www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, September 14, 2012 · 18 Unconditional support crucial to healing Continued from page 14 "My wife (offered) more unlimited support. I was more frustrated. Almost every time (Tara did this) and was in hospital, the first thing she did was say, `I'm sorry' and I would say, `Well, why did you do it then?' That's just my human nature. I didn't get it, but as Tara said in her speech she didn't get it herself so how could she explain it to me?" Richardson said she received unconditional love and support from her family during this period, something, she said, is deep- ly important to healing. "It's hard to go through this without good support," she said. "You need people who love you even when you've tried to hurt them by leaving them behind." Even with this support, Richardson's suicidal thoughts did not vanish. It was gradual. She said, finding a medication to take away her overwhelming depression so she could think clearly was particularly frustrating. DENTIST 1140 Winston Churchill Blvd., Oakville Sheridan Garden 905.829.1244 Free Whitening for New Patients Porcelain Veneers Dental Hygiene Services Sleep Disorder Appliances Implants - Veneers Laser Gum Treatment Root Canal Treatment Crowns - Bridges - Dentures Wisdom Teeth Extraction with Sedation Ortho Treatment (Braces) claims on your b behalf Accept Insurance Cl Claims We submit ubmit cl ub clai ehal eh alf f online li - A t Al All l In Clai WI-FI Available Each time she tried a medication, she would have to wait five to six weeks to see if it was effective. If the drug turned out to be ineffective that meant she would have to spend another month in hospital to see if the next one worked. There was no shortage of setbacks. Richardson said she tried more than 20 medications over the years. Some caused bad side effects, some made her worse and some worked for a while and then stopped. She also tried 15 rounds of electroconvulsive therapy, but that, too, was in vain, she said. Eventually, the right medication was found, which Richardson said was important, but not the only thing helping her to turn her life around. "If you are really suicidal, I think you need medication first to get you to the point where you are able to do therapy to combat negative thoughts," said Richardson. "Therapy is important because it changes your mindset. When you start, you are usually pretty low on self-esteem and coping mechanisms and therapy is important for getting those into place." Gradually, Richardson said she regained the passion and motivation for life, which had been long absent. Now, she is the happiest she has been in a decade and has great hope for the future. To those struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts she calls on them not to give up, as recovery is possible. "I want to tell you that if I can get better so can you," she said. Help is a phone call away 911-for emergency situations COAST (Crisis Outreach and Support Team) 24-hour crisis hotline 1-877-8259011 -- good to call for people experiencing psychosis, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depressive symptoms, etc., not for emergencies requiring immediate response. Halton Crisis/Distress Lines Distress lines provide a listening, befriending, crisis prevention, and referral telephone service for anyone who has problems they cannot solve alone. · ROCK, Reach Out Centre for Kids (0-17yrs) 905-878-9785 · Distress Centre Oakville 905-849-4541 · North Halton Distress and Information 905-877-1211 · Telecare Burlington 905-681-1488 MY LIFE is about gratitude MY MEDICINE is my hope My name is Maureen Smith I'm 53 years old I'm from Ottawa and I live with a rare hormonal disorder I was born with an extremely rare disorder which means I have zero growth hormone. As a child, I received medication to keep my condition in check but there was no treatment for adults with this disorder, so for 20 years my health deteriorated drastically. By sheer willpower and a lot of luck, I found a clinical trial for a new drug my life was changed. I can't describe the exhilaration of taking a medicine that literally turns your despair into hope. I'm healthier today than I was at 25, and I am so grateful for the medicine that keeps me alive. www.canadapharma.org/hope Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies Making Canada Better