By Claire Rosenecker, Horizon Corporate Communications
It was during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in July of 2020 when Jeff realized that he needed to reach out for help. Jeff said, “I realized that I was disappointed with where I was mentally. I had been seeing a different counselor, so making a change made me feel nervous. Still, I knew I had to get out of my comfort zone by making a call to see if there was an alternative that would better suit my needs.”
As for mustering the courage to make that call, Jeff says, “My journey with Horizon has been everything I was looking for. I have an amazing counselor, Courtney, who is willing to work with me in a way that is more suited to my needs and personality. Within the first three weeks of seeing her, I was already learning coping skills to deal with my severe anxiety. For years, I felt as though I had been begging for encouragement. Now I was finally getting what I needed.”
By December, Jeff knew his life had changed dramatically. He said, “To see where I was a year ago, compared to now, is genuinely a huge accomplishment. The pandemic took a significant toll on my mental health, but now, along with the progress we are seeing as a nation, I know that I have also made progress in my own mental health. I have rebounded and feel stronger than ever. I am a full-time college student, I bought my own car, and am finally living the life I have so desperately sought for so long. Without Courtney’s help, I do not know if I would be able to say these things.”
September is National Recovery Month, and Jeff hopes to bring awareness to, and reduce the stigma surrounding, mental health challenges. He also wants people to know that recovery involves a willingness to improve both your physical and mental health. He says, “If you are willing to take the necessary steps to better yourself, then you have begun the first phase of recovery.”
Knowing that taking the initial steps toward recovery can be scary, Jeff says, “I get it. Having the courage to ask for help can be unnerving. I truly cannot tell you how different my life has been since finding the courage to make that one important call. I am so much happier, healthier, and stronger. As someone who suffered in silence for so long, reaching out was the smartest decision I ever made. It is possible to recover, but it all starts with the willingness to ask for help.”
If you are looking for support for a mental health or substance use disorder, pick up the phone and make the call. Taking the first step, though intimidating, can change your life. Horizon’s team of over 250 outpatient counselors and psychiatric providers throughout 20 Western New York locations, are here to help you or your loved one. Horizon also connects with patients via telehealth. Call 716-831-1800 today, and visit www.horizon-health.org.
