Raine’s Story

For the majority of my life I was addicted to Meth and alcohol, basically self- medicating undiagnosed mental illness in a dangerous and destructive way. My story began in 2005 when I moved to Sacramento from San Francisco to go into drug and alcohol treatment. I came to Sacramento to receive treatment and had to attend groups at AOD weekly, while waiting for a space to open at a treatment center. The woman who ran the groups told me I might be bipolar and instructed me to go to the Primary Care Clinic located across the street from the group location and to talk to a psychiatrist. So I did and I got a diagnosis stating I was bipolar and had manic depression with PTSD, Anxiety and ADHD. So I started taking medication. I was then referred to Adult Access to apply to a mental health clinic where I could better receive care relating to my illnesses. I was referred to HRC where I met my savior, my next psychiatrist Dr. Ron Risely who literally saved my life. He and I started what I like to call my journey to well being, safety and sanity. We tried different medications because at this point I felt safe and was open to try working on my new outlook on life with the help of meds. We finally found the medications that worked best for me and then I really started feeling better and realizing I still had a lot to learn about my illnesses and Dr. Risely was very patient and informative. I also did my own research and went to med groups etc. HRC then branched off into TCORE/Hope Cooperative and I was able to become a client of that organization with my same Doctor and also more, such as my own representative and team support and clinician and resources. So I have been receiving care and support from TCORE/Hope Cooperative for eight years now and my life has changed completely form the sad girl/woman I was back in 2005. With the help and support I have received from this organization I can honestly say I live a pretty normal life now and I believe in and support anyone who makes the decision to receive services from Hope Cooperative. It is for some maybe a bit scary at first but if you just try and believe form the stories of others you two can be saved.