26/03/2026
So important! As a woman who had a brain aneurysm in 2009, I had no idea the mental health issues I would face! I remember after my boys had their open house and my parents came out to Culver City, California where I was l living at the time my mom picked up that something wasn’t quite right. They ended up taking my boys back home with them for the night. I was going to pick them up the following day.
I had a doctors appointment the next morning and when I went, I was telling her how I was feeling and she asked if I was suicidal. I immediately called my mother who’s always there for me when I need her. She simply asked me if I felt suicidal? I didn’t know how to answer her, considering I had just written my su***de note. She gently urged me to tell the doctor that yes I did feel suicidal.
When I went back and told the doctor she immediately contacted the local police and had me driven to a mental health facility not to far from Santa Monica, Ca. It was by far one of the worst experiences I have ever had! I had to share a room with three other women. The psychiatrist there was so condescending! My mother and sister who lived over an hour away made sure to be there every day during visiting hours. It was so incredibly hard seeing them and knowing how I felt. All I wanted was to go home and be with my boys!
Thankfully when I finally did get to leave the facility, my parents and sister decided it would be best if I moved in with my parents in Chino, California. Had a few different psychiatrists due to the few more hospitalizations I had. Then I found one of the BEST who finally got my diagnosis correct. He said based on everything that he read, I was having bipolar tendencies as a result of my brain injury in 2009. I will be forever grateful to Dr. Kyaw in Chino, California at Mountain View Behavioral Health. I FINALLY had some hope in navigating this disease!
In 2020 my family moved to Texas and I was extremely heartbroken to leave my psychiatrist. I was flying back every three months to see him, that’s how much I liked him. Then in 2021 I was going through chemotherapy for my breast cancer I landed back in the hospital out here in Texas. I was super worried about the facility, but it ended up being just what I needed. I was there for two weeks. It was during Covid so I couldn’t have visitors only phone calls to my mom, sister and boys. 
I was surprised because I really enjoyed the classes that they had, where as, before, being hospitalized in California I would just sit there in a daze not getting much out of it or interacting. I finally found a good psychiatrist in North Texas, Dr. Siddique. He’s just as kind and caring as Dr K in California. He definitely takes his time with me and my mom and listens to our concerns.
We kind of have it down to a science now, especially when I don’t sleep well. A few nights of no sleep is a big red flag and the number one sign of me going manic. I have a whole routine now that I do every night to make sure I get the best sleep possible.
I urge anyone who faces mental health issues to call a friend or family member, someone that you trust and get help. Don’t be ashamed about it know that people love you and care about you.
I feel so fortunate to have my family in my life. Thankful every day for them.
