Often times we as mental health consumers get caught up in our own problems and dilemmas surrounding our illness, that we forget about those who due to association with us are affected as well. I'm not in any way saying that the pain and anguish that we as consumers suffer should be looked at in an empathetic way, but the fact remains that our mood changes and other symptoms that trouble us also trouble those in our lives as well. If we look at it in the proper context than we would see that not only do we suffer from the disease in of its self, but we should take note that as a whole our lives that we lead affect other people as well. In taking note of that fact, we should be aware of how we effect others and keep in constant communication about the thoughts and feelings others have about how the disease is effecting them. We should do this so that communication lines are open that will one, inform us of when we might be symptomatic, and two, to allow the growth for healing when our disease takes effect on the people that we love regarding their emotions, patience, and other introspective thoughts.
In my own experience I had to deal with the notion of being able to get past the thought process that I was the one suffering and the disdain that I had for someone in my support network who claimed that they were as well. This would even lead me to the point of being angry at someone who insinuated that I was not the only person who hurt. This thinking is a poor way to manage our illness and will only cause more pain and less support from the ones that love us as they in turn in a sense wear down as they feel that their emotions are not included in your own thoughts as well. In essence this is a thoughtless way to think, but one easy to understand for other consumers whose main existence sometimes consist of keeping one's self in balance mentally. However, it is a harmful train of thought that needs at some point in a persons personal journey of recovery to be examined and steps put in place to let our supporters know that we care and understand how they feel as a person who champions us in our struggles as well.
NAMI although best known for the support of families and consumers who have been the victim of this disease has made great strides in bringing relief and understanding to its members. But there is still lacking a fundamental way to break the barriers of the actual problem that exists perpetuated by this disease, where neither the consumer our they loved one is in cue with the other person. Sure, there are groups for families of people effected and there are groups for the consumer themselves, but none exist in an effort to bring about a true all around healing form a disease that effects every facet of a person's life, and leaves much destruction in its path especially in the way of relationships.
In celebrating this Independence Day I began to reflect on things regarding our disease. We as consumers seek freedom from things like forced injections and forced electroshock treatments, as well as forced hospitalizations and other sketchy happenings in the mental health field which bring us a sense of imprisonment without due civil hearings which we are a part of. We seek the right to choose our own health provider even though many of our states individual systems are run in a one system serves all scheme. While all of these are important to our cause we also need to be aware of the freedom that other people have in the right not to have their rights infringed on by someone who is seeking their rights to be preserved. I know that this is a tight rope walking train of thought, but we need to accept that even though we may have an illness and be suffering symptoms, it is not an entitlement to us to force others to accept the actions that we present with when symptomatic. If we start with the basis and use it in the context of us as consumers and how we relate to those who support us, and adapt our issues of being symptomatic and how it effects them, and make sure that we are the ones that change adhering to the fact that we are the ones with the disease and recovery is a responsibility, then we would be able to see it on a larger scale as well. I hope you had a happy Fourth of July and that you brought to remembrance those who have laid down their lives so that we are afforded the rights which we have today. God bless.
J.D.Grace, QMHPP Consumer Advocate
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