Kyle Nash

Kyle Nash comes from a family of those diagnosed with mental illness, mental disabilities and suicide. Her paternal grandmother committed suicide and her father had an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Her husband was a Vietnam veteran who suffered with PTSD from his tour of duty in the jungles. Over time he died penniless while living in his sister's basement leaving her a single mother of two young children. Each of her two adult children has lived with either ADHD or severe OCD. Kyle certainly did not escape the family lineage of mental illness. She was diagnosed with clinical depression and was also suicidal. As a result of family expectations and pressure, despite indescribable difficulties, she pushed herself to the limit during her teen and young adult years in order to seem "normal". She says that she became so successful at acting that a vicious cycle began-short term pretence followed immediately by hiding in order to recover. Over time that became second nature and despite countless doctors, innumerable medications and an extended hospital stay, it took an almost insurmountable toll. At one point if seemed as if suicide was the only option. "When people ask me my age I always say it but that I am going on 185. Although laughter always follows, nothing could be closer to the truth. Most people who meet me and many that already know me would never imagine the severe disabilities that haunt me. The stigma toward mental illness is active and real and I have to speak out. Many who struggle with mental disabilities can't afford to take this risk. It is up to those of us who can do it. I have the good fortune of being a high functioning person with a mental disability and the ability to speak well." Several of Dr. Nash's topics include: "Outside In: Living With Invisible Disabilities", "Hang open for Life, Dear", and "Psychopharma Parenting". She has spoken throughout the country with rave reviews from college students, advocacy groups, corporate settings and government agencies.