I attended the June 2023 session at The Bridge, and as I write this three years later, I honestly…read moredo not know what my life would look like if I had not gone. I do not know if I would even have made it to 2024. I came to The Bridge at 21 years old for major depressive disorder, anxiety, OCD, and an eating disorder, but primarily for major depressive disorder. Depression had ruled my life for nine years. There was not a single day that I woke up without feeling overwhelming sorrow and the crushing weight that depression can place on a person. I was also dealing with severe medical issues, including chronic stomach pain and acid reflux, and doctors could not give me a clear answer as to why I was experiencing them. I arrived at The Bridge hopeful, mostly because I needed to be hopeful. I did not know how much longer I could survive living the way I had been. What I found there was unlike anything I had experienced before. It was incredible to see how they combined Eastern and Western approaches to treatment while constantly working with me individually to determine what was most effective for my specific needs. My treatment included acupuncture, EMDR, massage therapy, physical therapy, foot zoning, traditional therapy, psychiatric care, personal training and more. The range of services available was remarkable, and I was given opportunities to explore approaches I never would have considered on my own. While I was there, I was allowed to have my phone. During my stay, I dealt with arguments between family members and other issues that would have occurred in my daily life. I was able to talk with therapists about these situations and work on how to handle them in real time. One thing I still think is the most interesting part of attending The Bridge is that they did not force treatment on anyone. At least when I attended, you were encouraged to participate, but ultimately the choice was yours. If you did not want to go on the hikes, you did not have to. If you did not want to attend a group session, you did not have to. If you did not want to participate in the appointments scheduled for you that day, you did not have to. They do their part by creating a clear schedule for you each day, making you feel wanted, included, and encouraged to be there, and showing up for every scheduled activity. However, you have to make the decision to get out of bed and attend. I actually think that was one of the program's greatest strengths because it holds you accountable to yourself, which in turn builds confidence that you can show up for yourself in life outside of the program. That said, you have to want it. No treatment center can make someone get better if they are not willing to do the work. My advice is to attend everything you possibly can. You never know when a single conversation, a single piece of advice, or a single moment will change your life. For me, that moment happened during a group session near the end of my stay. Something finally clicked. For the first time in years, I felt like I had the ability to take back control of my mind and my life. I was terrified to leave The Bridge because I finally felt free, and I worried that peace of mind would disappear once I returned home. For me, it did not. The last three years have been the happiest of my life. Not because life suddenly became easy. Not because I stopped facing hardship. Not because anxiety and depression magically disappeared forever, because they didn't. I still had to fight them, but day by day, that fight became easier. I'm not saying I haven't had moments where I felt depressed again, because that would be a lie, but I have been able to guide myself through those times and move past them. The difference is that I now have the tools to manage those challenges instead of being controlled by them. I have not experienced long-term depression since attending The Bridge. I am no longer taking medication, and my doctors have officially marked my major depressive disorder as being in remission. I completed college, earning almost all A's. My attendance was nearly perfect, which was a huge accomplishment for me because I had never been someone who was particularly punctual or consistent about showing up. I work as a math teacher now. I have been able to maintain friendships because I am no longer constantly drained by my own mind. I can be social and enjoy spending time with others without feeling a heavy weight on me the entire time. In fact, I am getting married exactly three years and one day after my first day at The Bridge. If you are reading this because you are trying to decide whether to get help, please take this as your sign. Fight for yourself. Reach out. Take the chance. The team at The Bridge will do everything they can to help you, but you have to be willing to take that first step.

While I had some positive experiences here, the overall take away 2 years later is don't waste your…read moremoney. This place has caused me additional trauma that I am still working through today. Many levers of staff are woefully undertrained and can and do cause real harm to people who are very vulnerable.