Alexandra

When I was at my lowest low back in May, I didn't think that anything was worth being around for anymore, except for my kids.  I wasn't connecting with my friends in a way that felt meaningful, and all of my relationships seemed to have just crumbled around me.  I got through that low low with the help of doctors, social workers, and family.  In June, when I started my outpatient program, I just kept to myself mostly.  Didn't open up to anyone that wasn't in my clinical group and didn't talk to anyone on breaks.

Then Alex came along.

For some reason, after about a week, we clicked.  We started talking, and realized that we had some stuff in common.  At group, they discourage friendship with group members outside of the clinical setting.  After I "graduated" and Alex was still there, we connected outside of the "safe environment".  We started by having lunch together and talking, and it soon morphed into her coming over to my house to hang, and spend time with my family.  She caught some flack for it when the group found out, but one clinician stood up for her and encouraged her saying that we could be a good support for each other.

Honestly, some days I'm not sure what I would do without her.  She's become a regular fixture at the Monday and Thursday dinner table.  The kids love it when she's there, just visiting or babysitting.  I've gone to a party at her place, met some cool people that she's friends with, and she's met one of the other most important people in my life right now.  I trust her with my secrets, my thoughts, my desires.  It is so wonderful to have a friend who understands what you're going through, and who can help you get through the tough times as well as be there for all of the good times as well.

I feel so blessed to have such an amazing person enter my life just when I needed a friend the most.