Elizabeth (Annie) Tustison moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2015 from Southern California to recovery from a severe back injury. In 2018 Annie became a Certified Peer Counselor. She volunteered briefly at Elevate Health, leaving for mental health reasons. In October 2017 Annie started volunteering for Community Health Care of Tacoma, becoming a Board member in August 2018. March 2020 she was recertified through NAMI as a presenter for IOOV, In Our Own Voice.
In spite of Schizoaffective Disorder, Fibromyalgia, Migraines, Lumbar Facet Joint Disorder, and Paresthesia, Annie published three murder mystery novels and several opt-eds.
She has a red belt in taekwondo, is a world traveler and won an award for a painting. Annie is a passionate advocate for those with behavioral health challenges and concerns. As if that weren’t enough, she rebuilt a 1966 Ford Mustang and has skydived! Annie taught herself how to renovate her house, trained her service dog, and is a survivor of childhood abuse.
“I focus on the little things in my life occurring around me - being grateful for every experience. And I choose to acknowledge the symptoms of my illnesses, turning them into learning opportunities so I can find a way to adapt and move on. Nothing is impossible when I set my mind to conquering it.”