artsygirl1967
New Here
Hello,
My name is Denise Pavel. I live in Woodstock, IL (where Groundhog Day, the movie, was filmed!). I was homeless for almost 9 years, during which time I was sexually assaulted twice. During one of the assaults, I experienced what the police describe as "aggravated kidnapping" as well. Since I experienced homelessness on and off during the nine year period, I also became a part of many abusive domestic relationship as well. They are basically all I know. The good news is that I have now been offered a wonderful opportunity to reside in a group home for individuals facing mental health challenges. The staff is highly trained and highly educated. They are personable and have "been there" as well. They never talk down to us. They challenge us to grow.
I am experiencing a lot of chronic pain, sleep disturbances, and depression since I moved in three weeks ago, which surprises me. I expected to be feeling so good now that I got out of the shelter and into a real bed and eating good food! But the opposite has happened. The first two weeks I was here, I went to the ER four times. If it wasn't a migraine, it was my arthritis in my bad hip acting up, or an IBS flare-up. Staff brought me in the office and told me that if I went to the ER one more time, I would lose my bed here at the group home and have to go back to the shelter. Any suggestions?I am still in severe pain, but am fighting through it. I am abiding by their rule...I sure as Hell don't want to go back to being homeless! But my PTSD symptoms are off the charts (I forgot to tell you I returned from another county back to the one I was raped and kidnapped in for three days). Any advice?
My name is Denise Pavel. I live in Woodstock, IL (where Groundhog Day, the movie, was filmed!). I was homeless for almost 9 years, during which time I was sexually assaulted twice. During one of the assaults, I experienced what the police describe as "aggravated kidnapping" as well. Since I experienced homelessness on and off during the nine year period, I also became a part of many abusive domestic relationship as well. They are basically all I know. The good news is that I have now been offered a wonderful opportunity to reside in a group home for individuals facing mental health challenges. The staff is highly trained and highly educated. They are personable and have "been there" as well. They never talk down to us. They challenge us to grow.
I am experiencing a lot of chronic pain, sleep disturbances, and depression since I moved in three weeks ago, which surprises me. I expected to be feeling so good now that I got out of the shelter and into a real bed and eating good food! But the opposite has happened. The first two weeks I was here, I went to the ER four times. If it wasn't a migraine, it was my arthritis in my bad hip acting up, or an IBS flare-up. Staff brought me in the office and told me that if I went to the ER one more time, I would lose my bed here at the group home and have to go back to the shelter. Any suggestions?I am still in severe pain, but am fighting through it. I am abiding by their rule...I sure as Hell don't want to go back to being homeless! But my PTSD symptoms are off the charts (I forgot to tell you I returned from another county back to the one I was raped and kidnapped in for three days). Any advice?