Page 4 - Success Story Newsletter Summer 2016
P. 4
Isolation to Celebration -
Seeing Success Through Trust
Mental Illness can leave us vulnerable and force a trigger for Sharon and when the supervisor
one into a state of unhealthy isolation. But as touched her, she exploded. She was terminated
Spanish novelist Miguel de Unamuno tells us, from the call center and sunk into a dark place.
“Isolation is the worst possible counselor.” That’s Sharon refused to give up however, making the
why we are so proud of Sharon, who found the realization that her tremendous struggles were
inner strength to remove herself from a harmful not something she could face alone. That’s why
situation and replace it with a better one. she reached out to Easterseals New Jersey and
met her case manager, Kendall Hill.
Sharon’s journey begins in New Jersey’s Essex
County. While growing up there, she was subjected Still battling her trust issues, Sharon had trouble
to physical, emotional, and sexual abuses letting Kendall get close enough to help. From her
by those closest to her. experience at the call center,
Understandably, this led to a Sharon knew that case
high-level of distrust for those “Isolation managers had an unhealthy
around her. She closed down, habit of not “sticking around.”
refusing to let anyone get Kendall wasn’t your average
too close. Even the smallest is the worst case manager though… She
human contact could set her was patient, calm, and always
off, causing her to lash out delivered on her promises.
at even those who meant her possible This went a long way with
no harm. She stopped taking Sharon as she was so used
her medications and fell to being disappointed by
into a pattern of substance counselor.” those around her. She began
abuse. Sharon recognized to open up about her past,
the unhealthy environment dealing with issues that have
in which she was living and haunted her for most of her
decided to remove herself life.
from it. She found a more - Miguel de Unamuno To say Sharon has come
stable living situation in
Hunterdon County, taking on a long way in a short time
a job at a local call center. would be an understatement.
The call center was geared Working with Kendall, Sharon
towards helping people just like herself. For a was able to get her medications and substance
while, it seemed as though Sharon had escaped abuse under control. Eventually, she gained
her past. control of her finances and even bought a new
car. She successfully pulled herself out of
Unfortunately, most emotional scars run deep. isolation and took control of her life. Now, she
One day, when her supervisor was sharing some is back in school studying Human Resources at
constructive criticism, they got into an argument. Thomas Edison State College. Driven by her own
At one point, the supervisor reached out to calm experiences, she wants to assist others living
Sharon, attempting to defuse her frustration, but with mental illness to get the help they need, at
inadvertently made it worse. Human contact was the Getting Together Self-Help Center. Just two
4 Easterseals New Jersey Success Story Newsletter 2016 LIVE · LEARN · WORK · PLAY
