I
sat in the class on 3/5/2012 and listened to the speakers of NAMI and realized
how the support from others can impact these individual’s lives. Listening to
their stories made me open my eyes and face that mental illness has no respect
of person; anyone can be a victim. The speakers began to breakdown the pathway
of the struggle they face on a daily basis saying “This is a daily struggle…. it
doesn’t stop”. They broke down their
illness using 5 phases
1.
Dark
Days- phase in which they told what type of life they had before the illness
and symptoms they began to have before they were diagnosed.
2.
Acceptance-
phase in which the individual has to come to terms with the illness and be able
to face it and deal with it. Hardest stage.
3.
Treatment-
phase in which they seek help whether its support groups, therapy, or
medication
4.
Coping
Skills- phase in which they explained how they continue to deal with their
illnesses.
5.
Successes,
Hopes, and Dreams- phase in which you see how far they have come.
Hearing
this presentation made me very grateful for who I am. I was a young child when I saw my
great-grandmother suffer from schizophrenia, both of my uncle’s heroine and alcoholic
addicts, but I never seen it as an illness.
I just remember being very afraid, and as I grew older I recall just
being angry because I felt like they had a choice and could have gone in a
different direction. As I look back I
realize their actions were their way of asking for help. I walked out the classroom asking myself “How
could their recovery be different if I could have been a support system rather
than being afraid, embarrassed, and judgmental just like most of society?”
I
look at my older sister who has just been diagnosed with Bi-polar disorder
about a year ago; and I realized just how much she needs me now. I understand now the support from love ones
and peers that will just lend an ear is very comforting and encouraging to
those with mental illness. Although we can
never feel what these individuals feel we can attempt to help them cope with
the illness and face it more and more on a daily basis. As an OTA I am responsible for helping
individuals become more independent. Being independent to me is helping these
individuals to be able to carry on a fulfilling, successful, and happy
life. Understanding that whatever “side-effects”
comes with the illness they can handle. I understand now that these individuals
are just like me and it could be me; and because of this I can handle having a
career with individuals with mental illness.
So you now you choose DO YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE HELP? OR PART OF THE
PROBLEM?
Here
is a website that has a few testimonials that allows you see how normal these
individual were and how it could happen to anyone.
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