Compassion & Recovery Today

From Facebook - Depression is a flaw in Chemistry - The Stigmas of Suffering

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 13:18:00 -0600

"I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”

~Rabindranath Tagore

Mental illness is tied intimately to suffering. This is because we live through our minds and our thoughts. It is one of our most important tools. It is our interface to everything that we experience. It is the battlefield of suffering. It is the veritable, "ground-zero", if you will. It is the epicenter of the struggle for those with a mental illness.

This battle begins with your strongest weapon broken. From the beginning there is a problem something is broken. Why it is broken, really does not matter. Sometimes broken is just simply broken. It is not a moral matter. There is something far more basic and fundamentally practical about the situation. It is something that has to be dealt with no matter why.

The flaws that you that you see may not be motivating the odd behaviors and thoughts. It won't help you put into context what you may see and hear from that person. Research suggests there is usually a lot to it. It is a disease of the mind, body and spirit. There are many things that seem to contribute to what is going on.

It seems that chemistry, genes, and social factors are all likely contributors to the list. Truthfully, in many cases I don't think we really know many of the reasons why. Many of the providers of care are pretty removed from the lives of the people who need the care. It is very hard to provide comprehensive care for people out in the community. While we have some institutional care, we need more care where the people are. Out in the actual community, and not held up and controlled in the institutions. We are not reaching people. If we spent more time out in the community with these people and got to know more about them we would learn more about the real reasons why that people are sick. Maybe then we can head some of the problems off at the pass. It would probably be more cost effective too. Institutions are expensive. Although I will acknowledge some that there are some truly, incredibly talented, and motivated people in some of those institutions.

So while you may find it easy to blame a character flaw; it really has not been easy to find out why people have mental illness. For some people, their level of sickness, some seem to have no reasonable explanations at all. I deal with some of those people. Some are just more sick than we can explain. Perhaps the simple explanation is that life is very hard.

We have come into this world, equipped with the hand we were dealt with. It is all that we can bring to bear. It is what we can use to contend with what gets thrown at us. No matter if we are strong in one, many or few areas of life. We must still try to deal with it all. Because of this pressure on everyone seems to be intense. If we are wise, we can try to remain conscience and hopefully sane while doing so. The choices we make about how humbly and bravely we face our life, -- that defines our character. Consider this, we are all frail beings. There are many more powerful animals out there. Yet we have adapted, improvised and overcome most of this planet. There is hope. The same can also be said for mental illness. You can do a lot to adapt, improvise, and overcome. It takes someone of character do anything in this life.

Whether or not someone has a mental illness or cancer, either fight for them or at least get out of their way. The greatest moral and spiritual truth, practice, and social philosophy that I have come to realize is -- don't be a jerk".

I encourage you to this resolve because; you know what your own suffering is like. How much do you really need to know about anyone else's life, to know that it probably sucks for them too? If you know pain sucks for you, then you understand it can for them too right? Don't we all seek hope that things will be okay? This makes us all common. This can and should be the basis for our common pursuit of character.

Finding character can actually happen from having a mental illness. It grants a series of collegiate tests of the spirit and soul. Actually I am finding it to be one of the most important parts of my life's curriculum. It has taught me most of what I consider to be worth knowing. Going out of my mind has been the sanest thing that I have ever done.

I wish you wellness always. Though, if you feel that mental illness is a flawed character, that I take issue with that belief. Mental illness is just that, an illness and not a flaw Find your path. Don't be a jerk. If you can't help an other find their path, then for your own sake, don't get in their way. Hopefully someone won't get in yours. While life is not easy, mental illness is a not character flaw!

A Remarkable Calamity

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Thu, 29 Aug 2013 19:15:00 -0500

I have recently been forced by my physical state of being, to examine my life. It would seem that a lifetime of being intimately acquainted with calamity has damaged my nervous system. There was

Calamity Jess (Photo credit: Jessie Romaneix ©)

my own calamity, the calamity of my Mother, and for years now, the calamity of others.

