Ray wrote on Jun 10^th, 2008 at 10:53pm:


Good.  It'll be good to see you back, Ray.

Hang in there--one thing at a time, one day at a time.

All the best,

George

Hi Ray,

I'm sorry for all the pain that you have gone through, but I am so very happy to hear that you are feeling much better now!  Take it slowly, and we are all here to help you even if all we can do is listen - to try to prevent the stresses building up on you again!  You are a very strong person, my friend, and it is quite respectable that you recognized you needed some extra help, and sought it out.  That is the strongest choice!

You've been missed here!!  Will be glad once you return, although I can't stress enough to just take it slowly and easy in this recovery period!

Hugz,
Carrie

Ray, always here for you!

I am so glad to hear that you are home and feeling better.  I hope that you continue to have brighter days ahead.

Love and Peace,

Jeannie

Ray wrote on Jun 11^th, 2008 at 1:42pm:



Just remember that right behind the raft of crap, there's a raft of love and blessings, Ray.

I'm glad you're home. hugs, nani

I guess I don't check in often enough - I just saw this thread.

Ray - I'm glad you're home and feeling better. You're in my thoughts.

~Kris

Ray, just got back from my daughters graduation and saw this thread...glad you're home and will be praying for ya.  When one of our family hurts we all hurt.

blessings,
kathy

Ray,

I'm glad you're home.
This is family; no need to go into details if you don't want to. Lots of prayers, vibes, support & love are on their way anyway.

Brighter days your way,
Sanna

I am so glad you are home, safe and sound! Wishing you sunny days ahead

Charlotte

Dear Clusterville:

I would like to summarize my experience last week to fully put it behind me.

I've been depressed for a long time, and until quite a number of things piled up on my plate, I was dealing with life OK.  I had rent due and couldn't pay.  I had an interview for a job that I really wanted and thought that it went amazingly well, and I was rejected.  I got a subpoena from child support enforcement.  As I've been unemployed for a long time, they would like to charge me with contempt of the support order.  These things, plus many smaller frustrations, pushed me to dispair.

I started to have thoughts like "you're no good" and "you're a failure" and they started to be more destructive.  Then I KNEW that I needed help.

I went to the county mental health triage place, Netcare Access on Friday night, and stayed for 2 full days while waiting for a room to open up in the Psych ward of a hospital.  Netcare is not designed for long stays, I was in a 9x9 room with a bed and chair (both bolted to the floor).  There was a window, but it was covered with a white coating to allow light, but not to be seen through.  Other than to use the toilet or shower, I had to stay in this room.  They had good juices, and only microwavable food.

Sunday around dinner time, a room opened up at a nearby hospital.  They transported me by ambulance (5 minute ride), and admitted me.  I arranged to have Oxygen available and Imitrex available.  I had one hit per day throughout this experience, but I could get the O2 regulator and non-rebreather mask within 30 seconds of asking for it.  They would not let me keep it in the room for fear of my trying to hang myself with the tubing (? just a guess?).  I saw the psychiatrist, bright and early, (by being woken from a dead sleep), on Monday.

He immediately doubled my antidepressant and made my usual medications available.  By Tuesday morning, I was noticeably feeling better.  I got the privilege of leaving the ward and even going outside for 30 minutes a few times a day.

Wednesday I asked if I could be released, and the psychiatrist agreed, so by the early afternoon I had arranged a ride and got the heck out of there.

When I got home, I was warmly greeted by my family and got treated like a VIP.  It was a rough period of time for them as well as for me.  I'm glad that I'm back.

I cannot tell you all how much your support and kind words meant to me during this time.  I am deeply in your debt.  I love you all.

Thanks!

Ray   

I wanted to take a moment to thank several individuals from Clusterville who've extended themselves to me and committed untold "nicenesses".

Without naming them, you know who you are!  From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank you.

Ray