Read Pertrina's story
My name is Pertrina Thomas, and I’m with Consumer Advocate Network in Washington DC. I’d like to share some of my story with you: trauma, tragedy, and my mental health. Trauma and tragedy led me to work on my mental health, and my mental health journey led me to my spirituality. I had some very traumatic experiences when I was very young. Mental health had a powerful stigma surrounding it. I grew up and moved on with my life, but I carried these feelings with me for a very long time. They brought me to some unexpected and confusing places. As I aged, I realized I wanted something different. But my insecurities made me close off and I didn’t want to share anything about myself with the world. I didn’t ever want to smile. I had always heard there was help out there, but I needed to learn to open up and trust.
God led me to N Street Village, and N Street Village led me to God. I was so broken for so long. I didn’t think recovery or even healing was possible. N Street Village is a facility for women from all walks of life. I was able to sit still, focus, and eventually trust. I felt the most serene comfort I had felt in a very long time. I knew God led me here. The routine and repetition of the N Street program helped me change my thinking. That atmosphere became spiritual to me. I was surrounded by confident pictures and people. There was an aroma of peace.
I joined a choir, the Ambassadors of Praise at Luther Place Church across from N Street Village which encouraged me to sing and learn spiritual songs. I attended a bible study once a week and recited the serenity prayer daily. That practice sparked a spiritual feeling in me and led me to live a more spiritual life.
Finally, I noticed a more positive change in myself. I walked a different walk surrounded by people who had changed their lives just like me. But the most important part of my whole journey was that I began to smile.