When I think about why my nervous system might be on the fritz, I have to really examine the effect that stress has had on me. In those terms the cost has been pretty big. It is pretty clear that I have exceeded the manufacturer’s specification for the proper care and maintenance of a nervous system. No wonder it is shot. Life can be hard on us. Infact, life will get us all in the end. Perhaps this is why Plato said that we should be kind because we are all fighting a hard battle.

Cover of Plato

I had to consider whether or not to go back to the very work that wore me down. I had to ask myself if I could continue? There was a still, quiet, but undeniable voice inside that wouldn't let me forget something. Life is not easy, but we can adapt and overcome. We don't have to continue to suffer. I had adapted to having a mental illness and had learned to excel. I decided that I would have to take on this challenge head on too. I am grateful because it helped me to understand my core mission again. I am not sure how I could have lost it, but when we grow weary it can be hard to see such things in the world. For me it is simple, I just want people who are suffering to know that they are not alone and I just want them to know there is hope.

In the face of some new challenges in my life I think I can say that I am not alone. In the face of so much calamity, I have hope. I think my life has been remarkable. It has been more of an adventure than I could have ever imagined. Along the way I have learned to accept, love, forgive, and in that way, it has been a remarkable calamity.

Presidential Mental Illness

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:50:00 -0600

(This is an excerpt of a larger piece submitted to the Journal of Psychology & Psychotherapy for scholarly review and publication it remains intact minus some of the demographic and epidemology factors that are not important to this blog)

Abstract: Recent events in the United States have spurned national debates on mental health and crime. Much of the discussion is comprised of gun controls and vague references to treatment. The discussions do not address specifics about the people who are committing these crimes and what makes for meaningful treatment. The more we can learn from the people out in our communities who have mental illnesses, the more we can reduce the costs to our communities. Most of these crimes are perpetrated by a small portion of the estimated 5% 7 of the adult population with severe mental illnesses.

The discussions rarely focus on what it means to have a mental illness. Mental illness does not preclude a successful and fulfilling life. This article uses the example of mental illness in some of the people that we expect to be the most highly functioning, our Presidents. One specific example is reviewed. This past President was at times suicidal and would have to be considered at times to have a severe mental illness. While he was significantly impacted by depression, he became one of the most respected leaders in history.

Keywords:

Mental Health, Presidents, Crime, Treatment, Social Stigma, National Debate

Introduction:

With the rash of recent school shootings and other major traumatic events that have been perpetuated by those with mental illness, we may be forgetting that mental illness is no respecter of persons. It affects those from all walks of life. It has become easy to react to these people with doubt and mistrust. What would you think if the President announced that he too had a mental illness? Would you call for his immediate resignation? If you knew that a candidate had such an illness, would you vote for him?

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration or SAMHSA; mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. An estimated 26.2% of Americans ages 18 and older — about one in four adults — suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in a given year 1. This demographic is not limited to the poor, under educated, and disaffected. Mental illness can be seen in people from all walks of life. Doctors, judges, artists, neurosurgeons and CEOs all are as likely as anyone else to be impacted at least sometime in their lives.

Body & Discussion

Surely our Presidents are free from this worrisome problem, right? According to an article by Dr. Jonathan Davidson, professor of psychiatry and several of his colleagues at Duke University 2, these mental illnesses have affected Presidents since the formation of our great nation. This study used diagnostic criteria from the DSM-IV and found that 48% of the Presidents from 1776 to 1974 had a diagnosable mental illness. The most prevalent diagnosis was depression. Of the 18 Presidents with mental illness, 24% of them suffered from depression. Surely when we look at these men we would find that those with mental illness are worthy of the least regard. But then, perhaps not.

For a moment, let us consider one particular past President. This man was born into a poor family from the South. He was like many poor rural people of his time, he had limited access to formal education. If we look back into his history we discover that he had only about a year and a half of dedicated instruction. His principal teachers were clergymen and as a result he learned to read by reciting the Bible 3. He would stand for hours reading it aloud and committed much of it to memory. This had a significant impact on the young man. It habituated him to read all of his written works out loud. This method worked so well for him that he may have been one of the most profound of the Presidential speakers and writers. While he was never a well regarded poet there are two poems that are notable. Both of these poems have some literary credibility but their content was an indication of a somewhat morose and insidious suffering that impacted his entire life.

