WELCOME TO CLUB CADILLAC

My name is Gail Bottoms. I am originally from Tennessee. I am the oldest of 4 - I have 2 sisters and 1 brother all 3 born with birth defects. My parents have since passed away but while they were alive, my dad was physically abusive to my mom. And emotional, mentally and verbally abusive to my siblings and I. With my siblings being with born with medical issues, I felt left out of receiving my parents attention and love. Therefore I have felt as if I did not fit in and had a hard time making friends. My past intimate relationships have been emotional, mentally and verbally abusive, as well. In May 2015, I admitted myself to the physic ward in Tennessee, where I learned more about myself and my situations and was diagnosed with Anxiety, Depression, and a Personality Disorder. And also was told that I needed to leave the abusive, toxic relationship I was in. In August 2015, I had that opportunity. I stepped on a Greyhound bus and stepped off into a new life here in Michigan. In 2016, CMH added PTSD to my list of diagnoses. I was connected with Club Cadillac shortly after arriving in Michigan. I attended regularly but it was not until the pandemic that I started to take advantage of the opportunities the Clubhouse offers. I started working virtually doing Clubhouse work on the daily and weekly newsletter. Learning these skills gave me the confidence to take on more responsibility when I was physically in the Clubhouse. With this new found confidence I have advocated for myself and I was able to attend the Michigan Clubhouse Conference in Kalamazoo and the Clubhouse International World Seminar in Baltimore, Maryland. I have come a long way mentally with receiving 2 awards for Leading by Example in 2 years (2021and 2022) and a stigma buster award (2022) at the CMH Recovery Celebrations. I am also on our Club Cadillac Advisory Board where I hold the office if Treasurer. Club Cadillacs has has been my backbone of support with trainings, travels and life in general.