NASGA Member

My name is  Marissa Sweeney and I have had a guardian since I was 18.

When I turned 18, I tried to leave the residential I was at and they said no –  they illegally held me against my will and apparently I had a court date to get a guardian and a competency test I knew nothing about.

In 2016 when I first had a guardian, one of my friends who is a part of my support system wanted to come over.  They told me she couldn’t and now I live in a sponsored residential home.

My guardian said I can not go to see my family without someone going with me.   I’ve been to see my family before without anyone going with me.

A guardian’s job is not to micro manage a person’s life.

There was one incident in 2016 where a guardian had requested from my  psychiatrist  to sign a form that would put me in a mental hospital for a long time.  My psychiatrist did not sign it. My psychiatrist told them there is no reason for me to be there.

I am diagnosed with ADHD,  major depressive disorder, borderline personality disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. I am only on medicines for anxiety and ADHD and been on them for three years.

There are people out there living with the mental conditions that I have and do not have a guardian.

I’m currently enrolled in college and I have a GPA of  3.143 – which is pretty high. I do not think I need a guardian.

I don’t like how she is keeping me from my family. There is not a person willing to go down to Alabama with me to see my family.

A guardian should not be allowed to keep me from seeing my family when they are the biggest support system I have. I hope  my story will get out there.