He claimed I'm mentally unstable

Hillyard/Dick Coward previously referred to me as a "basket case." His reasoning here is that I've stated (several times, quite openly) that I was sexually abused as a child; that I've been treated for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); that I attempted suicide in 1988; that I've been married three times; and that I dropped out of college in order to get married. Oh yes—he also claims that being willing to reword web pages for greater clarity, or to correct mistakes, is a sign of instability (where I come from, that's called "being responsible," but I understand that concept to be foreign to him.) He even made statements to the effect that moving due to the threats we received is an additional sign of "instability," and claiming that there's no evidence we've ever been stalked.

While dropping out of college—and giving up a full scholarship to do so—was certainly a major mistake, and if I had it to do again I certainly wouldn't have married anyone at the tender age of 18, it's hardly evidence of "mental instability." In addition, it was a very long time ago. Other marriages, other mistakes—but I've explained all that myself, having volunteered all the above information on my web pages long before I'd ever heard of Hillyard.

A recent suicide attempt would, certainly, be cause for concern. One in 1988, though, wouldn't be evidence of any current mental illness. While I'll always be a survivor of sexual abuse, it isn't something that I chose, and it isn't something that defines or controls me—and it isn't something I'll hide. I'm no more ashamed of my mental health history than I am of having had a C-section because my daughter presented as a breech birth. It's simply a fact, neither positive or negative. I speak openly of it as an important part of my history and in hopes that my experiences may benefit someone else.

 

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