One of his poems, Suicide Soliloquy, was published in the Sangamo Journal on August 25, 1838 4:

Here, where the lonely hooting owl

Sends forth his midnight moans,

Fierce wolves shall o’er my carcase growl,

Or buzzards pick my bones.

No fellow-man shall learn my fate,

Or where my ashes lie;

Unless by beasts drawn round their bait,

Or by the ravens’ cry.

Yes! I’ve resolved the deed to do,

And this the place to do it:

This heart I’ll rush a dagger through,

Though I in hell should rue it!

Hell! What is hell to one like me

Who pleasures never knew;

By friends consigned to misery,

By hope deserted too?

To ease me of this power to think,

That through my bosom raves,

I’ll headlong leap from hell’s high brink,

And wallow in its waves.

Though devils yell, and burning chains

May waken long regret;

Their frightful screams, and piercing pains,

Will help me to forget.

Yes! I’m prepared, through endless night,

To take that fiery berth!

Think not with tales of hell to fright

Me, who am damn’d on earth!

Sweet steel! come forth from your sheath,

And glist’ning, speak your powers;

Rip up the organs of my breath,

And draw my blood in showers!

I strike! It quivers in that heart

Which drives me to this end;

I draw and kiss the bloody dart,

My last—my only friend!

This moment of despair was not an isolated event. He was a tall and lanky man. This suffering President could not be considered to be handsome. He was at times a loner. He recognized and commented to friends that he was probably a less than eligible bachelor. In his life he had few romantic entanglements. After one relationship was severed, at least temporarily, his friends were forced to search his rooms to make sure that there was nothing that could be used to hurt himself 5. If this were the case today he would likely have been detained and checked into a locked down hospital ward.

Yet he was an entirely remarkable man. Although he had a limited education he was a business owner, the holder of a patent, an appellate level attorney and eventually became one of the most admired people in history. Doris Kearns Goodwin 6, a noted presidential historian, gave a TED Talk about learning from past Presidents. The TED Talks are a series of speeches that are available on ted.com. Their motto is, “Ideas worth spreading. This speech is certainly one of these ideas. During her speech she said:

I was so thrilled to find an interview with the great Russian writer, Leo Tolstoy, in a New York newspaper in the early 1900s. And in it, Tolstoy told of a trip that he'd recently made to a very remote area of the Caucasus, where there were only wild barbarians, who had never left this part of Russia. Knowing that Tolstoy was in their midst, they asked him to tell stories of the great men of history. So he said, "I told them about Napoleon and Alexander the Great and Frederick the Great and Julius Caesar, and they loved it. But before I finished, the chief of the barbarians stood up and said, 'But wait, you haven't told us about the greatest ruler of them all. We want to hear about that man who spoke with a voice of thunder, who laughed like the sunrise, who came from that place called America, which is so far from here, that if a young man should travel there, he would be an old man when he arrived. Tell us of that man. Tell us of Abraham Lincoln.'" He was stunned. He told them everything he could about Lincoln. And then in the interview he said, "What made Lincoln so great? Not as great a general as Napoleon, not as great a statesman as Frederick the Great." But his greatness consisted, and historians would roundly agree, in the integrity of his character and the moral fiber of his being.

Yes, the man who was thus afflicted; who freed the slaves, who won the civil war, and who held a worn and weary nation together was Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln’s greatness as a human being and as President came from his practical understanding of one of Plato’s profound utterances. Plato said, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle”.

The Front of the SAMHSA building at 1 Choke Cherry Road in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

We have begun a national dialog on violence and mental illness. We must consider those with mental illness in a broad manner. Not all people with mental illness are dangerous or incompetent. Not all who commit violent acts have a mental illness. For all of those with mental illness there is hope. There is a reasonable potential for wellness and achievement. People who have mental illnesses are not a threat on that basis alone. Further, statistics show that severe mental illness affects approximately 5% 7 of the adult population. Although these people can have significant challenges, most are not dangerous. During this time of national discourse please consider people like Abraham Lincoln. Please also consider the 1 out of 4 people who have some form of mental illness. Try to see in them possibility and not disability. I encourage you to learn more about mental illness. It is not a character deficiency nor a reason to throw out the human behind the disease. After many years of research, SAMHSA tells us that recovery from mental illness is possible.

