Stéphanie Boisvert: Art to connect to the essential

Stéphanie Boisvert's life changed in July 2022. At 32, the mother of two young children was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's. I spoke with the woman whose Art, every day, helps her connect to what is essential.

In the summer of 2024, I stock up on coffee at Brûlerie Faro, in the Lennoxville borough, in Sherbrooke. My eye is immediately drawn to the works hanging on the walls of the place: colorful, flowery, soothing. Invigorating posters, on which texts resonate with me. Back home, I want to know who this artist named Psychopine is.

My art, I offer it to you, but in fact, it is for me!

His story is heartbreaking, but oh so inspiring. Stéphanie Boisvert is a psychologist. At the age of 32, the mother of two young children was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's. It's the same as Parkinson's, it's just that it's diagnosed earlier in development. It comes out of nowhere. None of my cousins ​​have this, neither uncles nor auntssays Stéphanie in an interview on the show Looking forward to the return.

Her first symptoms appeared at the age of 29, during her first pregnancy. I was walking up the subway stairs, and it was like my leg wasn't following the command. One thing led to another and I started to have stiffness, just on one side of my body, but I thought it was the pregnancy.explains Stéphanie. The pandemic then intervened, and the follow-ups were interrupted. During the second pregnancy, the symptoms worsened. The diagnosis finally came. It was a shock. Parkinson's disease obviously affects his daily life.

I think I have a high tolerance for suffering. All in all, I really get the positive out of it. This means taking medication every four hours, at least. When my symptoms are too severe, I have to take additional medication.

In January 2024, Stéphanie begins to draw. Flowers emerge. The act of creating opens an unsuspected channel. I was doing a postdoctoral job at the time of my diagnosis, I was really doing research, in front of data, in front of a computer. I was far from creativity. I said to myself: “I still need to get through my emotions.”

It was a revelation for me to draw. I started drawing flowers and there it came out by itself. I even talked to my neurologist about it!

And as appetite sometimes comes with eating, ideas and inspiration come with drawing.

I start by drawing and then connect to what I need. On this day, what would do me good? For me, it's really important that what I write is connected. I think that's what touches people. It's authentic, it really comes from my heart.

Art, to help

Stéphanie does not know the data on art therapy, which she does not practice. However, drawing and writing have now become an integral part of his life.

You have to work through your emotions. We have no choice. Ten years of university doesn't change that. Knowledge doesn't change that. The means for me was art. Everyone can discover their own way.

Want me to stay connected to what’s important to me! concludes the artist.

Hanging on my walls, several of his works help me reconnect, too.