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PLEASE HELP MY FRIEND MARK GET THE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT HE NEEDS, KEEP HIM FROM EVICTION, AND GET HIM STARTED ON A JOURNEY OF HOPE AND HEALING!
A few months of living expenses is all it will take to empower Mark to go to treatment, stay off the streets, and get his life back!
Here's his story:
My friend, Mark S., is an incredibly resilient man. He has fought hard to survive against great life challenges. Funny, sweet, intelligent... Kind, empathetic, generous of spirit... Sensitive, vulnerable, and stoic... AND NOW HE'S AT THE WORST CRISIS OF HIS LIFE, AND NEARLY READY TO GIVE UP.
Mark was adopted during infancy, and never knew his birth family. When Mark was 7 years old, his adoptive mother died unexpectedly. His world was turned upside down. He was left to continue his childhood with an aloof and judgmental father -- a man who often resented Mark, and blamed him for his unhappiness. Mark's father was angry and physically abusive. He stopped supporting Mark as soon as he turned 18.
Since then, Mark has succeeded completely on his own. He's a lover of music, an admirer of classic cars, and a jack of all trades. He has studied law, worked as a probation officer and a television production manager, and has always maintained his self-sufficiency. If he is anything, Mark is his own man. He stands on his own two feet and he doesn't expect anything from anyone. (WHICH IS WHY MY OPENING THIS GO FUND ME CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SO INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR HIM. MARK IS NOT COMFORTABLE ASKING OTHER PEOPLE FOR HELP.)
These last two years have been far too hard for him, though, and I FEEL LIKE I'M WATCHING MY FRIEND FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE. Mark has always struggled with depression -- sometimes just as background noise; sometimes in ways that have been paralyzing. But, after the end of his last romantic relationship, Mark slipped into a severe depression that he hasn't been able to climb out from, AND THIS DEPRESSION IS LITERALLY ROBBING HIM OF HIS LIFE.
In my field of work, we talk about trauma; we talk about parent-child attachment -- and we talk about how childhood trauma distorts and destroys the healthy bonding that all children deserve to experience. As an innocent boy, with no choice in the matter, Mark hit the trifecta: he was given up by his birth mother and brought into an emotionally distant family; he lost his adoptive mother when he was just a little boy; and he was left to internalize his father's grief and anger, as if her death was somehow Mark's fault. Mark was never allowed to heal from this pain -- and when his relationship ended two years ago, it was like being abandoned all over again. All of his trauma came back in full force, and MARK HAS TRULY LOST SIGHT OF HIS REASON FOR LIVING.
I'm scared for my friend. He has tried to get help so many times -- but HE'S BEEN CAUGHT UP IN BUREAUCRACY AND TIED UP IN RED TAPE OVER and OVER and OVER AGAIN! FIRST, he had no insurance for mental health treatment. THEN, when he got insurance, he was put on waiting lists or had his authorizations denied. When he was FINALLY given a chance at treatment, he was deemed TOO ACUTE for outpatient. But HE COULDN'T RISK LOSING HIS JOB by taking the time off work to go inpatient. And then... WHEN I FINALLY COMPELLED MARK TO GO INPATIENT FOR TREATMENT, IT JEOPARDIZED HIS TRIAL SERVICE AT A NEW JOB, AND HE WAS FIRED.
NOW, HE IS UNEMPLOYED AND ABOUT TO BE EVICTED. HE IS GOING TO LOSE HIS INSURANCE AND ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE. HE HAS ONLY $300 TO HIS NAME. AND HIS DEPRESSION IS GRIPPING HIM AS TIGHTLY AS IT EVER HAS, AND IT'S ABOUT TO PULL HIM UNDER.
BUT I HAVE CONVINCED MARK TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE. I have told him to trust me. I have asked him to have faith, and to believe that life truly is miraculous and beautiful -- and that, if he will just hang on a little bit longer, he will rediscover that truth for himself. I believe in Mark's recovery! I believe that, with proper treatment, Mark can be returned to himself -- or maybe he will discover a part of himself that he hasn't yet known, but that has been waiting to be uncovered all along: the little boy, innocent and uncorrupted by abandonment and loss and hurt, who knows who he is and what he deserves, and who has the faith and the confidence to live a life of purpose and of hope!
I am a survivor of childhood trauma and abuse. For most of my life I struggled with depression -- depression so debilitating that it robbed me of myself, and compelled me toward addiction and anger and fantasies of suicide. BUT THEN, I GOT HELP. And over time, with practice and commitment, I became different. Now, my life is joyful, and I am content, and I am so grateful that I never gave up during my darkest moments.
PLEASE HELP MY FRIEND MARK HAVE A SECOND CHANCE AT TREATMENT AND AT LIFE!
If we can raise enough money to cover about three months of his living expenses (RENT, UTILITIES, AND INSURANCE PREMIUMS) then we can capitalize on this moment and get him back to intensive inpatient treatment -- this time without the pressure of a job hanging over his head, and instead with the absolute freedom to immerse himself in the process completely. I KNOW TREATMENT WORKS! AND I KNOW MARK'S LIFE IS WORTH SAVING! And I know there is a great future for him -- one that will be extraordinary -- if he can just make it long enough to see this through.
We are asking for your help -- whether it's five dollars, or twenty dollars... whether it's prayers of support, or kind thoughts and words of encouragement.... whether it's a referral to a great treatment provider, who specializes in depression and suicidal ideation... or whether it's a scholarship at a mental health treatment facility, or the frequent flyer miles to get him there. PLEASE HELP MARK LIVE AGAIN. And please: help me get my friend back. He deserves to smile again.
