Everyone has a special family recipe. That favorite go-to dish when they crave feelings of comfort, nostalgia and love. And, every family faces their own challenges. Struggles such as mental illness, addiction, financial strain and loss are universal. They touch families from all walks of life.
Food brings people together, and as we are invited into a family’s home to cook a special meal, we will also have an intimate and honest conversation about the real struggles this family is facing.
By sharing real stories and opening up, other families can relate, learn, and feel a little less lonely.
Every family has a secret recipe and every family has a secret. This is Secret Recipe.
Scroll to the bottom of this story for the recipe and an extended version of this interview.
Steve Schimoler is the former chef and co-founder of Crop Restaurant Group in Cleveland. He wrote the following:
For years I struggled with mental illness and didn’t know or think I had a problem. Growing up, we weren’t supposed to show pain or weakness. Crying was something reserved for rare moments, if at all.
“Walk it off, lace up the sneakers.” This was how I lived my life. Game face every day.
It wasn’t until someone close to me insisted I see a doctor to address my “issues” that I didn’t think were problems. My erratic behavior, impulsiveness, mood swings, anger, super highs and super lows. Very low.
I stubbornly saw a doctor and for the first time, I was honest with someone about my most inner thoughts, feelings of my life. It took very little time to diagnose me as Bipolar and Hypomanic. The combination of therapy and medication was a significant help, but finally understanding and accepting what was causing my troubles was even more beneficial. In spite of the treatments, I still struggled, and my career and my lifestyle as a chef and restaurant owner presented heightened levels of stress, unrealistic physical demands and an environment of temptation and destructive behavior.
I continued to keep my “secret” as I still saw it as a stigma and I internalized my problems even deeper. Three years ago, it all caught up to me and I hit the wall very hard. I lost my drive and my passion for what I was doing every day. I lost my strength to fight my demons. I lost my will to live. Taking my own life seemed like a means to an end. It was too easy to rationalize checking out, and that’s what I tried to do.
Fortunately, someone intervened and I was checked into the hospital and essentially stopped everything I was doing. I walked away from my businesses and a vested career of 40 years. It proved to be a life saving choice. Over the past three years, I have been able to appreciate life at a basic level, something I never did before. I’ve learned to live with myself and for myself day by day, and I am at peace with myself and no I’m no longer embarrassed about my illness.
I also realized that I have something to share with others who are struggling with these same issues and illness. It has become OK to talk about the reality of mental illness and not hide from that reality. Over the years I have witnessed unbelievable damage in the restaurant business and lost too many friends to addiction, alcohol abuse and suicide. I always felt it my responsibility as an employer and friend to help and support everyone. Many times, I failed and didn’t do enough at the time, but today I feel like I can help from a far by sharing my story.
Coming on and doing this TV segment was not easy, but I hope that by doing so, others will start to understand that they are not alone, and that others who see a friend, family member or employee don’t ignore the red flags, or symptoms that raise concern. It took me a long time to not be ashamed or the facts. Mental illness is no different than other physical illnesses, and getting treatment should be embraced, not stigmatized.
Facing those facts, and understanding that there is hope and support to overcome the struggles and pain so many of us endure, is the first real step towards healing. Even in my darkest times, there was still some light at the end of the tunnel. A pinpoint of hope, but it was enough to keep me here, and hopefully anyone who is seeing or reading this can keep seeing that light of hope.
RECIPE:
Click here to download a full-size version of this recipe.
Remember, recipes are guidelines so feel free and adjust, customize and make it your own.
Watch an extended version of our interview with Steve below: