After years of combating psychological well being points, with the fitting assist, a Peoria teenager is proof, that residing a sober, assured life is feasible.
PEORIA, Ariz. — The numbers are staggering. Previously 12 months alone, greater than 20% of children between the age of 12 and 17 reported affected by no less than one main depressive episode. That’s in response to Psychological Well being America.
However fortunately there may be assist accessible.
After years of combating psychological well being points, with the fitting assist, a Peoria teenager is proof, that residing a sober, assured life is feasible.
“It began once I was youthful and it simply sort of progressed as I received older,” mentioned 16-year-old Alexandra Palacios.
She has battled with psychological well being struggles for years. Palacios mentioned she was out and in of remedy, however nothing ever clicked.
“I by no means precisely related to a therapist,” mentioned Palacios.
Then, the unthinkable occurred — her household misplaced their house final 12 months.
“I by no means actually understood,” she mentioned. “…however we simply received evicted and we needed to go dwell with my sister, and we couldn’t keep there anymore so now we’re in an prolonged keep.”
With no place to name house, no household automobile, and no private house, Palacios’ psychological well being declined quickly.
“Simply remoted myself, as a result of I don’t wish to be round anyone and I didn’t have my very own house,” she mentioned. “I simply received like… fell into a very unhealthy melancholy.”
Palacios mentioned she was self-harming and affected by an consuming dysfunction whereas utilizing marijuana to attempt to assist her anxiousness and sleep points.
However fortunately her mother mentioned Palacios was robust sufficient to inform her mother she wanted assist.
“She’s grown quite a bit,” mentioned Brook Hernandez, Alexandra’s mother. “She’s come far.”
Palacios was admitted right into a behavioral well being hospital for per week, and it was throughout her keep at that facility her household discovered about Banner’s Teen Substance Abuse and Psychological Well being intensive outpatient remedy. Hernandez mentioned they enrolled Palacios immediately.
Whereas at first, she was reluctant, with household assist, she continued.
“It was three hours, 3 times per week,” mentioned Hernandez. “It’s actually arduous on high of her remedy and on high of my different children, however I made certain that she was there, and he or she ended up loving it.”
When the household misplaced their medical insurance, Banner stored Palacios with this system and continued to get her the assist she wanted.
“It does assist quite a bit and it helps you clear your thoughts and be taught so many extra coping abilities,” mentioned Palacios. “It helps you actually implement them into your life.”
Palacios discovered success with the assistance of adlescent substance abuse and psychological well being program counselor Jennifer Keiser at Banner Del E. Webb Medical Heart.
“She’s an incredible human being,” mentioned Keiser.
Palacios is now a graduate after finishing this system in November.
“She really blossomed, so far as her development and counseling, and simply how assertive she is now versus how she was simply so shy and reserved and depressed when she first got here to this system,” Keiser mentioned.
Palacios is now getting into the brand new 12 months as a sober, higher model of herself, with a continued assist system and her religion to lean on.
“I used to be simply actually grateful for Jennifer,” Palacios mentioned. “I’d be again within the hospital if it wasn’t for her.”
Alexandra is trying towards the longer term and planning to get her GED whereas hoping to change into a cosmetologist.
“That’s at all times been my dream,” Palacios mentioned. “…to make individuals really feel lovely in their very own pores and skin.”
In the event you or somebody you recognize is combating psychological well being points, there are such a lot of assets on the market to assist.
For extra data, concerning the Banner Well being program, head to their web site.
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