Skip to main content

Peer-to-Peer Turnout

The Peer-to-Peer Orientation on Saturday had a great turnout. Fifteen people attended the event and nine people signed up for the course. During the event we had a group discussion on myths and misconceptions of mental illness. Almost everybody participated in the discussion which made me very happy. Also, I was able to share my story.

If you are interested in attending NAMI's Peer-to-Peer course you may participate in the first group meeting on January 30th at 1 pm. There are nine classes, the group is from 1-3pm. Location: at the cafe at 2001 Martin Luther King Drive, Atlanta, GA 30315. For more information contact me, Ashley, at 1-888-839-3191.

For more information on schizophrenia you may go to the following sites:

1) Embracing My Mind, Inc. (EMM)
2) National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
3) Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia (Canada)
Labels:

Comments

Unknown said…
You go girl! One common response I receive from individuals dealing with mental illness is why I have to call it that or why I mention the illness name in my work. I feel that the stigma is a reason for these comments but I would love to hear you write about this topic. Basically, I am trying to make these labels or words mundane just like cancer or diabetes so that the public will not cringe at the sound of these words. There was a time (according to my parents) when a family was not allowed to say cancer out loud. It was shameful. I think we need to TALK OPENLY about mental illness especially since it is SO misunderstood. Thanks!
January 27, 2010 at 10:53 AM
Unknown said…
SORRY, that comment above was from me, Amber-Gaining Insight. I was logged into google through work by mistake.
January 27, 2010 at 10:55 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

by A Guest Blogger: For Addicts, Recovery Means Creating a New Life

If you’re struggling to maintain your sobriety, you aren’t alone. There are millions of fighters just like you working toward reclaiming their lives from drugs and alcohol. There are a few common traits that many successful recovering addicts share. Keep reading to find out what they are and how you can follow in their footsteps. They establish new patterns You can’t continue to live your life the same was you did when you were using. You must change and adapt to your newfound sobriety. Consider a career change; many recovering addicts find they have more success by starting their own business. One career that is easy to enter is dog walking. As a dog walker , you’ll reap many rewards including getting to spend time with dogs, which can actually boost your recovery efforts and stave off depression. Dogs have been used as part of a treatment plan for users as young as 11 and come with the added benefit of helping you stay physically active. Plus, being with ...
2 comments
Read more

What Is Remission?

Remission is the absence of symptoms for at least six months with the support of medication. In other words, a doctor who has never seen you before may not diagnose you as a person with schizophrenia anymore. Remission is also high functioning in several aspects of life, living independently, goinig to school or to work, and socializing with other people. However, this does not mean the patient is cured or the illness has went away, the illness is still present, however, under control. Remission is achieved with the assistance of medication. "Published studies suggest that 10% to 20% of people with schizophrenia have remission of their illness as they get older, 20% get worse, but in a large majority (60% to 70%), the course of illness remains relatively unchanged." To reach remission it is recommended that you aim for a stress-free environment. Therefore, do things to relieve stress such as journaling, exercising, talking to friends, listening to or creating music, making a...
9 comments
Read more

Religious Preoccupation

After a talk, a woman asked me if my faith contributed to my recovery because she noticed that I mentioned it throughout my speech. In addition to that, she told me that she observed people with faith as having a better outcome in their mental health recovery. First, I came from a family with Christian values. My faith in God started to get intense during the latter years of high school, which in my opinion, is when I started having symptoms. In my experience religion plays a major role in my mental health- its delusions, its coping skills, and in my recovery. In medical terms they call my religious rituals and delusions "religious preoccupation." Before I was diagnosed I was highly religious. In fact, I wanted to be an evangelist and to go to a Christian college. I would read my Bible for several hours a day throughout the day, listen to hymns, and meditate. Sometimes I would ignore people if they wanted my attention while I was meditating I was in such deep thought. Also, I...
15 comments
Read more