PNW Recovery News

This month will see the fruition of a 2 yr dream of mine. We will be putting out the first edition of the PNW Recovery News. It is a quarterly newsletter for the mentally ill by the mentally ill. The first issue will be out by the end of January. Other issues will be put out in April, July, and October.

This paper will have articles from doctors, counselors, about alternative treatment for mental illness, a humor column, stories of recovery, financial info for living on disability, addiction issues, and many others. We want to hear from those dealing with mental health issues.

There are subscription prices if you want one mailed to your home. There are special rates for consumers, families, and professionals.  Bulk rates are also available for service providers.

This newsletter will be patterned in part after the New York City Voices. You can research them online to see an idea about what we will be like. This newsletter will have a publication range in OR, WA, ID, and MT.

Do you have some ideas for the paper? Contact me to share them. This is a paper for you, the consumer and the families. We want to be a resource for help and encouragement to help each of us on the road to a life of recovery.

For more info, contact me at kindlingdreamsllc@gmail.com.

Happy New Year and achieving your purpose

It has been a while since I have posted. During the past year I have gone through some physical issues that I am still trying to get taken care of. I have thoughts of posting but can not get the energy to do so. I am sure many of you understand this.

It is the New Year now. 2011. During this time of year, many people will make resolutions that are broken by the end of the month. Do you make resolutions? I set goals each year that I want to work on. Then I choose one each month to work on. It takes 21 days to form a habit. That makes good sense to set one goal a month to incorporate into your life.

So what do you want to accomplish this year? Do you want to get stable mentally? Emotionally? Physically? Spiritually? Do you want to do something for someone else this year?

Right now I am reading this new book called “Success on Purpose.” It is an excellent read about aligning your values, visions, and roles to accomplish your life’s mission. What is your mission here on earth? Do you feel that because of mental health issues you do not have a purpose? Not true. If you are still breathing, you have a purpose that God specifically set for you.

How do you go about finding that mission? There are some helpful books out there that can help you. The above mentioned one is wonderful. Read some good books on goals also. Do you have a dream in your secret of hearts that you would like to do? Well, you can still accomplish your purpose even if burdened by mental issues or even physical ones. Takes time to pinpoint what it is, eliminate your obstacles, and achieve your dreams.

Remember, you can do it. One day at a time. Recovery and success are possible.

Hang in there.

 

 

 

Living with life’s stresses

Things have been really stressful around here lately. We are preparing to move to another town about 35 miles away. My partner ended up in the ER where he coded. The next day he had two stents put in. He is doing better now. I have started another quarter of school this past week.

A few months ago, I had an EEG ran because the medical personnel did not know what was going on. My neurologist told me my brain was fatigued. She suspected it to be from my medications so she told me to get off of them.

This is a scary choice for someone with mental health issues. Recently, I have gone on a gluten-free diet for my fibromyalgia. It has helped a lot in some issues. I did not want to go off my meds for fear of what would happen to my mood.

I went off of two of them. No change in behavior over all. For a few days I was weepy, but that smoothed out after a few days. Now I am down to weaning off my last medication. I have been doing all of this under the care of my doctor. We are both pleased with the results.

I am NOT writing that anyone should go off their meds. That is a choice between you and your doctor. In fact, I would suggest you don’t go off of them unless you are willing to work hard on your diet and take supplements. I am also keeping in touch with my former counselor. I have a large support group around me to make sure I do not unknowingly crash.

Life is very stressful at times. The medication has worked well for years to keep me on a even keel during crisis time. Now, I have to make sure I eat right, exercise, and get the needed sleep. I also continue to journal daily. This is one habit that is essential for my peace of mind.

Have any of you gone off your meds with a doctor’s consent? What were your results? How did you make sure you did not crash after going off of them? Share with us.

 

 

Recovery Conference next week

This next Thurs (Mug 12th) in Coeur d’Alene, ID there is a Recovery Conference for those with mental health issues. This year I have sat on the planning committee.  The theme is whole-body wellness. We have speakers from various parts of the community to speak on ways to work on whole balance.

If you live in the area, check it out. The cost is $15. We provide a gluten-free lunch also, plus goodies to take home. Worth the cost.

It is at the Harding Center on 15th and Sherman at 9 am -4 pm. Hope to see you there.

Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a terrible debilitating illness. It can keep a person chained to their home for years if help is not sought. I was reading an email list I am on and someone was talking about her issues with the disorder. I wrote to her about how I overcame my problems with it. I thought I would share some of what I wrote with you here.

Some people spend years never leaving their homes for fear of a panic attack if they walk outside their doors. They become fearful of outdoors and other people. It begins to build in their heads and accerbates the condition. I want to share with you that recovery is possible from this terrible disorder. Below is a summary of my story.

I have agoraphobia also…or did. I am in recovery from it. I go about everywhere now with no fear or panic attacks, even to conferences with thousands at them.

 

I used to be where I could not step outside without a panic attack. I could not pay for gas. My children had to do that.

 

To get over the fear of places and people, I started going places with small groups at first. First it was NAMI, which is for people with mental illness. It helped a lot. Now I am a board member, speaker, and a teacher for my local group.

 

I am in a 12 Step group. That helped a lot also. I was in groups there with no panic. Then later (3 yrs ago) I joined Toastmasters. Now I am President of the group I am in and District PR Officer. I used to have to sit by the door so I could get in and out fast. Now I don’t.

