My first 5K N.Y Diva run fall 2016
Donation protected
My name is Emélie Hébert Poulin and this is my story: I was born on October 2, 1986 in Canada. I come from a little town called Lachute where I lived with my parents and 2 older brothers. Since I was a child I was extremely scared of vomiting and was also a very anxious kid but I did not know what it was and why I felt this way. But I had no idea that my fears had a name. Although it was not easy to be scared, I did have a happy childhood and lived a quite normal life. When I was around 15 years old I started to do some research on the internet and I was surprised to find out that my fear of vomiting had a name and that I was not alone! I could, from now on, say that my greatest fear was something called Emetophobia. So, from the age of 15 to 23, I lived with that fear knowing what it was but I could not find treatment because that particular phobia isn’t well known.
The phobia was slowly taking over my life and I developed a general anxiety disorder. Again, at that point, I was functional but I had to take time off from work on occasion due to high stress periods.
In January 2013, everything got worse. One morning I felt so nauseated that I could not eat or drink and I experienced my first panic attack. I felt so scared and I absolutely knew that something was wrong but I did not know what was going on. No matter what I did and no matter how many doctors I saw, no one knew what was happening or how to help me and it was just getting worse each day.
After about 6 months, still not being able to eat, drink, go out, and/or continue having many panic attacks each day, my doctor found out that I had severe gastritis so I started treatment immediately. Unfortunately, damages to my mental health were done. Even if the gastritis healed, my Emetophobia and general anxiety disorder where extremely high and I also developed a panic disorder plus an eating disorder. Let me tell you; this combination of mental health issues don’t go well together at ALL!
From 2013 to February 2015, I was knocking on every door trying to get help for myself but nothing and no one was able to help me; it was very discouraging. By that point, I lost more than 150 pounds. I could not work or have a normal life. I was always lying on my sofa completely terrified; I was just a shell of what I used to be. I was so fragile physically that it was hard for me to even go to the bathroom. My pulse was going through the roof at every minimal effort because I was extremely dehydrated and it was very dangerous. I thought about suicide so many times because I felt that there was nothing that would ever help me; I was desperate. I had no hope to regain a good life and I was sure that I would suffer like this until I died.
But the thing was, I did not want for my illness to win and I refused to stop searching for solutions. I wanted to fight so even when I had no hope, even when I prayed to die in my sleep; I DID NOT STOP!
In February 2015, I went to a specialized clinic for anorexia. Even if my anorexia was a result of my phobia and not the source of my condition, I absolutely needed to regain a good alimentation. So, since I could not find help anywhere else I took a shot! Thankfully it helped and I started to hope again.
From the end of February 2015 to May 2015, with the help of the clinic and medication I kept improving which was a Godsend! I was sure that I could even start to work again. Part time of course but still, I was on the right path.
In May 2015, the support that I had from the clinic stopped because I could not afford it anymore so I found a new doctor to take care of my medication and to get a referral for good therapy. It did not go as planned. The doctor changed all of my medication without my approval and he did not refer me to a therapist so my condition got bad again and I regressed; it was a huge setback. Then winter arrived and with the stomach flu going around, I stopped eating and going out again. With no medication to help, the anxiety and panic attacks came back but I refused to let it take control over my life again so I continued to fight with all of my might.
Last December, I came across a FB group where the mission is to fight mental illnesses with sport. Each day I would read many stories from women that were getting better by moving. I became really inspired and I wanted to be one of these women.
It took me a few months to get motivated and finally last week I started my journey to a new life! Initially, I wanted to do my first 5K run on October 22 in my town but I came across the N.Y Diva event on oct.02 and I was very attracted by it. This run will be exactly the day that I will turn 30 years old which is very important to me because for the past few years I wasn’t sure that I would live to celebrate my 30th birthday! I felt like I was going to die before that either due to my physical health or that I take my own life from despair.
Now I’m sure that even though it’s not easy, even if I still suffer from Emetophobia, general anxiety, and the panic disorder, I know that I will get better. I have hope, faith in myself, family, and loved ones that believe in me and a good professional team in place, so I believe with all of my heart that I will get through this!
That is why I started this campaign. I need your help to get my life back and spread awareness concerning mental health especially the fact that phobias can cause mental illness. Please help me make my wish come true to run the 5K on October 2, 2016 by donating and share.
Thank you so much for your support.
Love, Emélie
I would use the money for:
- 3 nights at a close by hotel.
- the diva run inscription fees.
- Running equipement and apparel.
- Gaz to cover the road trip from Montréal, Canada to Long Island New-York.
- Traveling insurances.
- Other traveling costs.
- Publicity and others costs associated with this campain.
Also , since I want to bring awarness to mental health causes and help everyone who needs it, I will give 30% of all donations to a mental health community organization .
