Richard Hayatian
April 2016
Richard
Hayatian
,
RN
Mental Health
Riverside University Health Systems Medical Center
Moreno Valley
,
CA
United States

 

 

 

A Thank You note to Richard:
It's been 7 months without a drop of alcohol and I owe part of my success to you and the staff there at ETS in Ward C. I stayed at ETS back in March of 2012 after trying to commit suicide. I became so disheartened and depressed about not being able to stop drinking for several years that I thought my family would be better off without me.
During my 10-day stay, you took the time to have 4 or 5 very empathetic talks with me to help me understand how my thinking was misguided. That my perspective was all off. That I could overcome alcohol if I took some good advice and follow some simple steps you suggested. Had we not had those long quiet talks I may very well have gone right back to my old ways of thinking and bad habits. You inspired me to take action when I left ETS. I also had good conversations with several other nurses that were very helpful as well. My 10 day stay at ETS was a LIFE ALTERING EXPERIENCE for me and the first of three steps to my recovery.
You folks may not hear it very often from former patients, but the simple gesture of taking the time to talk with people CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. Sharing with me what you had gone through previously in your life and how you were able to overcome some bad circumstances was especially helpful.
After I left ETS, your second suggestion was to spend some additional time in an inpatient recovery home, which I voluntarily checked myself into. This was another very beneficial step for me that you suggested. My 30 day stay there with mostly people who had done years of hard prison time due to their alcohol and drug use was another life altering experience.
After 30 days at the inpatient recovery home, I was able to return home. Your third suggestion was to get some ongoing outpatient recovery counseling. After a thorough search, I enrolled at a recovery center for evening counseling, three evenings a week. The education and support I have received there has also proven to be invaluable. Once I learned to treat alcoholism like any other disease, like diabetes for example, my thinking completely changed. It is now easy for me to do the things I have to do to keep any desires for alcohol at bay.
Today my family relationships have been almost completely restored and I have started my own business which is going well. I still attend meetings and counseling each week and am actively involved in a wonderful church fellowship.
A wise man once said, "Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned". I thank God daily for all of your small deeds there every day in Ward C. I am so grateful to you for the sound advice I received while under your care. Thank you Richard.