It's been a year since my father passed away, and the team at NUMA psychiatry has been pivotal in…read moremy recovery. From Dr. Guo to Arjun to Chloe and Alina. I had no idea what kind of an exceptional team laid in front of me when I met them.
Fast forward a year, I was at Burning Man and paid a visit to the temple, and I had a proper release. I found myself crying in public off to the side with my partner holding me, and I was just letting it all out. Tears were flooding, the people at the temple around me were so supportive, giving a gentle tap on the shoulder saying "everything is going to be all right." After that 60 minutes or so, I left the temple feeling so light and calm and happy that I got to experience my Dad for 32 years of my life.
Dr. Guo taught me that trauma and normal grieving are separate things. For me up until that point in life, I thought the two went hand in hand. With her help and Spravato ketamine therapy, I was able to separate these two complex things in life. She reminded me that healing is not linear and that when grieving does come, don't be afraid of it or to be triggered, and to not run away from it.
As I came back from Burning Man and attended my next appointment at NUMA Clinic, I wanted to share this experience with Dr. Guo. She has this magic ability to really make you bring your most authentic self, and she brought me back to exactly how I was feeling at the temple.
As I was sharing my stories, I broke into tears, and to my surprise, Dr. Guo broke into tears as well. We spent the remainder of the session crying happy tears. Dr. Guo was moved and grateful that I was able to have this experience. Dr. Guo always ends her time saying, "If there's anything else I can do for you today." I first thanked her for crying with me, and I asked if I could give her a hug, and she agreed. She left me off to finish out my Spravato treatment, and to this day, while this memory is still fresh in my mind, I've never experienced so much love and compassion from a healthcare provider, let alone my psychiatrist.
Things are looking good these days, and it's a combination of Spravato, the incredible team at NUMA psychiatry, and the work that I have put in.