Part of my work with others occurs when people have been arrested. These crimes span the spectrum of offenses. Mental illness can and does have an impact on why people commit these egregious acts. Most of the time it does not excuse their actions. It should however impact the dispositions of their cases. People with mental illnesses need to get treatment that is appropriate to their needs. Each person has their own path to recovery. For the most part they can go on to lead happy and productive lives and contribute back to their communities. For the small margin that remains we can only hope that the suffering of the community, their families and their own suffering will not spill over into tragedy.

Conclusion

English: Picture of the Abraham Lincoln statue in the Lincoln Memorial. Italiano: La statua di Lincoln al Lincoln Memorial. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I believe that if we can look at people like President Lincoln we can develop a balanced approach to evaluating mental illness. It is easy to be influenced into believing that all people who have a mental illness are not able to be responsible with their lives. This is true whether or not they are gun owners. Fear should not dictate our perspective in the debate about mental illness. In Lincoln we have a clear example that for some, mental illness can lead to inspired lives.

It seems that his suffering helped him to understand that all people suffer. It was in this way that he learned so clearly about the human condition and our inherent value as a human beings. It is how he seemed to understand the principles of freedom within the words of the founding fathers: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. When we begin to see all people from within this perspective, we will have the greatest impact on reducing both the tragedies and horrors of mental illness in our communities.

References

1.) The Substance Abuse & Mental Health Administration web site, http://www.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH.aspx

2.) Haley Hoffman, The Chronicle (Duke), 23/02/2006

3.) A. Lincoln A Biography, Ronald C. White Jr., Random House, First chapter - Undistinguished Families

4.) Neal Conan and Joshua Wolf Shenk, author of The Melancholy of Lincoln. National Public Radio Broadcast, Talk of The Nation air date 04/09/2004. From the book, The Melancholy of Lincoln

5.) A. Lincoln A Biography, Ronald C. White Jr., Random House, page 112

6.) Doris Kearns Goodwin, ted.com. Posted October 2008

7.) A discussion of the methodology used to generate SMI and any mental illness estimates can be found in Appendix B. For information on mental illness see chapter 2 in Office of Applied Studies. (2010). Results from the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental health findings (HHS Publication No. SMA 10-4609, NSDUH Series H-39). Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration. Retrieved from http://store.samhsa.gov/product/Mental-Health-Findings-Results-from-the-2009-National-Survey-on-Drug-Use-and-Health-NSDUH-/SMA10-4609

If You Label Me, You Negate Me – A Dialogue On The Labels That Are Used About Mental Illnesses

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 11:25:00 -0500

Introduction

I consider myself to be very fortunate. I get to have dialogues with people on a wide range of topics. one of the topics that I am most passionate about his recovery from mental illness. To that effect, I participate in many discussion groups on the Internet. LinkedIn is one such resource for me. From time to time, I post my responses to others on my blog as articles.

The post that I responded to, unedited

"I haven't seen that particular documentary, Bill, but will check it out. Treatment models in other countries were noted throughout this thread. Some good DVDs to check out are "Healing Homes: An Alternative Swedish Model for Healing Psychosis", "Open Dialogue: An Alternative Finnish Approach to Healing Psychosis", "Crazy for Life" and "Take These Broken Wings". Working to Recovery offers 2 excellent DVDs, "How to Start and Run a Hearing Voices Group" and "Talking with Voices: An Introduction to Voice Dialogue". We hope to bring Ron Coleman and his wife, Wales, UK, who are now researchers in the field, to Wisconsin this coming spring to help teach voice dialoguing to people with lived experience and their clinicians about this effective model of healing for people with psychotic disorders.

Bi-Polar Bear (Photo credit: oxygeon)

I have found that the language we use also lends itself to supporting or dispelling the social stigma around mental illness/substance use disorders. If I may gently point out, you state "I am Bi-Polar". May I suggest that you are NOT your illness. You have Bi-Polar. As a NAMI Connections state trainer, we teach our facilitators that people are not their disorders and we no longer go around and identify each other by our disorders when opening Connection support group meetings. We are so much more than our disorders. I am joyous that you have found a recovery path that works for you. Each individual can do so and we need to foster and support that hope."

My response verbatim - Name Redacted

As always you are a great resource. I find it very interesting to hear the perspectives from other countries. I'll have to check these out.

I don't doubt the labels can and do reinforce social beliefs, including stigma. To reinforce this point, the Dutch theologian Kierkegaard says, "if you label me you negate me". I look at diagnoses is terms that are useful to describe a general predicament. Each pilgrim has there own path up the mountain. Everyone with the mental illness has to find their path to recovery. In my case, I'm grateful for my predicament. I have never encountered anything more instructive. It has led me to a greater understanding of compassion and hope. It has been beneficial in helping to support others. It's that lived experience that we talk about in peer support.

Words themselves have great limitations. For instance, the word moon, is not actually the moon. It is more like a finger pointing at the moon. As far as not being my illness, I suppose that means that I'm not a "graduate" of a masters program (2 of them actually), am not a father, or any other term that we might classify ourselves with. Again, these are merely labels.

The real substance of these labels does not encapsulate me or anyone else. It's interesting though when we

Veronica538 at work as truckdriver (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

ask people in our society what they do for a living they tend to make statements about their jobs as who they are. For instance, A person could drive a truck. How many hours a day are you a truck driver? Are you always a truck driver? At night when you lay in bed are you a sleeper as compared to a truck driver?

I am not disputing what you have to say in any way. As a matter fact I am a great believer that people should understand these terms as a general description of a circumstance. We still call people with cancer, cancer patients. But it is far from inclusive of their whole being.

I would encourage you to look at the body of my work on my blog. I try to be pretty clear in my writing and work with others that they are more than a diagnosis. These issues are more like facets on a diamond, part of the whole. I hope to continue to be able to grow in my ability to not use labels as time goes on.

When I sit next to the bed of someone who has tried to kill themselves I don't look at them as a diagnosis but instead as a human being. I don't try to tell them that I know better about their lives than they do. Most of the people that they've encountered in the mental health system have already tried that. Instead, I feel the most humane thing that can be done in these circumstances is to merely hold their hand and cry with them. In this context, I am a "friend".

So frankly, I am truly grateful for my predicament and could care less if you call me bipolar, Bill or any other label. I do realize though that for some people these terms are a great burden. So again, I would encourage you to read my work. It would be wonderful to get your feedback in areas that I can grow in. I think however that I support what you say entirely. It's just a shame that we do not have more elegant expressions.

I spend most of my life working with various professionals, doctors, lawyers, judges, and my peers (all labels by the way) to teach them to see beyond these terms. To everyone of them I suggest that a person is more than one aspect of their being. I encouraged them all to see people as people no matter the diagnosis.

I was a founding member of the Painting Pathways Clubhouse. I love the term that we use, "colleagues". But again it still a label. It just happens to be a more palatable label than mentally ill. At the clubhouse I have seen many miracles. For a group of people who were supposedly dysfunctional, I have seen us come together as a community and do things that supposedly other "normal people" can't do. Thank you for your continued work. I appreciate you.

With A Little Help From Your Friends - Peer Supported Respite

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 12:33:00 -0500

Institute of Mental Health 6, Nov 06 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Introduction

"What is clear from the results is that these patients could do as well or better in a less restrictive environment," said Tom Greenfield

There is an increasing mental health crisis around the entire world. With worldwide financial resources quickly eroding many countries are running out of the ability to care for those with a mental illness. Due to this, we need to re-evaluate our practices and systems of treatment. Hospitalization, medications, and cognitive therapy may not be enough to promote psychological growth.

