Skip to main content

Gratitude

I'm grateful for my sanity- I've learned not to take it for granted. I'm grateful for my health insurance and effectiveness of my medications to keep symptoms at bay. More importantly, I'm grateful for my family and extended family (friends). I'm able to bounce back because I have a solid support system and treatment team.


Modeling Recovery

When my family and I learned about my schizophrenia we didn't know what to expect nor what recovery could look like. Back in 2007, when I was diagnosed, there weren't people- black nor white disclosing their illness on public platforms like YouTube and social media. 

    There was nobody to model recovery for me- being a young black woman. However, I saw the movie with Diana Ross- Out of the Darkness. A movie made for television about a young African-American female living with schizophrenia. In short, she dropped out of medical school and suffered with her diagnosis. Fortunately, she got involved in her recovery and started dating, living independently, and managing life well. I used her character as an example of recovery because of the little similarities. When I stopped attending my university I didn't know what I was dealing with. Over time, I've gained insight on this condition and how to conquer it. 

    Nowadays there are several peers sharing their stories of recovery online. I hope this will bring awareness to our community and help educate each other on the facts that recovery is attainable.


Mastering Resiliency

My life experience continues to teach me over and over again that I have a good life. As a black disabled female and single-parent I have more disadvantages. Yet, my journey has taught me that I can win. I might have a relapse, but I'm able to come back and master resiliency, be humble and grateful.

    After a few years in recovery I've adopted a pattern and way of recuperating. I believe resiliency is a gift, but also a skill. Growing up my mother reminded me to "never let them see you sweat." After my incarcerations, hospitalizations, and setbacks and disappointments, I've learned how to continue walking with my pride and dignity despite the situations. The best advice I can share on developing the skill of resiliency is to keep trying as if you were looking for a job. 


Gratitude

I've been fortunate to have the same psychiatrist for over a decade. I trust my doctor and follow his recommendations. We've tweaked my medication for years especially at controlling the low moods. I remember all too much my bad, dark and dreary days of my depression and how it was hard masking it for my son. I'm grateful to be in this place mentally and emotionally today- in a good space. 

    I'm grateful for my life journey. I'm thankful my faith allows me to be at peace with the loss of my mother. I give thanks to my higher power regularly for who I am and who I'm becoming. Most importantly, I'm still here- with gratitude, love for my family, and desire to motivate and support others on their journeys of recovery, book publishing, and wellness.

    Like you, I 've been through a lot. Therefore, if you're struggling with your mental health believe that brighter days are attainable for you too. I encourage you to be open to considering new and different treatments to fighting back. Aim to develop your coping skills because living with a brain disease is challenging and will be challenging. However, there is room for growth, recovery, wellness and goals. 

Labels

Labels:

Comments

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