In this episode, I’m joined by Jenny Maher, author of Never Give Up: How Determination And God Gave Me A Better Look at Life. Jenny joins me to share her story of how determination and a strong will allowed her to persevere and not give up after enduring multiple forms of trauma throughout her life.
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The Details
Traumatic experience:
Jenny was raised by a single mother who was bipolar and was in and out of hospitals, which led to Jenny having to go into foster care where there was overcrowding and she was not treated well by the other foster kids. Jenny experienced emotional abuse from her mom who would take out her aggression on Jenny and just wasn't able to be there for her. Jenny later attempted suicide when she was 34 years old and ended up paralyzed from the neck down.
Effects of the traumatic experience:
Jenny felt like she had to grow up quickly and she also felt very alone. She developed physical ailments as a result of all of the stress she was carrying inside of her. Jenny has also struggled with having romantic relationships as a result of her experiences growing up. Jenny has battled with her own mental illness in the form of depression and PTSD.
Overcoming the traumatic experience:
Jenny was determined to do things for herself in spite of her paralysis and she pushed herself to do the things she was told she wouldn't be able to do. She also found God and found support in fellow churchgoers, and for the first time in her life, had a support system and felt accepted.
What Jenny does today:
Jenny is a writer and a painter, and provides hope for those who feel like giving up.
Final Question:
Given what you know now, if you could go back to when you were going through the tough times and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?
Jenny's Answer: Don't be afraid to reach out for help.
Links Mentioned
TheMindBodyAndSpirit.net - Jenny's website where you can find her book and contact her
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