define('DISABLE_WP_CRON', true);{"id":3516,"date":"2011-09-15T10:23:51","date_gmt":"2011-09-15T00:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sh1ft.org\/blog\/?p=3516"},"modified":"2011-09-15T10:11:22","modified_gmt":"2011-09-15T00:11:22","slug":"r-u-ok","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sh1ft.org\/blog\/3516\/","title":{"rendered":"R U OK?"},"content":{"rendered":"

$\"\"$ <\/p>\n

R U OK?Day 2011<\/a> is on 15th September, today. On this day they want everyone across the country from all backgrounds and all walks of life to ask friends, families and colleagues: “Are you OK?”. <\/p>\n

There has been 2 important times in my life when I needed to hear that from someone… <\/p>\n

R U OK?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

You might not know about this about me, actually I bet you don’t as I’ve never spoken it about it. When I was a kid, growing up in the suburbs, not a care in the world and as innocent as they come – I was repeatedly and regularly sexually assaulted by a neighbour. A trusted neighbour. Someone we saw every day. <\/p>\n

Back then, I didn’t realise what was happening was not right, or I would of certainly said something. So it stayed a secret for years until high school, and unfortunately during a Health class. I can’t remember the topic that set me off, but during that class the memories of my childhood were triggered and I flipped the poop out, internally. I didn’t want to believe it, but it couldn’t be ignored and it really blew my mind that I had experienced something so nasty, so young and so alone. <\/p>\n

I began to withdraw from school, friends and probably reality itself. I began cutting myself, not in a suicidal way, but I guess it was a release? Whatever I was doing, it wasn’t good and thankfully I had amazing friends, who went above and beyond to ask me R U OK? when they saw the scars and poor bandage job on my wrists. <\/p>\n

Without that R U OK?, you wouldn’t be reading a blog about a well adjusted (I like to think!) mum of two. <\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

R U OK?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The most recent time I needed to be asked R U OK? has been in the last week. Jovie’s autism diagnosis has both been a relief and a stressful time. My friends again have been the ones hanging on to me, asking whether we need anything and just sitting with us to listen and to talk it out. <\/p>\n

They’ve met me at parks, brought over a frozen coke, sent me emails and left me amazing voicemails. My friends are reminders that my worries are their worries – that I am not alone in the fight. <\/p>\n

Without this R U OK?, I don’t think I would be as clear as I am today about the whole diagnosis. <\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

You don’t need 650 friends on Facebook or Twitter. You don’t need the world’s most popular blog with readers from all over the world. You just need that 1 good friend that will give you some time out of their day to listen to you. <\/p>\n

I am here if you need an ear, to vent or to talk something through. <\/p>\n

My email is tracey@sh1ft.org – you can email me or use the form here<\/a> – and I’m asking YOU right now – R U OK?<\/em> <\/strong> This is open past today, whenever you want to email me, just do it. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"