Recovery is like a Diamond

I just got back from doing an IOOV presentation for consumers in a day treatment center. I love doing these presentations, because I get as much hope as I give.

If there's one thing I'm about, it's recovery. I cherish it like I would cherish a diamond.

When I do an IOOV presentation, going from "Dark Days" all the way to "Successes, Hopes, and Dreams," I relive the story of my recovery, and that's what I relate to people. It's a story with a happy ending, although at one point it was as far from that as earth is from mars. I was a "throwaway." They wanted to lock me up forever. I could just never get better, going from bipolar episode to bipolar episode, including several (5) suicide attempts and many years of substance abuse.

But I was lucky. My life is a miracle from God, because it's a miracle I survived it!

I like telling my story, because it gives people hope for recovery. It's like giving them that diamond. And if I can help even one person, then it's worth it.

Yes, I do still get nervous before each presentation, but that's to humble me. That way I know I'm not out there for me. I'm out there for that one person who needs to hear what I have to say.

My life was not a pleasant one to experience. But it brought me to where I am today, sharing my success story.

I'm grateful that NAMI IOOV gives me the opportunity to do that.

Bless you all,
Michele

NEED PEOPLE TO INTERVIEW

Hey, y'all --

My boss is expanding his website to include schizophrenia, and he is looking for FOUR people to interview - either a consumer or a family member.

If you are a consumer with schizophrenia, you must be successful in your recovery, and be willing to talk about how you got that way.

Only your first name will be used if you want to remain anonymous.

The interview is over the phone, takes about an hour, you are led through the whole thing, and it pays a stipend of $10.

If you can/want to be interviewed, please contact me at bpsurvivor@gmail.com

Thanks for your help,
Michele

DEFINING YOURSELF BY MORE THAN YOUR MENTAL ILLNESS

About twenty years ago, in 1989, I was diagnosed with OCD, which was accompanied by severe panic attacks. According to my child psychologist, my future looked pretty bleak. A mental hospital was her first suggestion, citing my inability to ever function normally in society. My parents refused to accept this alternative and decided to take on the responsibility of handling a child on new anti-depressants (known as tricyclics) on their own. Needless to say, Dr. Jane Doe’s initial prognosis was, for the most part, inaccurate.

While it is true that I struggled through each day for several years, I was vigilant in my quest to conquer the impossible- even after later being diagnosed with a third, (bi-polar) fourth, (possible bpd) and fifth (dysthymic) disorder.

Now, at 29 years of age, I am a freelance writer, sports columnist, mental health advocate, and I’m working on completing a memoir. Instead of taking the “victim” stance, I’ve used my lifetime full of painful memories as fuel to feed the burning flames.

I’ll be the first to admit, mental illness is a tricky disease, as it often affects the rationality of the mind, but at some point we have to take some of the responsibility for our actions. Sometimes, those of us with mental illnesses find ourselves falling into the trap of the “stigma.” We do this by defining ourselves by our mental illness in a negative way, when we should be looking at how we can use it to our advantage. Enlightenment, I’ve found, is something that is almost innate in those of us with a mental illness because of the speed at which our mind if forced to travel. Enlightenment is certainly something that can be used as an advantage in a world filled with so much apathy.

Perhaps nineteenth century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said it best when he uttered the phrase, “that which does not kill us makes us stronger.” If you decide to live by these words, there isn’t anything you can’t do, albeit with help from the right people.

Choose to live-one day at a time.