A Look in the Mirror
In November , 2014 , Elaine took a peek at herself in the mirror as she was about to walk into the bright lights of KHOU-TV 11 studios for the Good Day Houston Show with Debra Duncan . She recalled seeing a different person than the woman she had known for 50 years .
Elaine was chosen to represent The Women ’ s Home for a makeover while in the program to address chronic issues in her life .
She remembered how lonely and depressed she felt growing up in Long Island , New York , and how this affected the journey in her adult life . She had a family history of alcohol abuse and mental illness , which at the time was something that was not spoken about . Her inherent shy personality along with the constant teasing and bullying from her classmates led her to believe that she could never be loved . This , combined with her undiagnosed depression , set a foundation for a lonely and turbulent childhood .
Through the 1990 ’ s Elaine was in counseling with a social worker who helped her come to terms with her food issues . In 1999 , she had weight loss surgery and lost more than half her body weight . This led to a surge in her self-esteem . When a new job opportunity in Texas was presented to her , Elaine quickly began preparing for a new beginning . This opportunity led to an Assistant Vice President position at a major financial institution and a new sense of accomplishment . During this period of time , Elaine did not keep up with her anti-depressant medication .
In 2003 , Elaine ’ s mother became very ill . A diagnosis of pancreatic cancer led to her death in September of that year . In 2004 , after numerous tries to have children , Elaine was told that her ovaries were no longer viable . Concurrently , her department at work was being disbanded and she was going to be laid off . Depression found its way back , and it was worse than ever .
Unable to find a job during the recession , Elaine began drinking -- something she had always avoided , as her family history made her very wary . Alcoholism hit her hard and fast . It was only after several attempts to end her life that
Elaine was convinced that she needed help . She found herself alone and felt like she needed a reason to live . Elaine went to Ben Taub to ask for help , which lead her on a journey through several programs , including the Neuro Psychiatric Center , Ben Taub Psychiatric Unit , Passages Treatment Center , Harris County Psychiatric Center , Crisis Residential Unit , Cooccurring Disorders and Critical Time Intervention . With the support of her brother and the many case workers of The Harris Center , she was finally able to obtain and commit to some help on a permanent basis . She entered the ninemonth Critical Time Intervention program where her case worker guided her and reintroduced her to the art of being accountable .
Currently , Elaine has over two years of sobriety . She takes her medication as prescribed , keeps her appointments as scheduled and lives independently in her own apartment . She works part-time as a Scanning Specialist , has a Paralegal license through Rice University , maintains regular contact with her brother and nephew , attends regular group meetings and has become a self-advocate who talks about the consequences of ignoring self-care .
She credits three groups of people for her recovery : Her family , The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD , and The Women ’ s Home .
When asked what she sees in the mirror , Elaine says , “ I see a strong woman who has been through a lot , who is no longer scared to ask for help and who loves and accepts herself .”
6 | The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD