Tabby came to AMFM (A Mission For Michael) Mental Health Treatment as a residential client while she was dealing with suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and binge eating. As she puts it, she was “Just trying to do something to feel something,” reaching for anything that might distract from the emotions – or sometimes, the lack of – she was experiencing.
This is a description that a lot of people in a similar situation will recognize. It’s that idea of needing to do whatever it takes to get through, even when none of it brings lasting relief. But something shifted for Tabby during treatment with us. This shift could not only bring hope to others, but also offer mental health professionals insight into how to support clients in a similar situation.
What Brought Tabby to Treatment?
Since the age of 16, Tabby experienced low mood, hopelessness, constant fatigue, and withdrawal. What she didn’t realize for a long time was that she was dealing with the classic symptoms of depression and needed support for her condition.
Instead, what Tabby received was frustration from her parents and teachers and a loss of friend groups. As she got older, the symptoms never really eased. Yes, there were times that they weren’t as severe as others, but they were always there – lingering in the background of every life choice, relationship, and job opportunity.
She felt alone and misunderstood, and her condition worsened. Now, self-harm, unhealthy eating patterns, and suicidal thoughts were part of her everyday experience. She knew that mental health treatment was the only option.
So she gave it a go, and it helped – at first. Medication and therapy started to make a bit of a difference; she could finally talk about her condition, and she met others who had similar experiences to her. But as the weeks ticked by, the old symptoms started returning, and Tabby realized that something wasn’t working. She began to think Treatment doesn’t work for me. I’m just wired differently and will be like this forever.
What Made a Difference for Tabby?
Tabby had dealt with programs in the past that didn’t work out for her, and emotions that demanded far too much, so what changed this landscape for her?
When Tabby speaks about what changed for her personally, she doesn’t highlight a specific technique or a single breakthrough moment. She points to the people.
In her words, it was “Hands down, the people.” The staff at AMFM, she says, “…met me where I was and they challenged me,” and crucially, “…they didn’t allow me to stay where I was.” They pushed her forward and never let her become stuck.
This is a combination that, unfortunately, not everyone in recovery has the opportunity to experience. The union of being accepted as you are while also being encouraged to move forward is at the heart of what good residential treatment offers. All of those times when a client may have been told to “Snap out of it” by a friend or family member, then offered absolutely nothing to help them move forward, are what many are used to.
Instead, Tabby had people walk alongside her, holding both the understanding of what she was going through and the passion to push her forward in the right way. Further, she stated that the support came from the whole community around her, which included staff members and fellow clients alike. In a good residential treatment program, clients are surrounded by people who believe in them, even on the days when they find it too difficult to believe in themselves.
Healing doesn’t happen after just a single step. It’s a step-by-step journey, one that requires both a client and clinician to consistently show up for the challenge, day after day. But it is also one that should be tailored to clients – their unique symptoms and needs.
Tabby Never Felt Given Up On
Tabby arrived expecting to be let down, because that’s all she knew up to that point. But when she talks about what changed, she mentions something worth remembering:
“They just never gave up on me. And I’m so thankful for that.”
On the surface, this is a normal message of gratitude, but it holds a lot of meaning behind it. You don’t thank people for not giving up unless there were points where giving up might have been understandable. Recovery from suicidal thoughts and self-harm doesn’t typically follow a perfect upward trajectory. The days when a person can’t meet anyone halfway are the days that test whether the support around them is real.
Tabby hasn’t described what those days were like; they’re personal to her. But the gratitude tells us they existed, and that our team supported her regardless. This is an insight that a lot of mental health professionals may be able to see progress in.
Tabby Sees Life in a Different Light Now
One of the most impactful things Tabby shares with us is how her view of her own past changed.
“I used to only see what the trauma and the mental illness took away from me,” she says. “But today, I can honestly say I’ve learned a lot through those experiences.”
What she’s saying is that treatment didn’t erase what she’d been through, but instead, it changed her relationship with it. She describes every person she met, every moment she showed up, and every tear she shed as having created the person she is today. While mental health challenges will always be a part of her past, she knows that depression doesn’t have to define her future.
“I can see the beauty in life again,” she says, a sentence that hits hard for us, as we know it comes from someone who, at one point, couldn’t see a way forward at all.
Tabby’s Life Today
Something happened at the end of Tabby’s journey with us that some people might miss. When she first came to us, putting words to her feelings and experiences was very difficult for her. Now, she describes these times as if from the outside, like she’s looking in at someone she’s come to know.
“That version of myself is still there. And I’m glad, because she shouldn’t be forgotten. But now, she’s able to advocate for herself and others. She’s no longer ashamed of her story. She’s proud of what she’s overcome. She wants to make a difference.”
She talks about her experiences in the third person, but then, just as quickly, she drops back into her own voice for six words: “I didn’t think all this was possible.”
The distance she can now take from herself, and the admission sitting underneath it, can tell you everything about how far she’s travelled.
What Tabby Wants Others to Know
If you’re reading this as a mental health professional hoping to inspire change in someone, Tabby’s message for you, in her own words, is:
“Healing is possible, even if someone doesn’t see a way out. I know there were times when I definitely did not see a way forward, but just keep showing up for them. Keep putting in the work. Your effort in their care matters, and it can help them heal. With the right support and consistently showing up for someone, you can make a difference in their lives.”
This message comes directly from someone who couldn’t see a positive future for herself, couldn’t imagine herself ever feeling capable of working towards one. But with personalized treatment and social scaffolding, she was able to find her way.
The Message Professionals Can Take From Tabby’s Story
Tabby’s story is just that – hers. Your clients’ paths toward recovery will be their own. But one thread that runs through her story is that feeling hopeless in the beginning doesn’t decide how things end. The support from people who refused to give up on her helped her find her way back to a life that was waiting to be lived. So if you ever feel like your efforts or work don’t matter, know that they do. Consistency, personalized strategies, and maintaining hope can make all the difference to someone’s recovery.
At AMFM Healthcare, this is the kind of support we work to provide. We meet clients where they are and walk with them along the path to recovery – making sure each step is made unique to them.
If you’re working with a client who is dealing with depression, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts, and feel like you’ve reached a stalling point, reach out to our team. We can advise you on how to look after your own well-being in this process while still turning up meaningfully for your client.
Your efforts matter, and like Tabby, you don’t have to have all the blueprints mapped out to make a difference. Contact our team today at 844-690-0205 to find out how we can help.
