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Getting women talking about their mental health by Abigail Cukier Special to the Beaver 31 | Thursday, June 4, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com While riding on a streetcar in downtown Toronto, Gillian Grossman saw people outside laughing. It dawned on her that she couldn't remember the last time she had laughed or given a genuine smile. "I realized I was not myself any more. I had isolated myself and didn't do things that used to make me happy," she said. That was when Grossman finally told her mom she needed help. After graduating in 2000 with a Master's degree in vocal performance from McGill University, Grossman, then 25, started out on her own for the first time. The performance contracts were coming slowly and she had just ended a long-term relationship. She started to focus on exercising and eating right. "I took it to the extreme and I was overexercising and I developed bulimia," Grossman says. "I think it was a form of trying to control my life when it felt like everything else was out of control." Then Grossman developed depression. She lived like this for about a year-and-a-half before that day on the streetcar. She went to her family doctor and started taking medication. Grossman also went for outpatient treatment at Credit Valley Hospital for her eating disorder. Hallenbeck. In 2009, Drew proposed and they moved to Oakville. "I don't know what it was, the stress of planning a wedding, fitting into the dress or that my singing career had stalled, it brought out the bulimia and depression in full force," Grossman says. She attended the Outpatient Eating Disorders Program at Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital. The Halton Healthcare Services (HHS) program is a Regional Centre of the Central West Eating Disorders Program. This time, Grossman's treatment included group therapy sessions, which she attended for a year. "It got me to deal with issues I had been brushing under the carpet for years. The therapy and medication got me back on track again. It's an incredible program," Grossman said. "I am proud to say, I have been healthy ever since. I do still take (medication). I really do feel I am more myself when I am (taking medication) than when I am not." Grossman and Hallenbeck have two children, Paige, 3 and Casey, 1. Grossman works part-time as a unit clerk in the intensive see Spreading on p.33 halton.ca Gillian Grossman | submitted photo 311 "The (medication) helped tremendously. I didn't want to need drugs to be normal, but my doctor told me, `If you had pneumonia, you would be treated with drugs. If medication can help you, why not use it?'" Grossman regained her mental health and moved to Europe, where she spent three years singing with opera houses in Germany and Switzerland. During a trip home, she met Drew A fusion of JApAnese & Chinese Cuisine in the heArt of oAkville! 2015 Rain Barrel Date Saturday, May 9, 2015 9 a.m. ­ 1 p.m. Saturday, May 30, 2015 9 a.m. ­ 1 p.m. Saturday, June 6, 2015 9 a.m. ­ 1 p.m. (tax included) $40 Truckload Sales Events Part of Halton's water efficiency program ceLebrate suMMer at auGust 8 Location Robert C. Austin Operations Centre, 11620 Trafalgar Road, Georgetown Milton GO Train Station, 780 Main Street East (west of Thompson Road), Milton (parking lot) Mapleview Mall, 900 Maple Avenue, Burlington (lower parking lot by the Bay) Halton Regional Centre, 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville (parking lot"A"- off North Service Road) Dine in for All You cAn eAt lunCh or Dinner www.August8.cA 7 DAYs A week 5 Locations to serve you better! oAkville 280 north service road W. @ Dorval al 905-338-6228 BurlinGton 834 Brant Street Saturday, June 13, 2015 9 a.m. ­ 1 p.m. (must provide proof of Halton Region residency) Halton residents only We Do tAkeout! hAMilton 1W Wilson Street · 1066 Upper James St. stoneY Creek 835 Paramount Drive 10% off Dinner only. Cash only & with this ad. Optional online pre-payment and home delivery service available directly through the supplier. For more information, visit halton.ca/rainbarrels Please contact us as soon as possible if you have any accessibility needs at Halton Region events or meetings. 040615