Thank you,
Jenny Rodin, CIP
HOPE FAMILY INTERVENTIONS
Santa Ana, CA 92706
A few months of living expenses is all it will take to empower Mark to go to treatment, stay off the streets, and get his life back!
Here's his story:
My friend, Mark S., is an incredibly resilient man. He has fought hard to survive against great life challenges. Funny, sweet, intelligent... Kind, empathetic, generous of spirit... Sensitive, vulnerable, and stoic... AND NOW HE'S AT THE WORST CRISIS OF HIS LIFE, AND NEARLY READY TO GIVE UP.
Mark was adopted during infancy, and never knew his birth family. When Mark was 7 years old, his adoptive mother died unexpectedly. His world was turned upside down. He was left to continue his childhood with an aloof and judgmental father -- a man who often resented Mark, and blamed him for his unhappiness. Mark's father was angry and physically abusive. He stopped supporting Mark as soon as he turned 18.
Since then, Mark has succeeded completely on his own. He's a lover of music, an admirer of classic cars, and a jack of all trades. He has studied law, worked as a probation officer and a television production manager, and has always maintained his self-sufficiency. If he is anything, Mark is his own man. He stands on his own two feet and he doesn't expect anything from anyone. (WHICH IS WHY MY OPENING THIS GO FUND ME CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN SO INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR HIM. MARK IS NOT COMFORTABLE ASKING OTHER PEOPLE FOR HELP.)
These last two years have been far too hard for him, though, and I FEEL LIKE I'M WATCHING MY FRIEND FIGHT FOR HIS LIFE. Mark has always struggled with depression -- sometimes just as background noise; sometimes in ways that have been paralyzing. But, after the end of his last romantic relationship, Mark slipped into a severe depression that he hasn't been able to climb out from, AND THIS DEPRESSION IS LITERALLY ROBBING HIM OF HIS LIFE.
In my field of work, we talk about trauma; we talk about parent-child attachment -- and we talk about how childhood trauma distorts and destroys the healthy bonding that all children deserve to experience. As an innocent boy, with no choice in the matter, Mark hit the trifecta: he was given up by his birth mother and brought into an emotionally distant family; he lost his adoptive mother when he was just a little boy; and he was left to internalize his father's grief and anger, as if her death was somehow Mark's fault. Mark was never allowed to heal from this pain -- and when his relationship ended two years ago, it was like being abandoned all over again. All of his trauma came back in full force, and MARK HAS TRULY LOST SIGHT OF HIS REASON FOR LIVING.
I'm scared for my friend. He has tried to get help so many times -- but HE'S BEEN CAUGHT UP IN BUREAUCRACY AND TIED UP IN RED TAPE OVER and OVER and OVER AGAIN! FIRST, he had no insurance for mental health treatment. THEN, when he got insurance, he was put on waiting lists or had his authorizations denied. When he was FINALLY given a chance at treatment, he was deemed TOO ACUTE for outpatient. But HE COULDN'T RISK LOSING HIS JOB by taking the time off work to go inpatient. And then... WHEN I FINALLY COMPELLED MARK TO GO INPATIENT FOR TREATMENT, IT JEOPARDIZED HIS TRIAL SERVICE AT A NEW JOB, AND HE WAS FIRED.
NOW, HE IS UNEMPLOYED AND ABOUT TO BE EVICTED. HE IS GOING TO LOSE HIS INSURANCE AND ACCESS TO QUALITY CARE. HE HAS ONLY $300 TO HIS NAME. AND HIS DEPRESSION IS GRIPPING HIM AS TIGHTLY AS IT EVER HAS, AND IT'S ABOUT TO PULL HIM UNDER.
BUT I HAVE CONVINCED MARK TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR HIS LIFE. I have told him to trust me. I have asked him to have faith, and to believe that life truly is miraculous and beautiful -- and that, if he will just hang on a little bit longer, he will rediscover that truth for himself. I believe in Mark's recovery! I believe that, with proper treatment, Mark can be returned to himself -- or maybe he will discover a part of himself that he hasn't yet known, but that has been waiting to be uncovered all along: the little boy, innocent and uncorrupted by abandonment and loss and hurt, who knows who he is and what he deserves, and who has the faith and the confidence to live a life of purpose and of hope!
I am a survivor of childhood trauma and abuse. For most of my life I struggled with depression -- depression so debilitating that it robbed me of myself, and compelled me toward addiction and anger and fantasies of suicide. BUT THEN, I GOT HELP. And over time, with practice and commitment, I became different. Now, my life is joyful, and I am content, and I am so grateful that I never gave up during my darkest moments.
PLEASE HELP MY FRIEND MARK HAVE A SECOND CHANCE AT TREATMENT AND AT LIFE!
If we can raise enough money to cover about three months of his living expenses (RENT, UTILITIES, AND INSURANCE PREMIUMS) then we can capitalize on this moment and get him back to intensive inpatient treatment -- this time without the pressure of a job hanging over his head, and instead with the absolute freedom to immerse himself in the process completely. I KNOW TREATMENT WORKS! AND I KNOW MARK'S LIFE IS WORTH SAVING! And I know there is a great future for him -- one that will be extraordinary -- if he can just make it long enough to see this through.
We are asking for your help -- whether it's five dollars, or twenty dollars... whether it's prayers of support, or kind thoughts and words of encouragement.... whether it's a referral to a great treatment provider, who specializes in depression and suicidal ideation... or whether it's a scholarship at a mental health treatment facility, or the frequent flyer miles to get him there. PLEASE HELP MARK LIVE AGAIN. And please: help me get my friend back. He deserves to smile again.
Thank you,
Jenny Rodin, CIP
HOPE FAMILY INTERVENTIONS
Santa Ana, CA 92706