What or who is it that helped you to overcome and move in the direction of healing?

My friend, Diane and her mother (aka “Mom”) loved me during the most confusing time in my life. While they weren’t able to help me to stop my downward spiral, I truly believe that I would have ended my life if it weren’t for their love and support.

But, moving forward into my adulthood, there are two critical people.

The most poignant moment that I can recall is when I was in the psychiatric hospital. My therapist, Dr. Carole Hertz, had talked me into committing myself with the promise that she would do her best to come visit me every week. This was quite a promise. Her office was almost an hour’s drive from the hospital and over an hour’s drive from her home. In addition, she was not allowed to conduct therapy sessions at Springwood because it was a closed system.

True to her word, Dr. Hertz came and visited me every single week. To the best of my knowledge, she never charged our family for her visits. For the first time, I felt cared about. I began to feel that my life was valuable to someone. To this day, I believe that Dr. Hertz saw herself in me and that thought gave me the strength to have hope that someday, I would be successful too.

During the tumultuous years after my release, I became a voracious reader of self-help books. Eventually, I would come to know God, find the support of wonderful friends and start letting go of my past.

The next most critical person in my journey toward healing was marrying my wonderful husband. His love, kindness and patience allowed me to overcome my sexual trauma and confusion as he would hold me close and allow me to cry during many nights in the first year of our marriage.

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In order for other people to help, you have to allow them. You have to be willing to accept their help and love. You have to come to an understanding that you deserve the attention, you deserve the help. You have to be willing to let go of what you know and experience beauty and love.

Let go and see!

Deidre Hughey