Regardless the out come, I'M still training for a 5k run. My first step is to walk 30 minutes each day for 30 day wich I started to do so Last week. I will update my trainings from month to month so I can be ready in october. You can follow my Journey to a healthy life on my official FB page wich ive Linked to this campain https://m.facebook.com/Journey-My-first-Diva-5k-run-2016-En-route-Ma-premi%C3%A8re-course-5km-2016-1745143575716074/
Please help me make my dream come True!
Sincerely,
Emélie
My second 30 minutes walk!!
The phobia was slowly taking over my life and I developed a general anxiety disorder. Again, at that point, I was functional but I had to take time off from work on occasion due to high stress periods.
In January 2013, everything got worse. One morning I felt so nauseated that I could not eat or drink and I experienced my first panic attack. I felt so scared and I absolutely knew that something was wrong but I did not know what was going on. No matter what I did and no matter how many doctors I saw, no one knew what was happening or how to help me and it was just getting worse each day.
After about 6 months, still not being able to eat, drink, go out, and/or continue having many panic attacks each day, my doctor found out that I had severe gastritis so I started treatment immediately. Unfortunately, damages to my mental health were done. Even if the gastritis healed, my Emetophobia and general anxiety disorder where extremely high and I also developed a panic disorder plus an eating disorder. Let me tell you; this combination of mental health issues don’t go well together at ALL!
From 2013 to February 2015, I was knocking on every door trying to get help for myself but nothing and no one was able to help me; it was very discouraging. By that point, I lost more than 150 pounds. I could not work or have a normal life. I was always lying on my sofa completely terrified; I was just a shell of what I used to be. I was so fragile physically that it was hard for me to even go to the bathroom. My pulse was going through the roof at every minimal effort because I was extremely dehydrated and it was very dangerous. I thought about suicide so many times because I felt that there was nothing that would ever help me; I was desperate. I had no hope to regain a good life and I was sure that I would suffer like this until I died.
But the thing was, I did not want for my illness to win and I refused to stop searching for solutions. I wanted to fight so even when I had no hope, even when I prayed to die in my sleep; I DID NOT STOP!
In February 2015, I went to a specialized clinic for anorexia. Even if my anorexia was a result of my phobia and not the source of my condition, I absolutely needed to regain a good alimentation. So, since I could not find help anywhere else I took a shot! Thankfully it helped and I started to hope again.
From the end of February 2015 to May 2015, with the help of the clinic and medication I kept improving which was a Godsend! I was sure that I could even start to work again. Part time of course but still, I was on the right path.
In May 2015, the support that I had from the clinic stopped because I could not afford it anymore so I found a new doctor to take care of my medication and to get a referral for good therapy. It did not go as planned. The doctor changed all of my medication without my approval and he did not refer me to a therapist so my condition got bad again and I regressed; it was a huge setback. Then winter arrived and with the stomach flu going around, I stopped eating and going out again. With no medication to help, the anxiety and panic attacks came back but I refused to let it take control over my life again so I continued to fight with all of my might.
Last December, I came across a FB group where the mission is to fight mental illnesses with sport. Each day I would read many stories from women that were getting better by moving. I became really inspired and I wanted to be one of these women.
It took me a few months to get motivated and finally last week I started my journey to a new life! Initially, I wanted to do my first 5K run on October 22 in my town but I came across the N.Y Diva event on oct.02 and I was very attracted by it. This run will be exactly the day that I will turn 30 years old which is very important to me because for the past few years I wasn’t sure that I would live to celebrate my 30th birthday! I felt like I was going to die before that either due to my physical health or that I take my own life from despair.
Now I’m sure that even though it’s not easy, even if I still suffer from Emetophobia, general anxiety, and the panic disorder, I know that I will get better. I have hope, faith in myself, family, and loved ones that believe in me and a good professional team in place, so I believe with all of my heart that I will get through this!
That is why I started this campaign. I need your help to get my life back and spread awareness concerning mental health especially the fact that phobias can cause mental illness. Please help me make my wish come true to run the 5K on October 2, 2016 by donating and share.
Thank you so much for your support.
Love, Emélie
I would use the money for:
- 3 nights at a close by hotel.
- the diva run inscription fees.
- Running equipement and apparel.
- Gaz to cover the road trip from Montréal, Canada to Long Island New-York.
- Traveling insurances.
- Other traveling costs.
- Publicity and others costs associated with this campain.
Also , since I want to bring awarness to mental health causes and help everyone who needs it, I will give 30% of all donations to a mental health community organization .
Regardless the out come, I'M still training for a 5k run. My first step is to walk 30 minutes each day for 30 day wich I started to do so Last week. I will update my trainings from month to month so I can be ready in october. You can follow my Journey to a healthy life on my official FB page wich ive Linked to this campain https://m.facebook.com/Journey-My-first-Diva-5k-run-2016-En-route-Ma-premi%C3%A8re-course-5km-2016-1745143575716074/
Please help me make my dream come True!
Sincerely,
Emélie
My second 30 minutes walk!!
Organizer
Emelie Hebert Poulin
Organizer
Laval, QC