Pieces to the puzzle

A u-turn has occurred this year on my road to recovery.  I knew I was hitting a dark hole at the start of 2013. I was falling down the well, loosing my sights on the sun. The darkness had arrived at my door. I knew I needed help when I practically hit bottom and could not find the shine of the light.

My nails were bleeding and full of dirt while I tried to climb up my well. I could not do it alone anymore. I needed professional help so, I entered through the revolving door again for treatment. My independence was taken away, but I was learning new healthy ways to cope. Tears were filling my eyes as I attempted to excel forward with treatment. I was scared, afraid, and felt alone at times, but I knew that it was the necessary steps I needed to take. I leaned on my friends and family, supports, and my new treatment team.

One of my next steps, was to take part in a women's group partial program. It was there that I built more skills. I started to redevelop structure to my day in the outside world. It sure was not easy to talk about feelings and past memories, but I knew I needed to face some of it. My pieces to my puzzle were starting to fit together.

I received complete care at the partial program, receiving ample time to build on skills. Part of my next steps forward, I found a wonderful new clinician and nutritionist to complete my team. My insurance even agreed to a single-case agreement to see my psychiatrist out-patient more frequently. I started going to Smart Recovery groups to sharpen my toolbox. My PCP visits have increased to every two to three weeks. I can now say my puzzle is a masterpiece with light gleaming on it.

-A.N.T.

"With one step forward, I shall ascend to the stars"