Help Leslie with Healing and Recovery from PTSD

My name is Leslie, and I’m a mother of three amazing children, a partner to two wonderful men, an employee for the local library (my dream job), and a writer. I have been living with Major Depressive Disorder for my whole adult life. In summer 2021, my mental health nosedived after a series of personal losses and traumatic events, and I spent three days in the psychiatric unit of the hospital. Upon my release, I took a month off from work and hoped that the worst was behind me. I have been in therapy, have gone through some adjustments to medications, and am doing my best to take care of myself.

As of this writing, it is December 1st, and I am still not okay. I suffer from terrible flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, anxiety spirals, angry outbursts, varying degrees of insomnia, and a strong feeling of hopelessness. Sometimes I will cry for hours. I have been diagnosed with PTSD in addition to my Major Depressive Disorder, and my doctor took me out of work until March at least. During this time, I will continue my individual therapy and will also start ketamine treatment. In January, I plan to begin an intensive outpatient program, where I will be in therapy for six hours a day, five days a week. A program like this one does not come cheap, and I have already used up all my paid leave time from my job. I will get a portion of my salary through short-term disability, but it will not be enough to cover the cost of the program. I also have hospital bills to pay for from my stay during the summer.

I know there are many people out there who are also suffering through their own personal tragedies and emergencies, so please do not feel guilty if you aren't able to help out - but if you are, I will be forever grateful and will pay it forward in whatever way I can once I'm feeling better.

Sending all of you much love. Your support has meant EVERYTHING to me.

-Leslie