Devon Frietag with NAMI
Devon Frietag spoke to the Club about her very personal mental health journey. Happily, she is a certified EMT, currently studying to become a Critical Care Nurse. She feels she has so much to share with anyone going through difficult times.
Devon always felt an outsider, one who experienced dysfunctional family life; rotated through the DCFS system, pysch wards, group homes, homelessness; was diagnosed with ADHD, Bipolar, and PTSD conditions.
Not always understanding that what she had experienced was not normal, it took talk therapy and medication to know that her past did not define her. She could become whatever she chose to be. She wanted to save others’ lives. It was very cathartic to go from “being that person” to “helping that person.”
There are still some bad days, but there is no longer the dread of “…dying before living.” She has reestablished relations with family and friends and enjoys looking towards her future.
Teri Latter and Devon shared information about the Family to Family classes that will be held Tuesday evenings, March 12 – May 7 at St. Francis de Sales in Lake Zurich.
Service Above Self
info@barringtonrotary.org
Barrington, IL 60010
United States of America