Molly, 42, has struggled with her mental and physical health for most of her life. She completed college and graduate school and worked as a children’s librarian for 15 years. But when she experienced lasting complications from surgery, her mental health started getting much worse.
She tried to continue working but found she was not physically or mentally well enough. Her mother was concerned, so she researched top mental health treatment centers for Molly. Her research led Molly to The Retreat by Sheppard Pratt.
That’s where everything changed. “The nursing staff was wonderful, and I benefited so much from art therapy,” shares Molly. After a month and a half at The Retreat, Molly was ready for less intense care.
She started working with an outpatient therapist in the community. But soon, her mother and stepfather found her having a dissociative episode–she felt completely detached from the world around her. They quickly got her to Sheppard Pratt’s hospital in Towson for around-the-clock inpatient care.
“My doctor at Sheppard Pratt helped me realize what was causing me to disassociate, and he quickly figured out what was going on–which led to me getting the right, effective treatment and the support I needed,” Molly reflects. After her inpatient stay, Molly participated in Sheppard Pratt’s day hospital–engaging in therapeutic groups during the day and returning home at night. She participated in the program for about three weeks before she was ready to return to living in the community.
Molly enrolled in the Frederick Psychiatric Rehabilitation Day Program, which she currently attends five days a week. She participates in therapeutic group programming, and a service coordinator comes to her house twice weekly to help her with activities of daily living, attending medical appointments, and more.
“Sheppard Pratt is the only place that I have received care where I have been treated holistically,” Molly shares. “And no matter what program I’ve participated in–whether it’s a private pay program or one that accepts my Medicaid–the service has been excellent. Regardless of one’s ability to pay or the status of their insurance, people from every walk of life can get the compassionate care they need at Sheppard Pratt.”
Today, Molly shares her story in the hope that she will inspire others to get the care they deserve. “The more we can do to normalize getting mental healthcare and let people know that there are great organizations like Sheppard Pratt–my hope is that it can help another person,” she says.
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