January 8, 2025- Mike Larocque’s podcast:

Re- Chronic PTSD and hyper vigilance resulting in a debilitating loss of quality of life.

Interviewer: Joanne K. Beaudry-Larocque

M4A audio – 93.5 mb ; time: 57:32

At age 70, Mike realized his symptoms of panic attacks, sadness, depression, body aches and a feeling of wanting to just stay home and not do anything was getting worse. He bravely told his doctor and was referred to a social worker counselor to subsequently to see a psychiatrist. He was diagnosed with Chronic PTSD (post traumatic symptoms disorder) and hyper vigilance where he couldn’t handle sudden, sharp, loud noises where it would send him into a frenzy of shaking and almost breaking down.

My husband, Mike relates as to where his trauma events first happened to being strapped and viciously assaulted by his teacher at the young age of seven years old and other events while at school to the point he hated going to school. Then, with a limited education, he worked for almost thirty five years on the railway as a maintenance foreman where his job was to inspect and repair railway track but also to clean up the bloody messes from tragic accidents. No counseling or time off was offered to him or to his crew as they were trained not to complain. As time progressed, life happens then stuff from the past bubbles up to the point, where it was affecting him with his mental, emotional and physical health. I am proud of my husband, especially as a man to bravely talk about his mental health and to encourage others to do the same.

If you or know of someone who might need counseling, please seek help. Visit with your doctor or go to a crisis centre or emergency at a hospital. Don’t wait, until it’s too late.

"I Have No Hometown" - "The Fossilized Honeycomb" - "Stillness" I talk about residing in small Northern Ontario communities: Matabitchuan, Goward, Hunta, Abitibi Canyon and with some that are no longer in existence. Most were “Hydro” “towns.” This memoir was published in 2009 - HighGrader Magazine in three separate issues. I read a short story about “Fraserdale” by Dennis Oleskevich (2015) and two excerpts about my parents by: Jean Ellis (“Memories” (2010) and “hydro history” by Isabel Wilson (“life in the colonies-the dam towns”(2011); I read my short story, “The Fossilized Honeycomb” (2011); and read my poem, “Stillness” (2008)

March 2, 2024: trigger warning for this episode on my podcast of specific derogatory words and a scene of sexual violence in my play, “Encounters at Bell Mansion.” Published in 2015 in HighGrader Magazine. This play is also to raise awareness about the crisis: “MMIWG” – Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. Disclaimer: Disclaimer Note from author: Joanne K. Beaudry-Larocque: This play “Encounters at Bell Mansion” is purely a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, events and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely and entirely coincidental, unless historical figures. This play’s story and some characters are fictitious. Certain historical names, long-standing institutions, agencies and public offices are mentioned, but some of the characters involved (besides the historical names) are wholly imaginary. This is a work of fiction.