Former Bridge Guests Testimonials

October 2011 Guest

I have suffered with lupus for 20 years. Six years ago, dermatomyositis set in and my legs were so weak that it was hard to leave the house. I was using a wheelchair and a cane. My active lifestyle was severely affected and I worried about my quality of life. I had seen plenty of medical doctors and rheumatologists, who prescribed all kinds of drugs, including steroids, methotrexate, and enbrel injections with limited and temporary success. I became so desperate to get help that I did a search on the Internet and found The Bridge Recovery Center. It was a scary and big commitment for me, but I decided to register for the program.

The Bridge helped me get my life back. When I arrived, I was on a cane and so weak that I needed assistance to get around. When I left, I was able to put down my cane and I felt a peace with my life that I haven't felt before. I am now exercising, hiking, living the life that I missed for so long. The Bridge also helped me to stop most of my medications, and I will soon be off steroids completely!

Thanks to The Bridge and all of the people there that helped in large measure to give me the ability to enjoy life with confidence and without the concerns that I had because of my illness.

May 2011 Guest

My name is Krista Symens and I'm at stay home mom of three wonderful children, ages between 8-13. I have suffered from anxiety for 12 years and severe depression for 2 years. The last two years of my life all I did was go from doctor to doctor trying to figure out what was wrong with me and didn't get any relief. I was spending a lot of money that did me no good. I just got passed around from one doctor to another with different treatment plans that had no continuity. Nothing was helping...the counseling, all the different doctors, all the meds. It got to the point that I decided and believed deep down in my soul that my family was better off without me. My kids and husband deserved much better than what I was giving them. That's when I hit rock bottom. I couldn't live like this anymore and I needed help. I got on the internet and I found the most amazing place that changed my life and that is The Bridge.

The Bridge helped by giving me my life back. They taught and showed me how to be happy again. I didn't know who I was anymore and they found me. I lived for my family and not for myself. The idea of being away from my kids for 3 weeks scared me but I knew that I needed to leave my environment to get better. The money also scared me because of all our doctor bills. My husband looked at me in the face and said when did you decide to put a price tag on your life. If you had cancer would you say I can't afford to get better. He was correct. I was sick and we weren't going to put a price tag on me getting better so we found a way to make it work. It was hard but we did it.

I can't say enough amazing things about The Bridge but I do know this -every person at the Bridge found their calling in life. They are using the gift that GOD gave them and they are wonderful. I still stay in contact with them today. They have touched my in so many ways. I USED to suffer from anxiety and depression and now I don't. WOW ...I love them all so much and can't thank them enough for saving my life and giving my kids back their mom and my husband his wife. My kids did fine while I was gone. They say to me how happy they are that they have mommy back. I thought I did a pretty good job of faking it around them so they wouldn't know but kids are smart. The Bridge showed me how to live again and I did the work. I used to be scared of "the dance" and now I embrace it. It feels good to "JUST BE". Finally I'm free and it feels wonderful. Every person at the Bridge touched my soul and I will never forget them. I love you all!