Tina has bee leading a fairly typical life, which included working a full-time job and being married to her husband of many years. However, almost two and half years ago, her life was turned upside down suddenly: she was laid off from her job of 13 years due to budget cuts and then she and her husband got a divorce. These events led to Tina having to leave her home and move several states away to live with her sister, who graciously opened her home.

Tina acknowledges that she always struggled with some symptoms of Depression, but it was not until the pieces of her life broke apart that she became too overwhelmed to manage it on her own. With the significant loss of what once was her identity, she simply could not find the strength to pick up the pieces and put them back together again. Tina felt that her Depression grew and grew until it controlled her life and her thoughts. Life became dark and questioning. Tina found herself at crossroads that so many with Depression happen to meet at their journey: end life or keep fighting and get help.

Thankfully, Tina chose to fight! Since that decision, Tina has been attending outpatient therapy and medication management on a regular basis. Tina also chose to join ACIDD Maryland’s Psychiatric Rehabilitation Program to have someone work with her personally to identify new goals for her life and help her create a plan to reach those milestones. Tina has enjoyed working towards her recovery goals with staff. Recently she shared that the program has helped her with “getting information to help [me] with getting a computer (to search for jobs and take online classes) and with learning information about Social Services and Social Security that the average person doesn’t know anything about”. Tina hopes to work from home one day and is actively working to make that a reality! Although Tina continues to struggle with her symptoms, she also continues to fight and recognizes that being part of ACIDD Maryland’s PRP program “opens up a lot of doors and avenues” to help her on her road to recovery.

We, the staff ACIDD, are so proud of Tina and the progress she is making in taking control of her life and her mental health! It’s encouraging to see how far she has come already and we can’t wait to see what comes next in her journey.

If you or someone you know could benefit from the supportive services that ACIDD Maryland offers, please reach out and contact us today. It’s never too late to take the first steps forward to a new life!