Sarah is no stranger to change. The only constant in her life has been change. As the daughter of an Air Force service member, she spent much of her childhood on the move. She never stayed in one place for too long and never had the chance to feel settled. Eventually, her grandparents invited Sarah, her mother, and her brother to come live with them in Orange County. The transition was not easy, but after a period of uncertainty, they moved in and began caring for her aging grandparents.
Sarah formed a deep bond with her grandmother, whose wisdom continues to guide her today. “I remember my grandmother’s last words to me,” Sarah shared. “She told me, ‘Just keep moving forward.’”
Those words became an anchor during some of the most difficult moments of her life. When her grandmother passed away in 2009, Sarah was heartbroken. Her grandfather, who was devastated by the loss, soon fell into depression and passed away five years later. Losing both grandparents in such a short time left Sarah feeling adrift. Around the same time, her relationship with her mother became strained. Financial hardships soon followed. After being forced to sell the family home, they struggled to pay rent on a new apartment. They were then evicted and found themselves living on the streets for six months.
During that time, Sarah met Michael McGlinn, Lead Care Manager at Share Ourselves. Michael connected Sarah and her mother with vital resources and the Share Ourselves Food Pantry. With his help, they secured a housing voucher and moved into an apartment in Buena Park.
“That was my birthday gift when I turned 28,” Sarah recalled with a smile. “We finally had a place to live.”
Finding Strength Through Support and Self-Care
For a while, life started to improve. However, the tensions with her mother soon resurfaced. After another argument, Sarah was once again left without a place to stay. Alone this time, she faced homelessness for three more years. During this period, she stayed in a variety of temporary housing, including a Mercy House shelter in Anaheim, a group home, and hotels. These years were marked by significant challenges, including trauma, illness, and isolation.
Despite everything, Sarah was determined not to give up. She returned to Share Ourselves, seeking support for her mental health. She began working with Darin Rorrer, LCSW, Wellness and Recovery Program Manager. Darin specializes in helping patients experiencing anxiety, depression, and other complex mental health conditions that require ongoing care.
“I’ve seen a lot of growth in myself since working with Darin,” Sarah said. “Staying away from unhealthy people has helped me focus on healing. Darin told me that I need to take care of myself first, before I can care for others.”
Through counseling sessions and reflection exercises, Sarah has developed new tools to manage stress and improve her well-being. Darin also connected her with medical providers at Share Ourselves who helped her access the medication she needed and create a personalized health plan. Addressing both her physical and mental health has allowed Sarah to regain stability.
Today, Sarah lives in an apartment in Costa Mesa. Her life is filled with meaningful activities. She participates in sitcom appreciation classes, attends Bible study, journals regularly, and volunteers in the community.
“I try to stay busy,” she said with a smile. “Or out of trouble, as I like to say.”
“What brings me joy now is focusing on improving my health, doing a lot of walking, and listening to good music.”
Sarah
Sarah has a big heart and a strong desire to support others. Despite the many challenges she has faced, she remains full of compassion and hope.
“Share Ourselves changed my life,” Sarah said. “When I was in the shelter, I did not have access to the medication I needed. That caused so much stress and anxiety. It was a very turbulent time. Now I have the support and resources I need.”
To anyone going through a difficult time, Sarah offers this advice: “Just keep your head up. Don’t get down and depressed. Keep going, keep moving forward.”
Did you know?
Share Ourselves offers its patients both Primary Care Behavioral Health and Specialty Behavioral Health services. This includes everything from behavioral intervention to improve chronic health conditions to traditional mental health care.
