KILLING THE SOUL: FROM HELPLESS VICTIM TO SELFLESS VOLUNTEER

In a society full of judgment, in which individuals are quick to criticize and form opinions about others based on superficial characteristics such as appearance, behavior, or background. Many of us do not understand the first thing about the reality of addiction and mental health. We refuse to make an effort to know more about these conditions and would rather judge, condemn and stigmatize. Why spend time to understand about these ailments when we would rather spend time on Tiktok, until it happens to your loved one.

We at Battle Against Ignorance Foundation and Safehaven Recovery Village believe there is no such thing as a hopeless person. We are proud to prove everyone wrong. Sharing with you the story of an amazing, brave young woman who is out to inspire and give hope to those society considers as beyond help. Let us know the incredible journey of Sarah Hudson in her own words.

“I suffer from bipolar disorder and I was diagnosed last 2021. Before that, I was a beauty queen, a runway and print model , as well as an academic achiever. Let’s say I am a torch and before, I had a scorching fire with a burning flame in me. I was crowned multiple titles, with plenty of projects and academically competitive however, I was doing too much.

I lacked sleep, I did not rest nor eat. I was stressed and the pressure got to me. Other than that, I was also pressured to have what society labels as a “good body” and to excel in every field I would get into. With my sleep deprivation and constant thinking, I developed racing thoughts. According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, rest deprivation can cause hallucinations, depression and even mania. That is exactly what happened to me. I was depressed and I kept crying, worrying about my unknown future. After some time, I had delusions of grandeur. Apparently I could do anything I want, go to random places at night so I shaved my head. I acted rebellious and was in a Manic state.

For those who don’t know, mania is a condition where you have an elevated mood, may it be euphoric or irritable. In my case, I was highly energetic and had many ideas and pressure of speech. It came to a point where my family had to tie me up because I would climb at our gate at midnight to go to the gym.

Eventually, I was sent to a psychiatric hospital or as others call it, “mental hospital” . I was locked up with four white walls surrounding me. I felt even more isolated. I could not talk properly anymore and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. I became skinnier and was underweight. I only remember small bits of the experience because I had taken too many medications. I was admitted for a month there until my family transferred me to Safehaven, a Recovery Village.

At first, I was rebellious, I had to be isolated and handcuffed to my bed for days. I even fell from the second floor to the ground because I walked on the canopy. It was really bad. At this point, people were losing hope in me. It’s like my burning flame has died. Good thing, the staff were very patient and understanding of my condition. The psychiatrist diagnosed me with bipolar disorder and they clarified that it was not schizophrenia.

A month later, I would participate in their activities like meetings, games, and Sunday masses . I also made use of their amenities like the swimming pool and gym. I finally ate normally and gained enough weight and was healthy. I gained friends and had unforgettable experiences.

Four months later, I was sent back home and now, it’s been more than a year since I got out. I’m already in college and the staff in my university check on me and my mental state regularly. l have friends that understand my condition and people at Safehaven that guide me up to this day.  I still take my medications but only one tablet.

My flame is slowly growing and  my passion is rekindled. The torch whose flame that once died, is now reignited. Now, I am a volunteer of the Battle Against Ignorance (BAI) foundation. The foundation is not only limited to helping drug addicts but also people struggling with mental health or generally to people who have lost hope just like me before.

I am an advocate of Mental Health Awareness and beating the stigma on Mental health. I volunteered in the Battle against Ignorance foundation not only to raise funds but also to enlighten people so that they don’t stay ignorant about people like me”. We need your help to save the lonely, broken, wounded and hurting. Please support us and follow/like our facebook pages: Battle Against Ignorance Foundation Safehaven Recovery Village BAI Foundation website: battleagainstignorance.com”