Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health Success Stories
The dictionary defines recovery as a process of regaining what was lost. Recovery is a process, beginning with diagnosis, and eventually moving into successful management of your illness. Successful recovery involves learning about your illness and the treatments available, empowering yourself through the support of peers and family members, and finally moving to a point where you take action to manage your own illness. At the Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health, recovery based services are provided across a number of clinical programs.
At Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health, we celebrate successes. Below are some client success stories submitted from clients in our Psychosocial Rehabilitation Program:
“I have had bipolar disorder for most of my adult life and have been hospitalized many times. With the help of Alexian Brothers’ programs, my disorder has become manageable. I am taking the correct medications and am offered effective ways of dealing with my mental illness. If it wasn’t for the effective treatment and compassion I have received from Alexian Brothers, I would definitely be homeless and possibly dead. I owe my life to the Alexian program and their caring and empathetic staff. My life has become stable for the first time in decades and I am becoming a positive member of society and father to a wonderful son. I thank God for Alexian Brothers and for all that has been made available to me.”
“My life is under control due to my medication and housing. If I didn’t have Medicare, my life would be out of control. I suffer from my illness for many years. I was on the wrong medication prior to January of 09. I ended up in a coma with pneumonia. They had me in the hospital from November of 08 until January of 09. At that time, I moved into a nursing home. Things are going better for me with the health care I receive. I attend groups for my health and they help. I am now on the wait list for independent living. Hopefully, that will happen in the next couple of months. Prior to my coma, I lived in an apartment by myself but needed help for many years.”
“Services for me have been a great blessing. When I first got sick, medication alone wasn’t enough. PSR gave me the support I needed to live a happy, fulfilling life. PSR has helped me to get back integrated with society by helping me get back into the workforce. The program has helped me sustain living skills because of all the wonderful classes. The staff is helpful because they bring out the best in each client. They challenge us and motivate us to live the best life we are capable of. Thanks for the financial support, too. Your services give me hope for a brighter future. Without them, I’d have no hope..no resources to push me forward."
“Here it is Illinois. In 2000 I was on top of the world. Things were great. 2001 rolled around and my life changed for the worse. From 2001 on, I have lived with several disorders including depression, OCD, suicidal ideation and several others. I have been on medication since 2002 and they have helped. I’m not really sure what else to say except that if you cut our funds, and these services did not exist I would be dead.”
“In my late 30’s I was diagnosed bipolar. I started PSR three days a week in October of 2001. I have been going to PSR for six years. My medication changed in 2001 to Geodon. I feel real good on this new medication. I have done volunteer work in the spring at the Arlington Heights Library. I feel a lot better now than I did seven years ago. Socializing and going to groups helped. I lost my fiancé in January of 08. I had a lot of support. In February of 2008 I moved into the CILA housing program. I couldn’t afford to stay myself. I have friends and family support today. I haven’t had a drink of alcohol in 19 years. One day at a time I live and pray to my higher power daily. My medication is $17.00 per month but it doesn’t cost me anything.”
“My diagnosis is schizoaffective disorder. I had a nervous breakdown ten years ago. I was hospitalized and homeless. My family didn’t want me after that. I couldn’t hold jobs. I was depressed, confused, hearing voices, hallucinating, had paranoia and I was told I was mean to my family and friends. The doctors told my mom I was pretty bad and they didn’t know if they could save me. With medication, groups, services and workshops and with the help of doctors, staff, clients, reading the bible, church, being around other mental health patients an society, I got my own apartment getting more independent. I have been coming to Alexian Brothers Center for Mental Health in Arlington Heights for six years now. I eventually took a college computer class here and graduated with a one hour college credit. I just passed my driver’s permit test. I’m learning how to have independent coping skills, socializing, being with people. Getting up daily, getting out of the apartment. I wouldn’t be able to do all this without medication, doctors, staff and programs at Alexian. I need these services or I’ll be homeless again and probably hospitalized. I also recently got new dentures from the services.”
“When I was in college, I started to develop symptoms of my illness, including having delusions, depression and OCD. I seeked treatment at Alexian Brothers and was able to receive medicine and a diagnosis. Now I need help in obtaining a decent paying job that I can keep and support from my family, friends, and mental health professionals so I can lead as normal a life as I possibly can.”
“When I first was sick, I suffered very, very much. Now with the help of PSR, I feel much better-almost well..Indeed, indeed.”
“I have been helped since 1971. I went off medicine in 1971. I was taking Haldol. My husband said I was not crazy. I went into a deep depression and buried myself in my work. Finally in 1981 I could no longer handle my job and family. I left my husband and kids and went to live with my parents. I was put on Lithium and went to an organized program which tried too teach me new ways to live with my illness, coping skills, isolation, work, crafts and music plus others. I was hospitalized for the first time in 1981. I was there for three months. After that I was in and out of hospitals until I broke up with my boyfriend who I had a baby girl within in 1982. Then in 1990 I was taken off Lithium because my thyroid was overactive. The medicine I was put on was not working and after being in and out of the hospital changing medications I finally went into a coma in 2003. The doctor said I would never come out of it. My family gave up on me then and we have not seen each other. After three months I came out of the coma but did not know who I was for one year. I was put in a nursing home and was given medication that kept me in the dark. I now take Depakote and Cymbalta which makes me a normal person. Without medication, I would be dead now. If I had not left my husband in1981, I would be dead. If I had not had my girl in 1982 I would be dead. I had to keep fighting so that I could raise my girl. Thank goodness for groups and organizations to help you. Don’t cut our funding. Unfortunately, so many people do not know about mental illness. I wish they could be educated. I was first diagnosed schizophrenic, then bipolar now schizophrenic with bipolar tendencies.”
