Featured Member Our featured member is Deb Martin, she was asked to speak at November’s Network 180 Board meeting, and this is her speech. Hello, my name is Deb Martin, I have Tardive Dyskinesia, and it is damage of the central nervous system that causes loss of control over parts of the body by sending signals to the wrong parts. This damage was caused by being treated with the wrong drug for the cure causing damaging affects to the central nervous system. My brain sends out signals to a part of my body but the signal ends up somewhere else. In 1978 I was being treated with a drug I should have not been taking and this is why I have this problem. Everybody treated me badly because they did not understand my condition and how I got this way. People use to think I was born this way and they would leave me out of games and other events and it was hard to make friends or even someone to talk to. I was very much alone and this was very hard for me to handle but as time moved on I found that answer. I have a right to live just like anyone does. I wanted a job, a place of my own, a car to get me around and friends to do things with and talk too. I did not give up and it was very hard on me. I just would not quit, I just try harder to get what I wanted out of life, in getting the right help is a good start to move forward, going to your help meetings, talking to others that are like you can help you to understand yourself and the problems that lay ahead. Understanding what lies ahead in your journey to recovery. Just don’t quit and adjust your life for the problems you have. There are programs and other people to help you or guide you along the way in the right direction to get the help you need. Most people do not understand what trouble is. They are confused on how they should treat you, this makes them want to get away from you and think that maybe you are crazy and dangerous to them. Lack of understanding will play a very big part in how people will treat you and if they want to be a friend or not. It’s this lack of understanding that makes it so hard for you to be normal, even so, never give up trying to be who you are and the things you want to do in your life. Thank You.