 

A few years ago, I won a scholarship to a writers’ conference. I was scared that I would panic once there. It was my first BIG test. Well, anyways, I got there. I had NO fear. It was a total God thing. I was finally free of my agoraphobia. I spent the weekend networking and meeting all sorts of excellent writers. I had a blast.

 

Since that time, I have had no return of the fear. So I am telling you that recovery from this crippling fear is possible. I did it and so can you. I promise you. It was not easy, but it was worth it. I can remember the tiny steps I took each time I tried something new. I journaled about each stepped and prayed that God would give me the strength to do this without falling apart. He did. I made it.

This is the excerpt from my email. I hope it helps someone out there. I tell you true. One can recover from agoraphobia. All it takes is one small step at a time. One day at a time. Prayer, journaling, counseling, and talking online with friends can help conquer the fears of mental illness. It helped me and it can help you.

Let me know if this has helped. Together we can achieve recovery.

Speaking op

I have spoken about my being in a 12 Step recovery program. This summer there is a 75 yr International Conference in San Antonio, TX. People from all over the year will be coming to the conference. Today I received an email to ask if I would speak on the subject of members with special needs. I am so excited. Of course, I will speak of the mental health issue of people who have addiction issues. It is only for 15 min, but it is a great opportunity for me. It is on July 3 that I speak. Think of me on that day.

PTSD- Vet Center offers services for our vets

At the  NAMI meeting this month we had a speaker from the local Vet Center named Mike Ogle. He spoke on PTSD and its symptoms. It was an excellent presentation, especially in regard to our men in their service to our country. As always I took extensive notes. I wanted to share what I learned. Maybe you can pass it along to a beloved serviceman/servicewoman who have given their all to our country.

Vet Center offers benefits such as:

      VA Home loans

      VA Business loans

       VA Counseling

       Work/study program

       Educational assistance in addition to the GI bill

        Voc Rehab

        Health benefits

        Life insurance policy

So see your Vet Center to check into benefits for yourself or your loved one.

Signs of PTSD:

nightmares, forgetfulness, panic attacks, sleep problems, isolation, lack of motivation, startled reflex, flashbacks, physical reactions such as sweating, etc.

There can be anger, hypervigilence, and substance abuse.

If someone you know is showing signs of PTSD, get help. You do not have to be in a war to have suffered from PTSD. Sexual abuse can bring it on. A natural disaster can also cause it. A type of trauma that is not resolved in your mind can cause PTSD. It is when you keep feeling the trauma over and over.

There is hope out there. Living in a state of stress is not good for the body.

Get in touch with a counselor, or if you are a vet, with the local Vet Center or VA Hospital.

The longer you put it off, the worse it gets. There is nothing wrong with getting help with PTSD or any other brain disorder. It isn’t your fault.

God can repair our trauma through the treatment He provides through counselors and other helpers.  He is there for you. Just reach out to Him and to others. Don’t give up.

Dual Recovery Anonymous

Back in the fall of 2009, I was asked to start a 12 Step group for people who had mental illness and chemical addiction. I think I mentioned this in a previous post.

Right now, our group has grown to two nights. We have had a steady number of people coming, although the numbers are small. The amount of change in these people is wonderful. So many people are hopeless in the search of recovery from both a chemical addiction and mental illness.

If you or a loved one fights with these issues, check out DRA online. They will give you the information you need to find a group in your area or even start a group yourself. It is well worth the effort.

They have books similar to the AA Big Book and the 12 n12. You can find those in a local bookstore or at Amazon easily. They provide the steps you need in order to achieve recovery. The books offer a great deal of encouragement also.

Check it out.

Dual Recovery Meetings

Per request from some people, I started a Dual Recovery mtg in my area. It is a 12 Step program for people with chemical addictions and mental illness. You can look it up online at http://www.draonline.org/ to get information on starting a group in your area. It has really been beneficial for people here. Sometimes an AA mtg or NA mtg is not enough to help a person because of the mental health issues they have.

Check out the above website to find out more.

take care,

God’s encouragement for our challenges

I have mentioned my son a few times during past posting. For the most part, he is glad he is not “normal”. Lately, he has been saying that he is “cursed” to have all the challenges in his life. I have told him over and over that isn’t so.

Today, while I was sitting in class at church, I ran across a verse that hit me would be perfect for my son as a special verse. Then, I was thinking that it could be a special verse for anyone with mental illness or any other type of challenge. So I decided to pass it on. It is from the NKJV. It is below:

II Corith 4:8-10, 16-18:

We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-

always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

while we do not look at the things which are seen, but that the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

So I hope you people out there who are being challenged by life will be able to draw hope  from these verses. Remember that God never gives you more than you can handle. Sometimes we have to put a knot in the end of the rope and wait on the Lord. He is never late, never early; and always on time. His time.

Rough times are ahead for everyone, especially for those with challenges. Depending on God will be the only thing to carry us through. He is never far away even if it sometimes feels like it. We have to hold on to what we know in our head, not necessarily feel in our hearts. Our emotions are tricked so easily. Not so our heads filled with knowledge. Hold on to the promises given to us.

I pray that God will bless His word to enrich each of your hearts.

 Have a good week next week.