Elita Paterson

Photography by Jay Roach of http://www.adspark.ca/
I co-authored "The Smiling Mask" at the lovely age of 37 with some of the most endearing and genuine people I've had the pleasure to be friends with and create with!   Fortunately, my current home of Regina, Saskatchewan is abundant with just as many fabulous friends as I have in British Columbia, where I was born and raised.   I'm so thankful I had the chance to live in the beautiful surroundings found around my hometown of Castlegar, before setting roots in Regina, SK!

Currently, I am employed by the University of Regina and work with an incredibly talented and respectful group of people who make my life that much richer and enjoyable, five days a week!  Once a month,  I,   gladly, volunteer my time and energies serving as an active board member on my daughter's child care centre's Parent Advisory Committee.  I spend my time maintaining this website and promoting our book and documentary!  I am also our Team's representative on the Saskatchewan Maternal Mental Health Strategy that was created to submit the most comprehensive screening and treatment program, for all pregnant and postpartum mothers, to our government this summer!  It is our Team's intent to get our message across, nationally and internationally, by speaking and sharing  at conferences, the public at large, and with media that are interested in healing families, all over the world!  After all, PPD does not discriminate and is a global issue.   And...as of Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 I completed my intensive 5-day training program to become an Angelic Awakening^TM Practitioner ~ www.intagreat.ca!  I am honoured to provide the same love, acceptance and forgiveness techniques that took me to my next level of living...for you!

Then, there is my charming and playful husband, Ward, for whom I love and am, especially, thankful for being an example of someone with a back bone!  We met in the late 90s and decided to tie the knot in February of 2003 and bring our Ella Bella into the world March of 2006!  She has been quite the addition to our couple-hood.  We've never been so tested or feel so grateful!  Ella has most certainly given us purpose to our lives ~ we are better people for being her parents!  I found that not only do I want to be the fabulous person I can be for myself and my family, I also have this innate urge to share the hope and courage to families who are going through the distress of postpartum disorders. 

I went through two years of intense depression and anxiety/panic attacks until I took the baby steps to become that much more self-aware and responsible for my health and choices!  Through my healing journey to date, I realized how much I normalized my depression since Junior High ~ Postpartum Depression did not just happen to me.  My healing journey began when Ella was eight months old and Ward told me to get help, otherwise, he was going to go through a nervous breakdown.  I realized I truly needed to step up to the plate, as they say, and accepted that I did need support and wasn't a bad mother!  I accepted my Mom's wishes to visit for three weeks, went to individual and marriage counselling sessions, read The Secret, took a homeopathic remedy that finally released the anxiety in my chest after two years and my chronic cough of SIX YEARS (!), joined forces with Tania, Carla and Peggy, underwent several sessions of Angel Therapy, and the rest is history!!  So, with this experience, I rise up and use my voice to help others realize their worth, too!  You, too, can feel real happiness as a family even through trying times that we all will go through as parents and as a couple.  There is most definitely relief and support once you open your eyes and accept that small glimmer of hope!   Our family is living proof, with each of us  honouring our  growth and joy in our own ways!

I remain energized when I think about all the valuable friendships I have and will be creating along my journey of growing as a wife, mother, author, lightworker, inspirational speaker, entrepreneur and friend; especially as a woman being comfortable being me.