Kayla Myers | Montana's Peer Network

Taking the Reins

As a peer supporter, I’ve seen how empowering it can be when someone takes control of their own story and their own journey toward healing. The national “I Am in Control Day” is a reminder for all of us. Whether we are supporting others or working on our own personal growth, we have the ability to take charge of our lives, make choices, and advocate for what we need. It’s a day to celebrate our strength and remind ourselves that, no matter the circumstances, we have the power to harness and create positive change.

Winter Blues

Every year as winter approaches, I start to dread the days ahead. Even before summer or fall has ended, I find myself mourning their passing while still living in those seasons. I know the days will soon grow shorter and the nights longer, and I brace myself for the arrival of the infamous “winter blues.” Whether it’s the colder weather, the lack of sunlight, or the post-holiday slump, this time of year can be particularly challenging for my mental health. As a peer supporter, I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside others through difficult seasons, and I know firsthand how real and heavy these feelings can be. But the good news? We don’t have to face them alone.

The Power of Our Voices

One of the most powerful ways we can make an impact as families in our state is through advocacy, especially when we have the chance to speak directly to the lawmakers who shape policies that affect OUR lives. Legislative sessions offer a unique opportunity for our stories, experiences, and voices to be heard in a way that can create real, lasting change. And trust me, when our voices are heard in those rooms, the ripple effects can be life-changing.

Let’s Make Everyday International Day of Acceptance

International Day of Acceptance is a reminder that every person, regardless of their abilities, deserves to be embraced for who they are. It’s a day for the world to look beyond diagnoses, move past assumptions, and to focus on the value of each individual. It’s a day to affirm that differences do not diminish worth.

A Reminder

I know exactly what you’re going through right now. It might not always seem like it, but you are doing an incredible job. Sometimes, in the whirlwind of daily life, you are managing school pickups, making sure the meals are ready, keeping track of doctor’s appointments, handling tantrums (both big and small), and let’s not forget the never-ending laundry. You may forget that what you’re doing is nothing short of amazing.
I’ve been there, too. I know what it feels like when you’re so wrapped up in your kids’ needs and schedules that your own gets lost in the shuffle. You might have the constant feeling of being “on,” that there’s always something to do for someone else. And I get it, parenting, with all its beautiful chaos, can consume every bit of your time and energy.

Celebrating National Child’s Day: A Tribute to My Boys

To celebrate National Child’s Day, I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey of motherhood and the two beautiful boys who have forever changed my life. It’s a day to honor children, yes, but for me, it’s also a moment to pause and truly appreciate the little hands that grip mine so tightly, the laughter that echoes through our home, and the endless moments of joy and challenges that come with raising two unique and wonderful souls.

Watching Him Stim Through Life

As a parent of a nonverbal child with autism, our journey has been a tapestry woven with both challenges and triumphs. One of the most significant threads in this tapestry has been understanding sensory processing disorder (SPD) and its profound impact on my son. SPD is often found in children on the autism spectrum and manifests in various sensitivities and reactions to sensory stimuli. By sharing our experiences, I hope not only to advocate for my son but also to raise awareness and support others who are facing similar challenges.

The Journey

Today, I invite you to join me on a journey. The map I was given at birth was filled with detours, unexpected stops, fast-paced highways, and scenic routes, accompanied by plenty of bumps and flat tires. Through adaptation and countless obstacles, I navigated a less-traveled road—a highway leading to self-awareness and recovery. I want to pause a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each of you here today reading this. I know you have faced your own battles, and your presence signifies that you’ve found hope after being hurt and discovered the courage to keep showing up for yourselves. Thank you for allowing me the space to be vulnerable and share my story.

A Call to Embrace Humankind

In a world that often feels divided by differences, it’s easy to forget the simple yet profound truth that binds us all: our shared humanity. Each day, we encounter many stories, experiences, and perspectives, all reflecting the richness of human existence. Amidst this diversity, one universal thread has the power to weave us together, kindness and empathy toward others who may appear different from ourselves.

Navigating an Autism Diagnosis as a Parent: A Compassionate Guide

Receiving an autism diagnosis for your child can feel overwhelming, but it’s also the beginning of a journey filled with hope, learning, and growth. As a parent, you may experience a whirlwind of emotions, from confusion and fear to relief and determination. Understanding how to navigate this new path will be filled with challenges but will eventually help you to provide the best support for your child and family. Here’s a compassionate guide to help you through this journey.

