“Drawing is both an escape from the world and a way to connect to it,” says Lindsay. “It connects me to the world outside my mind and at the same time, accesses my inner thoughts.”
At 17, Lindsay's world changed overnight.
She suddenly fund herself in a place of fear and confusion, facing challenges she didn't yet understand. It wasn't until later that she learned she was living with schizophrenia and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
“I felt like a disappointment,” Lindsay shares. “There were days I was even saddened that I woke up in the morning.” Her diagnosis deeply affected her loved ones, who watched her struggle with symptoms like hearing voices, pacing hallways, and battling thoughts of self-harm.
But Lindsay wasn’t alone. At Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital, she found a team of caregivers who truly understood her. “No matter how many times I came to Mackenzie Health, the staff were always warm and comforting. They remembered my name. That made me feel safe.”
From nurses to occupational therapists, every interaction helped Lindsay take one step forward. “Even when I was agitated and walked the halls for hours, the nurses understood. They let me be me.”
Now, Lindsay lives a fulfilling life surrounded by family. She spends her days drawing, writing, walking, and cooking for her parents. She attends group therapy with the Vaughan ACT Team and continues to learn new skills.
Her message to others is simple but powerful: “Believe in forward motion. Take one step at a time. It’s worth it.”
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