Chris Tatevosian grew up in Holliston, Massachusetts. After graduating from Holliston High School Class of 1979, Chris attended college in Vermont where he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1980. Upon graduation from Johnson State College in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and a minor in Chemistry, Tatevosian was employed by a fortune 100 pharmaceutical and nutritional company for seven years as a quality assurance chemical analyst.. During this period Chris received a graduate degree in adult education, from Trinity College. During the early '90s Tatevosian sought employment as an environmental chemist/staff scientist ultimately working as a corporate occupational safety and health coordinator. CMS continuing to worsen, Chris' marriage of ten years ended in 2002. Divorced with one stepson who lives in Vermont.
Having since remarried, Chris and his wife Jane now reside in Southern New England. Tatevosian is presently working on his second book likely to be released in 2010. My second project is a children’s book, says Chris, which is intended to help kids who have parents who have been diagnosed and deal daily with multiple sclerosis. It is my intention to help children to understand that which is going on within the household.
Chris Tatevosian, is the author of Life Interrupted-It's Not All About Me. While in college in Vermont, in 1980, he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. He affirms the pivotal event that led him to write the book involved the aftermath of a bitter divorce, and his need to share his experience of living with MS with others.
"My divorce was bitter and my ex-wife’s lawyer embellished so much, that I wanted friends and family to know the truth. That’s when God intervened and helped me to realize that He was allowing me to write a book to help not one, but perhaps millions of people around the world who may be undergoing a similar situation. A situation of overwhelming gloom, lack of purpose, and loneliness," he said.
He also said writing the book appeared to be somewhat of a human miracle.
"I am severely disabled as a result of my MS and the physical and mental acts of writing a book were surely impossible. Understand, I am legally blind.I have limited use and control of my hands and fingers and I suffer with severe cognitive issues," he said.
A deeply religious man, who also speaks at local churches, libraries, and health care settings, he's convinced that a higher power had a hand in the success of his book.
"You can't tell me that God wasn't invoked. I have been sharing the good news of Christ via my book and testimony at churches, prayer breakfast, hospitals, health clinics, libraries, coffee houses, bookstores and more. Anywhere people will listen-- response,and interest has been fantastic. The more discussions I facilitate,and numerous support groups with which I meet, the more shocked I become at the prevalence of this problem . The problem related to and resulting from the stress and hardships introduced to one's relationships as a result of life being interrupted by chronic illness or disability. my My book Life Interrupted, It's Not All about Me has been featured by evangelist Rhonda White on the Eagle Network's Authors and Speakers of Excellence web site where it was featured as June's book of the month," he said.
Tatevosian said he doesn't believe a devastating illness should be a reason for someone to become emotionally dysfunctional, and harbor what he terms, "the poor me attitude."
" When you read my story, perhaps you will identify with the same behaviors. It could have been any chronic illness or disability and anybody’s relationship, but my intention is still the same.My goal is to help others in a similar situation recognize and eliminate the growth of the relationship-destroying "Poor Me Attitude”. he said.
"Without intervention and change, the loss of one’s self-worth leads to an increase in anxiety, depression, anger, and loneliness, which can ultimately lead to the destruction of your relationship if those feelings are left to grow. The “Poor Me Attitude," as I refer to it, is really nothing more than a controlling attitude that started out with me unconsciously using my weakness, loneliness, and feelings of inadequacy to get what I needed. Because I felt so weak, alone, and inadequate, I would frequently lash out over trivial things. You can become oblivious to the needs of everyone around you as a result of falling into the depressing, hurtful downward spiral of the “Poor Me Attitude.” No one knows this better than me. I just wish I had someone to slap me upside the head and yell, “Chris, Snap out of it! It’s not all about you," he said.
Despite his disability, Tatevosian is active as a broadcaster, columnist, and speaker. He said he pursues many different endeavors with a passion. His show "Winning Life through Pain"airs Tuesdays at 2 PM www.RSDcoachlive.com (1-347- 324-5661) The radio show airs Eastern Time. Tatevosian also is a featured columnist for MSfocus magazine here in the U.S. and Pathways magazine in the UK.
Like many authors, Tatevosian said promoting his book as an independent writer has been more challenging than the writing process.
"After my book was released approximately one year ago, www.Lifeinterruptednolonger.com I have struggled on the Internet with the process of promoting and marketing my book. I find that because the Internet affords us with endless promotional and marketing opportunities,it is simple to spend the entire day working on one opportunity after another eventually terminated by my inability to complete the task due to my lack of technological understanding or abilities. It can be a long arduous process, but one that also provides the answers as one becomes more familiar with the technology," he said.
He said most of his future plans will include marketing his book and writing a new one. "In between book signings, facilitating group discussions on topic, giving and preparing for interviews and the like, I am working on my second book. This book, a children's book, is being written to help children understand what is going on and why within the family unit as a result of life being interrupted by a chronic illness or disability involving their parents. I'm hoping to have this book released in late 2010 or early 2011," he said.
Tatevosian admits to being a sort of nocturnal writer, and one who sometimes relies on a tape recorder to capture his thoughts.
"Believe it,or not most of my writing takes place during the middle of the night. Ninety percent of Life Interrupted, It's Not All About Me was written or conceived between midnight and 5 AM. When I'm trying to sleep, even in the middle of the night,I find myself having to speak my thoughts into a small handheld tape recorder to be entered into the computer the following day. When the writing juices are flowing you have to go with the flow, he said.
Apart from writing, he said he's active in his church, and also educates others on being pro-active about their chronic illness.
"I have designed and facilitate a course at my congregational church here in Massachusetts entitled "Life Interrupted" , helping others in similar situations deal more positively with the stress put on one's relationships as a result of life being interrupted by chronic illness,or disability," he said.
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