My name is Laurie, I'm 45 yrs old and have lived with being mentally ill my whole life. I was properly diagnosed at the age of 30 (2005). So after 30 yrs of knowing something wasn't always right with myself, and being told by others that they thought I should seek help, it took me moving to Oklahoma in 2004 for me to realize I should seek help for myself. During my first year in Oklahoma I had A LOT of issues, anxiety that went off the charts, points of being emotional more then normal, some might say OVER emotional, I also had my first real manic moment/attack. I was even hearing the same comments/complaints from people in Oklahoma that I was hearing from friends and family in Connecticut. This became a huge eye opener for me, I figured I'm the only common denominate between Oklahoma and Connecticut.

I was diagnosed in 2005 with Bipolar 1 and 2, Anxiety, PTSD, and Depression. After being diagnosed I began my medication journey, which lasted until about 3-4 years ago. I became a guinea pig for psych-meds. I think I have been on almost every medication under the sun, Depakote, lithium, lamictal, seroquel, zyprexa, risperdal, abilify, xanex, klonopin, paxil, wellbutrin, zoloft, lexapro, and prozac.... Seems the list can go on and on. Unfortunately it's a trial and error thing. Side effects are bad with some, I tell everyone now, do your homework before taking anything and know your body. But I am glad to say after all the trial and error, I'm on the best medication for me to be me. Let me add, even though it was a rough road, it was very worth it.

Mental illness is often herditary, as in my situation, it runs high on my mother's side of the family, including my mom. Years ago she was diagnosed with severe depression and now she has Alzheimer's and Dementia and is living in a nursing home. Going through her journey with her over this past year has been very difficult and emotional for me, but with the correct medications and support, I am handling things better then I ever thought I could. I even got my tattoo which is my profile picture to honor my journey as well as my moms.

I'd really like to do all I can to help and raise funds to help others in need of finding their way to being the best version of themselves they can be. Please help me by donating to my goal to help NAMI to be able to help others in desperate need of it.

I'd like to take this time to thank a few angels that have been my rocks through this journey with me, My Mom-Diane Dutton who's been there from the beginning, Ginger Butler, Nicole Balicki-Guzman, Michelle Landry, Kelli Slivers, and I could never for get my fur baby Lavinnia Trinity Squires who always knows when I need some lovin. 

I'M DOING THIS WALK FOR MY MOM, MYSELF AND ALL THAT SUFFER