I posted recently about not being able to find my friend.
Well she is still in the hospital and I'm going to visit her today.
I've never visited someone in a psych hospital before, and I've actually been a patient in the place where I'm going to see her. AND I met her there in an outpatient program.

I'm excited to see her and be supportive of her because I know she will need that - but I'm also worried that if her family asks,
So how do you know _________

Do I tell them the truth of how we met?
Will they dismiss me as another crazy girl if they know we met there, even though I actually saved her life 2 years ago? I don't even know if they know that story....
****My friend tried to OD and called me from across the country.......she kept going in and out of consciousness while we were on the phone...while she was on my cell phone I used my home phone to call an ambulance/police for her and I had both phones to my head....i could hear the police at her door while I was on the phone with her and the people in the police department....it was extremely scary for me....and when she got out of the ER she called me screaming at me for doing that to her....i was hysterical but I knew I did the right thing.....I don't know what her family knows about everything that goes on out there.

[online user]

If you see her parents and they ask how you know her, you might tell them the truth. I would think they would respect you for it. It might help them see their daughter in a different light, to know there is a future for someone with a severe mental illness. You might even tell them that you are the one that saved their daughter. It might do them good to thank you. You are a good person!

Well I went and i am so glad I did - first, my friend was so surprised to see me so that was awesome!
Second, I did meet her whole family, which was great to see a whole family come together to help their child.
I did tell them where we met and how worried I'd been for a while about her- it seems we all knew different parts of the story so it was nice to meet everyone and get a more well rounded picture.
She's going to be there for a few more days so i'm going to go back and bring her some clothes.
I must say it was very surreal to be there as a visitor - I had no idea I wouldn't be allowed to bring my pocketbook in...the smells really brought me back and I kept thinking at any moment someone was going to say....YOU, OVER THERE...WEREN'T YOU A PATIENT HERE???? GET BACK TO YOUR ROOM!
i know... paranoid thinking but try going to visit someone in the last hospital you stayed in!

My husband, I, and my son have all been patients at the same psych hospital (at different times of course), so I completely understand how surreal it is to go back as a visitor. But the staff at our hospital is so wonderful and kind, whether we are there as patients or as family. They have always treated us with respect and compassion. I'm glad to hear you were able to talk to your friend's family. It does help to get the story from all sides of the equation. You are a good friend.

[pegasus]

You did a truly wonderful thing for your friend, you saved her life!