Jess Fritz had her first mental health diagnosis at the age of twelve, after being sexually abused. Since then, the labels that have been attached to her identity include bipolar affective disorder, borderline personality disorder, complex PTSD, and substance use disorder.   As a young woman, she had no hope of having a normal life. “I was raised to believe that I was sick and recovery was not possible. I had big dreams and they looked me in the face and told me I wouldn’t become anything in my life. I was continually told that I belonged contained and locked away from society,” she said.  

After a nearly fatal suicide attempt, Jess decided to make changes, which involved taking a hard look at the several medications she had been taking for years. In this interview, she shares with us the many treatments she tried, what worked, and what was detrimental to her health.  Despite what she heard all her life, today Jess is married and works as a therapist in the state of Washington. 

She is currently living prescription-free for the first time in her life.  "I finally saw a future and it looked really bright and I got really excited. Slowly the suicidal ideation disappeared and has not come back.”  Jess is part of the Stability Network, a global initiative that aims to open up honest conversations about mental health.   

To know more about the Stability Network, visit:  https://www.thestabilitynetwork.org/

You can watch this interview on my YouTube channel "Understand Suicide:”

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Visit my page www.understandsuicide.com Find my book "Understanding suicide: living with loss, paths to prevention:”

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