Wellness Starts at Home

Healthy relationships play a crucial role in family wellness by fostering a positive environment that supports the well-being of all family members. Mutual respect forms the foundation of healthy relationships within a family, as it cultivates a sense of equality and acceptance among family members. When family members respect each other’s boundaries, opinions, and individuality, it creates a harmonious atmosphere that promotes emotional well-being. Understanding is another key component of healthy relationships in families. When family members make an effort to empathize and communicate effectively, it strengthens their bond and promotes emotional connection. By understanding each other’s perspectives and experiences, family members can navigate challenges and conflicts more effectively, leading to improved overall wellness.

Therapy Awareness

Forgiveness should be a journey, not a destination. What I mean by that is, whether we need to forgive ourselves, friends/family, or people who have wronged us in our lives, that can be a very difficult task. That physical pain we felt, the emotional toll we went through, and the way our bodies grasped those feelings and held onto them tight, can feel like something you will truly never get over. The old saying goes, “Time heals everything.” Well, it sure doesn’t. The reason I say this is because over time, life keeps throwing us curveballs, or as experts, unlike myself like to call it, trauma. It starts stacking inside of us and piling up like deskwork in our brains. When this happens, we are walking through life with unresolved hurt inside of us, and then turn around and project it onto others. So, the very things that hurt us in the beginning, we are now doing those same things to the ones we love, friends, our children, etc.

Revelations

I had a revelation recently and am still unsure how to correct this coping mechanism I acquired on my journey through life. I guess at this point acknowledging and identifying this within myself is currently the stage I am in. So, I thought this would be a good way to reflect through writing and see if any more revelations transpire my growth. “Carpe Diem” is a Latin term meaning “Seize the day”. This can inspire the idea of living in the moment or for today, so we aren’t wasting what little time we have on this earth worrying about what has already happened or what is to come.

A Different Perspective

In this article, I am going to give you a different shift in mindset with the upcoming “Prayers for Autism” awareness day. While I am sure the intention with this day was all in good nature, I have some thoughts…….

Stepping Into My Wings

Spirituality has been my compass while I learned how to get back into the driver’s seat of my own life. I have always recognized in myself that I am a deep thinker and feeler, but it felt like a curse for a long time. I learned to dim my light within, not listen to my sense of self, and this caused me to sway away from my core values and beliefs. Through hardships, I found myself extremely distanced from my mind body, and soul.

Sensoring Processing Disorder

by Kayla Myers, Family Peer SupporterOctober 31, 2023Sensory Processing Disorder was something I was very naive to before having a child diagnosed with Autism. There are 1 in 20 people affected by this every day. Someone living with SPD might be obvious to spot (like my son), while others, you might never know unless you…
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CHOOO-CHOOO, ADHD Mama Coming Through

As a Mama of two boys and a bonus girl, I wanted to write a letter to them and express myself in a way I haven’t before. Having a late diagnosis of ADHD has truly changed my life for the better. Now that I know more about the ways it affects my day to day, how it impacts those around me, and although I have implemented tools to help with the things that are easy for everyone else but seem foreign to me, I always want to be better, for me, but mostly them.

The Greatest Mistake

I am going to try something new with this month’s theme: recovery. Honesty is admirable, the more I dive into the depths of my mental health recovery journey, I know honesty will be the key that I didn’t have in my pocket the first time around. I had some old triggers resurface for me and new obstacles present themselves the last couple weeks. Here are my take aways……

Growth and Grace in Parenting

The day I became a mom to my son was the greatest day of my life. While I was pregnant and in those first months of being his mom, I don’t ever remember doubting my abilities. I knew I would try every day to be the mom my kids needed. It is interesting now looking back, I can point out where I let all my doubts, fears, and unhealed trauma, creep in and steal the precious moments I had with my boys.

Service Work and Volunteering

Throughout my life service work and volunteering were something I regularly did without a thought. I did it because I wanted to and cared deeply for human beings in general, even just having met them. I can remember volunteering was something I started doing as a young girl. My mom and I would drive from our small town to the bigger city with Wal-Mart or Payless, to buy shoes for children in our community through a non-profit that ran off donations. Or volunteering to help with children in classrooms, buying food for the homeless population, or giving clothes away that I no longer needed to someone who did.

Author: Kayla Myers