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Barbara Kompik
Speaker to share message of healing, hope.
#WalkAMileInMyShoes
#WestMichiganCommunityMentalHealth
By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.
LUDINGTON — Oceana County resident Barbara Kompik, who has struggled with mental illness, will share her powerful message during the West Michigan Community Mental Health (CMH) Second Annual Walk A Mile In My Shoes rally Wednesday, May 23.
The event is intended to raise behavioral health awareness. Those whose lives have been touched by mental illness, developmental disability, or substance use disorders are especially invited to attend the free, public event.
Registration starts at 3 p.m. at the West Michigan CMH Office at 920 Diana Street. Attendees will walk a symbolic mile to the Mason County Courthouse, where Kompik will present her keynote address at approximately 4 p.m.
Kompik, who lives in the Hart/Pentwater area, found out at the age of 45 that she is an incest survivor and was diagnosed with bipolar personality disorder and borderline personality disorder.
“I was ostracized by my entire family at a very young age. I was deemed ‘different’ than the rest of them, ‘not as pretty’ as my two sisters, and was told, ‘You are not an individual’ when I was in junior high,” Kompik said. “I don’t know what made them not like me, as I was just a shy little girl, trying to survive life.
“When I got married, at age 22, all hell broke loose, but we were determined to make it together, and with a new little family.
“Until in utter rage and pain one day, I found myself taking the bathroom cabinet door and slamming it over and over again shattering glass, screaming and sobbing in the process.
“We sought help everywhere…counselors, teachers, psychologists, psychiatrists and pastors. No one knew what was wrong.
“Until one day, (my husband) found a book and bought it. I found out what was child’s play when I was little was, indeed, incest, and that I had also been molested in my pre-verbal years.
“Abuse racks a child’s soul. It stomps on it and leaves it for dead. I had a very difficult time just surviving life.
“At age 45 I began the journey of seven years of intense therapy. It was not easy.
“We eventually found CMH who invested many hours upon hours into me listening and helping me sort through the trouble I was having. They were wonderful and were the answer I needed.”
She has founded an organization, Healing from Abuse Ministries International, to help people find healing. She has also written and self-published six books and plans to write more to continue her passion of helping others who have struggled with mental illness. Kompik also shares her message through various speaking engagements, such as Wednesday’s event.
Two of her books are about her son, Dale, who died last year at Christmas time at the age of 31. He suffered from pneumonia and sepsis.
Kompik’s books are available at the Book Mark in Ludington. Her website is www.healingfromabuseministriesinternational.webs.com.
Participants in Wednesday’s rally are encouraged to wear green to show their support for behavioral health awareness.
This story is copyrighted © 2018, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
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