Author: Minnie Almader
Trigger warning: This content contains a description of a near accidental drowning. For some people a trigger can affect them by shutting down or feeling numb. Others may feel a lot of anxiety in their body. The body and mind work together but when something triggers us, we act funny or weird. It can be one of those embarrassing moments and it is o.k. to notice it. Now, you have insight or knowledge about yourself. This is a positive step for you.
I am going back in time when I was fourteen years old. I am using my voice as a teenager. I remember when my family took a fun vacation to the beach on the Sea of Cortex in Mexico. I am having a flashback or bad memory. It ended up being a very confusing and sad vacation. Here is a letter I wrote:
Dear Guardian Angel,
Thank you for saving my father’s life. It is hard to imagine what went wrong when my father almost drowned. Did the waves get bigger and bigger? Did the fisherman in Rocky Point, Mexico make a mistake when they took my uncles boat to the dock? Then, how did my dad end up in the ocean?
Up until now, I did not believe in angels. You are looking out for my family and I am so happy my father is alive!
– Minnie, age 14
Self-care and kind reflections for teens:
Writing can help you process events in your life. It can have enormous benefits for your mental health. Did this letter remind you of a moment when you got scared?
Write about anything you would like to say and do not edit or change your words.
Do you believe in angels?
Can you think of someone you trust and reach out to them? This person can be a friend, teacher or adult.
Self-care and kind reflections for parents/adults:
Sometimes life can be overwhelming for parents/grandparents/adults.
Do you have any unresolved trauma in your life?
Can you think of someone your age you trust and reach out to them?
Conclusion: We ended our summer vacation in Mexico. Our dad told us we had to pack up the campsite at the beach. We drove back to Arizona after being there for only three days.
My mom took my dad to the hospital in Tucson, Arizona because he got scared. It was very confusing but my mom remained calm. She could not explain why our dad was in a panic. My mom was very sad after my dad stayed in the hospital. I did not understand what type of illness my dad got in Mexico. I am going to call my best friend and tell her everything. She invited me to her house and I can forget this bad memory because it is summertime, we can hang out.
Fast-forward:
Later, in my life I would learn that the doctor told my mom that our dad was paranoid and schizophrenic. It took twenty years for my father to get a correct diagnosis. By the time I was thirty four, I found resources at the V. A. hospital in Tucson, Arizona. He was diagnosed with a bipolar disorder and prescribed a mood stabilizer that worked for him.
Minnie Almader (she/her) is a first-generation Mexican-American who is an outspoken mental health advocate. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a B. S., M. Ed., LPC in counseling and guidance. Her Ed. D. research focused on college students of color and retention strategies. Minnie enjoys travel to Guadalajara, Mexico where her father was born. She is working on a bilingual workbook for young people, families and friends who love someone with a mood disorder.
