I extend many, many thanks to those of you who have responded thus far. Really, I am so grateful. Thank you, thank you.

I'm wondering if one of my problems has been that I was hospitalized in two western, "stalwart" states, as opposed to a West or East coast state, where it seems psychiatric help is a bit easier to find, and of higher quality. I did not receive truly compassionate care in either facility in which I was hospitalized. Both hospitals combined psychiatric, full-blown psychotic, and substance abuse patients, all of whom of course are dealing with very different issues.

Right now I'm in the Great Plains, in another "stalwart" state, which has been awarded a grade of D by NAMI. Not encouraging.

What I mean by stalwart is that, having lived for years on the East coast and then in the far West and the Great Plains, it seems that psychiatric care is not as stigmatized, and is easier to find, on the East coast.

Again, many thanks.