May Newsletter – 2024
Original Comic by KCLA’s William
Dear Patients, Friends, and Colleagues,
The bond between a mother and daughter is woven with threads of love, understanding, and unwavering support throughout life. It’s a bond that transcends words, a silent understanding that speaks volumes in the quiet moments shared. Spiritually, it is the unspoken “I love you” that is felt no matter how far apart. Through laughter and tears, triumphs and challenges, a mother and daughter navigate life’s journey together. In the beginning, holding on tight in one another’s arms, in the grade school years hanging on hand in hand, as young adults connecting more like sisters, and, as we grow into mature adults, we build friendship and have an unwavering family commitment to one another. The connection may be challenged at some points, but the bond is unbreakable and endures all the seasons of life.
This Mother’s Day is a first for me and one I am trying to find the light in. For those who do not know, I lost my mother suddenly in August of last year. Losing a loved one is never easy, but losing a mother to suicide in my late 40s is a pain that cuts deep, truly to the very core of my existence. It’s a loss that has left a void that seems impossible to fill, a wound that may never heal. In the aftermath of such a tragedy, my emotions swirled like a storm, ranging from profound sadness and disbelief to anger and guilt. Questions of “why?” and “how?” bombard my mind endlessly, each one more agonizing than the last. I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! After all, I work in mental health, and we often talked about my mom’s anxiety and depression struggles. But how did I NOT KNOW my 68-year-old mother was suicidal? What could I have done differently? How am I now part of this life-changing statistic? There are no words, only heartbreak.
Grief is a rollercoaster of emotions, so much so that the word overwhelming is not even big enough to express. The variety of intense feelings felt like my head and heart were drowning with no hope for relief. I share this with you today because I know our community gets it. I truly believe I had the safest place to fall. Working At KCLA for the last 7+ years was meant to be. I can’t imagine how I would have even made it through this time in life without my compassionate team, this life-saving medicine, and all my dear loved ones who wrapped their arms around me, refused to let go, and cried through the pain with me.
In my giant and heavy sea of darkness, there is a glimmer of hope—a flicker of light that presents itself and reminds me of the love and memories I shared with my beautiful mother. I know she would want me to keep on crushing life. She would 100% be saying “You go girl, you can do anything!” It’s in these moments of remembrance and hearing her voice in my head that I find solace.
Speaking of solace, there is an amazing peer-to-peer group named Solace, based here in LA, that offers weekly virtual suicide survivor support. It has been a huge help. I truly believe in taking the time to heal no matter what life throws you. I took 4 months off, did weekly therapy and EMDR work, endlessly played the music that Mom and I adored, combed through decades of photos capturing our good times, and even made some custom jewelry out of her sparkly collection to honor her life. Probably the most healing of all my efforts was being vulnerable with my amazing team here at KCLA and getting some ketamine infusions. I don’t think I could have made it through any of these dark days without immediately facing ALL the pain. There are no shortcuts and no time limits on the road to healing. My new motto is “The only way through the pain is through the pain!”
Given it is Mental Health Awareness Month and Mother’s Day, I felt it necessary to share my story. It’s essential to remember that healing is not a linear process. It’s okay to not be okay, to lean on others for support, and to seek professional help when needed. While the pain of losing a mother to suicide may never fully dissipate, with time, love, and support, I am confident I will feel a sense of peace and acceptance, honoring her memory always as I navigate the journey of grief with all of us who miss her dearly.
Happy Heavenly Mother’s Day Mom! You are with me always.
Sincerely,
Angel
Director of Operations
Ketamine for Postpartum Depression (PPD)
Check out this recent article from Healthline highlighting the benefits of ketamine for the treatment of postpartum depression.
Click the headline below to read more!
May Celebrations at KCLA!
Happy birthday to our amazing Patient Care Coordinator, Camila! Your work is some of the most important at our clinic and on behalf of the KCLA Care Team, we love and appreciate you so much! Cheers to another year!
May 6 is National Nurse’s Day, and we want to honor and recognize our AMAZING team of registered nurses for the incredible work they do every day. Cheers to the best medical team ever. We love you!
Want to thank your favorite nurse?
Leave a review on Google and/or Yelp to share how you feel!
SOLACE – An Incredible Support Group
If you have lost a loved one to suicide, SOLACE is a supportive and caring peer-to-peer group that is FREE and meets weekly.
Call or email Anne Marie for details.
SOLACE – Support Group for Survivors of Suicide Loss
Contact: Anne Marie Ankers, (424) 258-4930 solace4sas@gmail.com
Meeting: Every Saturday, virtually, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm
KCLA ACCEPTS 10 INSURANCE NETWORKS!
Ketamine Infusion Therapy remains a non-covered, cash-pay service with most insurance plans. Inquire for details.
Dr. Peyman Tashkandi, director of psychiatry, is accepting new patients!
We offer Psychiatric Evaluations, Medication Management, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), all of which are covered by insurance.
*California residents only
Your experience means the world to future patients and your care team.
Take a moment to share your experience on Google and Yelp! If we didn’t meet your expectations, please call us so we can make it right. Thank you to the generous patients who have already taken the time to share!
FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS TODAY!
Hours of Operation:
- Administrative hours are Monday-Friday from 9:00 am-7:00 pm.
- Ketamine Infusion Therapy appointment times are Monday-Thursday. The earliest appointment is at 10:30 am and the latest is at 5:00 pm.
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) appointments are currently in the mornings, Monday – Friday; inquire for details.
- Psychiatric Evaluations and Medication Management appointments are available Monday – Thursday between 9:00 am – 5:00 pm.
- We are closed on all major holidays.
- We cannot support care outside of our operating hours. Please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room for an emergency. You may also text or call 988 for the Suicide Prevention Line for support with active suicidality.
- Please call/text 310-270-0625 or email info@ketamineclinics.com if we can do anything to be of service. Thank you!
