Suvi Miettinen
Finland
Hei, olen Suvi Miettinen. Suomalainen erityispedagogiikan opiskelija. Olen kärsinyt posttraumaattisesta stressihäiriöstä varhaisnuoruudestani lähtien. Sain diagnoosin vasta 30. ikävuoden jälkeen. Nuorena minulle diagnosoitiin virheellisesti vakava masennus ja jopa skitsofrenia, joka johti vääränlaiseen hoitoon. Muutama vuosi sitten loukkaannuin pyöräilyonnettomuudessa ja sain vakavia murtumia ja aivovamman. Kamppailin puhumisen, puheen, lukemisen ja ajan ymmärtämisen kanssa. Olin huonossa kunnossa fyysisesti ja psyykkisesti ja olin sairaalahoidossa melkein kaksi vuotta. Siitä lähtien olen piirtänyt ulos tunteitani. Olen käyttänyt taidetta toipuakseni. Olen käynyt traumaterapiassa melkein neljä vuotta ja se on ollut vastaus rukouksiini. Matkani toipumiseen on ollut hyvin pitkä. Nykyisin minulla on mielenrauha ja vahva resilienssi. Traumaperäinen stressihäiriöni on helpottunut.
HI! My name is Suvi Miettinen. I am a student of special needs education from Eastern Finland. I have been suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder since my early teenage years. Unfortunately, I got this diagnose as late as my early 30’s. As a teenager I was misdiagnosed to have severe depression and even schizophrenia leading to wrong medicine and incorrect treatment. A few years ago, I was injured in a bicycle accident and had severe bone fractures and brain damage. I struggled with speaking, understanding speech and time, reading etc. I was in a bad shape both physically and mentally and needed hospital care for almost two years. Since then, I have been drawing out my emotions. I have used art to recover. I have had trauma therapy almost four years now and it has been an answer to my prayers. My journey to recovery has been very long. Nowadays I have peace in my mind and a strong resilience. My PTSD has eased.
The artists' stories
"The Vibrant Mind" is an art contest that celebrates artistic expression from individuals with mental health conditions. By focusing on the artists' work rather than their various diagnoses, it hopes to promote a stigma-free and inclusive environment.
That being said, the participants were given the option to share their background stories if they wished to do so.