((((KJ))))

I'm really sorry that life is so hard right now. It sounds like you have a lot to deal with. But would you believe me, if I said that it is possible for life to get bettter? Mental illness doesn't have to stop you from pursuing your dreams or working as long as it's treated - which in and of itself can be a long and frustrating process.

I thought my life was over in Dec. 06 when I got fired due to drinking. I wound up in hospital from drinking. That finally got me into a treatment program which I was prepared to work at - but it was hard and I Kept relapsing. I spent 7 weeks IP in a psych hospital last summer and then another 8 weeks doing intensive outpatient therapy to get my depression treated. I still go to a hospital 2 half days a week for addiction treatment. But my life today is better than it's been in a long time. I'm starting to reach out to people, and startign to believe that it is possible for me to be happy. I'm waiting for a job offer from a small company, that has said they want to hire me pending a references check. it's not as much money as I'm used to making but it will be low stress and they're going to let me take one 1/2 day off a week to continue my addictions treatment. It's been the hardest 15 months of my life, but it's been worth it.

I hope that someday soon you can look back at this period and see it in your past.

Hang in there.

--splitimage