20 - Recovery after Jack’s Death

Summary

Abstract: Jack’s death deeply impacted Anne. She descended into pain, self-loathing and despair. She grew more dependent on alcohol to get her through the day. She experienced suicidal thoughts. It took a lot of energy to drag herself to work. Her father’s health declined, and on November 3, 2000, he died in his sleep. After he died, Anne called her mother every day, trying to give her the attention she had denied Anne when Jack had died. After Sol Snyder gave the John B. Penney, Jr. Memorial Lecture at Mass General, he and Nancy Wexler met up with Anne. They told her she had to do something about her drinking and depression. She shouldn’t have to feel this way. Alcohol was making it worse. They were worried and suggested she go to a hospital for treatment. Anne was admitted to Silver Hill. Nancy came to be with Anne on the day she was discharged. Anne went into outpatient treatment at McLean Hospital and saw a psychiatrist twice a week. She had brief lapses in her struggle with alcohol, but each time, she came quickly back to sobriety, lasted longer without drinking, and learned ways to stop the craving. Then she stopped for good and learned how wonderful life was when she could wake up most mornings feeling well, not wanting to die.