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by T. B. Ellis (Author)
This is the true story of my journey and struggle to continue living as a high-functioning adult after experiencing a medication induced psychotic break at age 26. It was after a C-section surgery, when the first child was born to my husband and me. I had to begin taking psychiatric drugs every day. Just an ordinary, healthy, young lady before this, finding myself a patient in the mental health system was concerning. I didn't believe I needed that kind of treatment. A doctor convinced me that I did. Using the analogy of breaking a leg; he told me no matter how the leg is broken, certain procedures need to be followed for proper healing. Recalling the most memorable assignment I had in a French literature class in college proved to be significantly relevant for this project later. The assignment required doing a certain exercise that I'd never done before. It was the catalyst that sparked my detailing, looking back into my past growing up on a farm with my siblings, where my way of thinking and learning was first formed beginning at birth. I detail my college life, my first year teaching, and marriage to a husband who passed away at age 48, after 22 years of marriage. This left me head of household with teenagers, and an adult child. On this journey, the quest for the clue that might have foreshadowed my traumatic experience, also shows how I rely on my faith and divine inspiration from the scriptures for added therapeutic effects. This helped me press forward for many years. With opioids etc., in the news so much these days, others may have unwittingly found themselves in the mental health system as I did, for whatever varied reason, and might take an interest in this story. TB Ellis is the third daughter of wise, hard-working, Bible-believing parents who were farmers. Her only brother was born about two years after, affectionately, her buddy. They all attended public schools. Later, TB received her bachelor's degree (Cum Laude) from her beloved HBCU, NCCU, and the Master of Arts in teaching from Purdue. TB was a teacher, a librarian, and wife of another educator who became a pastor. A grateful mother of three children, and proud granny to many. TB's intentions have always been to see the best in them as God does. He said, "Follow me".
