Skip to main content

Yesterday's Woman's Group

Yesterday, I participated in a woman's support group at the place where I receive treatment. I have not been to this group in a few months so I saw some familiar faces and some new faces. I was really looking forward to the group, and I am glad I went. We expressed a range of emotions throughout the meeting about each of our feelings and outlook on life.

One question came up about someone's mental illness: is it pride or depression? The individual was isolated, but wanted someone to reach out to them, but just didn't know how to get someone else's attention. I thought that was a very interesting question, me not knowing much about depression learned a lot. The answer to the question, was it is depression and NOT pride.

My therapist said it plainly, depression is 'detached, dejected, guilty, and isolated.' The group came up with suggestions to reach out to others. We came up with several ideas and agreed on one- start small, don't send a mass mailing of thinking of you cards, start small.

Also, during the meeting I spoke to my therapist about my vivid dreams, (which I discussed in my post a few days ago titled "Red Flag") because the clerk never called me back to reschedule my appointment with my doctor, and when I called back the receptionist said the appointment clerk will call me back; just a lot of run-around. Anyway, my therapist said I should definitely mention the vivid dreams to my doctor. However, she also said because I did not have any changes to medication recently, I could just be a vivid dreamer.
Labels:

Comments

O B S E S S I V I S I O N said…
Group settings can be so helpful, especially when dealing with an illness that can force someone into isolation. It must be nice to connect with others and to learn and grow in the process. Keep up the great work!!
January 14, 2010 at 1:45 PM
Manda said…
I love group therapy. When I get out of my groups I feel ten pounds lighter! It's nice to be able to share and help other people. That is very helpful what you said about isolation. Sometimes I isolate too! I have schizophrenia like you, but I also have a mood disorder similar to depression so I can relate when your talking about it being depression. I wonder if your vivid dream has to do with medicine. Sometimes people tell me that medication makes their dreams more vivid. Definatly talk to your doc.
Hugs,
Amanda
January 16, 2010 at 5:58 PM
helenasmole said…
Hi!

I have vivid dreams often. I don't see them as symptoms. I analyze them. I usually have a message. A stronger one than the not-so-vivid ones.

Congratulations for the Top Health Blogger Award. Keep posting!

Helena
January 18, 2010 at 8:48 AM
helenasmole said…
Sorry - a mistake:

THEY usually have a message. The vivid dreams.

Helena
January 18, 2010 at 8:51 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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

The Path that God Chose for Me

I am not upset that I have schizophrenia, this is the life God chose for me. The other day I was telling my mother I am glad I took a break from school, but I wish I had taken it sooner so that I could have recognized my illness sooner. She reminded me that everything happens for a reason, and that had I took a break sooner I would not have been able to know my full potential in college and in life. I went to college and got really involved in it through sports, internships, and mentoring peers. I was involved in so many things, school, church, home, friends, family, you name it! She was right, I am glad I took the path I took. I did not always have schizophrenia, but now that I have it I will work hard to overcome it. I try not to use the word schizophrenic because that identifies the person by their illness and that isn't fair. I am Ashley and I have schizophrenia. I will not let it limit my potential or define who I am. I can and will overcome these symptoms with medication, the...
23 comments
Read more

Schizophrenia is not Caused by BAD Parenting!!

The situation that I am about to discuss with you is very personal and a sensitive topic, however, similar things most likely occur in other people's families as well. After I had my psychotic break, relatives believed my mother was to blame for my illness. They believed I wasn't raised right and my mother's parenting skills were to blame. Although this was a harsh attitude towards my mother, it was another form of denial. Family made accusations, although I was not even raised in the same state as the rest of my family. Once a person has a mental illness the whos, whats, wheres and whys really do not matter. The only thing that should matter is getting that person back on the right track and moving forward toward recovery. During my childhood, I always felt loved by my mother. She would call me her "princess," "little queen," "pumpkin pie," or "ratcoon." I remember her telling me "I love you," and exchanging hugs before bed...
16 comments
Read more