daughter because I am fat…people are looking at me because they see how fat I am…Is she thinking about how I shouldn’t be wearing these pants? Are my fat rolls hanging over my pants? I can’t wear that dress. It won’t fit because I am too fat. Is my double chin showing in this picture?? “I dial my parents’ phone number...no answer.
I hang up, wait a couple minutes, and try again. No answer. I can feel my chest getting tighter. My anxiety is flaring up. I try to calm down. I get a message from my husband. I tell him what is going on. He asks me to keep him updated. He is trying to calm me through instant messenger. God Bless him. I get a voicemail. My phone never rang. It’s my mom. My dad’s meds haven’t come and she says he has had a bad night. His withdrawal is worsening. Yesterday he even had some tremors from the withdrawal. We hung up so dad can call the VA Pharmacy. They say it is on the truck, but the UPS truck didn’t stop. I am over hundreds of miles away and can’t help. I can’t help take care of my disabled mom or my disabled dad, who is taking care of my mom! I am powerless.” Someone told me today that I shouldn’t even be raising children with autism. Why, you ask. Well, apparently, because I am grateful that my twins are high functioning. (I can’t be thankful for what I have??) He also said that I was just embarrassed because my kids are not the way I want them to be. These statements are the reason we need autism awareness. This is why we need to make sure that everyone knows what autism is, how it affects children, and how it affects the lives of the parents who have been blessed with these amazing, special children. So here is a little tidbit of my life, so that MAYBE someone will dig deeper, educate themselves, and become more AWARE of what parents of autistic children go through.
Let me start with this statement: Yes, my children are high functioning. I AM TOTALLY BLESSED. I have come to learn that you need to be thankful for EVERYTHING in your life. There is always someone who doesn’t have it as good as you. Things can always get worse or be worse. So I am totally grateful for the hand I have been dealt. |
AuthorRebekah Bavry, mother of autistic twins, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Music Performance with a double major in Advertising from Marshall University. She is currently a nursing student with plans to get her Master's, course of study to be determined. She is also a Beauty Ecologist for Pangea Organics, loves doTerra, is a Beachbody Coach and plans on becoming a Les Mills BODYCOMBAT instructor. She is an advocate for autism awareness and is active in her church where she sings with the praise and worship team. "I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me." Phillippians 4:13. Archives
June 2015
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