A Journey from Psychosis to Independence

“A” is a mother of two working at a stressful job. Her job was getting more stressful by the day. At home, she felt helpless and dependent on her controlling husband. She decided she could no longer absorb anything that was happening and felt an immediate and pressing need to find a safe place. She started driving aimlessly without preparation or direction. It felt like a nervous breakdown. She was not able to think and make decisions.

She moved into a group home for adults with mental illness, a psychiatric supportive housing shortly after the breakdown. Her goals were to become more independent and to work on her clinically severe depression which seemed to be progressively getting worse in her work and home environments. While at the house, she was able to see her psychiatrist, family therapist, and individual therapists during the day as well as attend her group therapies.

The staff at the mental health home and psychiatric supportive house made sure she was attending her treatments and even accompanied her while she enjoyed her favorite shows on TV during the evenings. The chef made healthy dinners each night and some days, held demonstrations on how to make nutritious snacks and meals.

Over the course of 3 months, “A” was able to regain her sense of independence, and with adherence to medication prescribed to her, she was able to manage her depressive symptoms. Today, “A” is living independently and spends time enjoying reading and helping her kids navigate the demands of their teen years. The supportive house allowed her to reset her mental course toward a positive and healthy path.