Logo of the National Institute of Mental Health. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

From research done by the State Of Massachusetts, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that there is hope for increasing mental health and reduce many of the higher costs of services and treatment. Further there are articles in the American Journal of Community Psychology that cover this research extensively.

The goal is to provide a more prophylactic treatment protocol through the use of services such as peer supported respite centers. Peer supported respite centers are residential, pre-crisis and crisis facilities that are staffed by certified professional peer support specialists. According to one study from Massachusetts peer supported respite is not only cost effective but is more likely to lead to psychological growth.

Institute of Mental Health 4, Nov 06 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A different and less threatening environment

Respite care is different from traditional inpatient hospitalization. Most respite centers are not locked down wards. The average stay at a peer supported respite center may be longer in duration than hospitalization. This is largely possible due to lower total cost of care that consumers receive.

The longer duration of inpatient care offers opportunities to build skills in self-advocacy, establishing good support networks, and how to deal with crisis in a safe and effective manner. These centers also allow for more time to adjust to changes in medication. This significantly helps with the side effects and allows for emotional support until therapeutic benefits are realized.

Experienced staffing

These facilities are generally staffed by professionals who have been diagnosed with mental illnesses. These people have very practical experience dealing with mental illness and recovery. They have what is referred to as, “lived experience” and have reached a meaningful level of recovery themselves. This enables them to provide very individualized care and treatment plans. Often these practitioners work closely with human service organizations and other peer supported services in the community. These relationships help to establish long term stability and to overcome problems like housing which can be a significant problem.

Respite care and the criminal justice system
Peer supported care is being looked at more often as a resource for alternative sentencing agreements for those who are involved in the criminal court process. The desired outcomes of this would be to reduce re-entry into the system, increase compliance, and reduce the cost of administering these cases. According to the federal government 61% of inmates have a significant mental illness. Often these people are not receiving adequate care even within traditional systems of mental health. It would seem that financial resources are a major contributing factor. One department of corrections director told me that to get any real change in caring for those with mental illness is to sue them. They have repeatedly asked for money to deal with the increased populations that they are mandated to treat. This problem is extended when inmates are released under community supervision.

If you consider the benefits and outcomes from peer supported respite, it is easy to come to the conclusion that a community based respite center can bring both financial and emotional relief. I encourage the leaders of our communities, counties, and states to take a serious look at this option. If we build stronger Americans, we build a stronger America. Respite centers may offer a significant resource in accomplishing that goal.

Chiropractic & Mental Illness

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 09:31:00 -0500

@chiropractic I Voted (Photo credit: planetc1)

Introduction

Chiropractic care has a broad influence on the nervous system. Although most practitioners focus on physical disorders, it is clear that good nervous system health effects emotional and psychological health. According to B.J. Palmer, the son of the man credited with the discovery of chiropractic care, dislocated cervical vertebrae has a real impact on mental health. According to my Chiropractor Ron Ziolkowoski, D.C. of the Ziolkowski Chiropractic Clinic, only 10% of the capacity of our nervous system is taken up by pain messages. The rest of the bandwidth is dedicated to healing and maintaining the body. When organs can work at their best potential which has a natural effect on the mind.

Several impatient patient programs have implemented Chiropractic adjustments for mental health care. In some of these programs Chiropractic was the primary clinical service. In 1922, The Chiropractic Psychopathic Sanitarium was one of the first in the field. Later the name of the facility was changed to Forest Park Sanitarium.

Early results were promising

English: A diagram of the Human Nervous system. Français : Schéma du système nerveux humain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Early on it became quiet clear that mental health patients got better with out successive re-entry to hospitals for psychiatric care. North Dakota Judge A. W. Ponath showed that at the North Dakota state mental hospital, the positive outcomes ranged from 18‑27%, compared to 65% at Forest Park.

In 1951, Clear View Sanitarium was purchased by the Palmer School of Chiropractic. Each day the patient was examined using a device called a “neurocalometer” (NCM). From there the chiropractic doctors looked at the results and any nerve impingement was adjusted. In addition to this there was an enhanced focus on proper patient nutrition. They often served vegetables from the garden that was grown on-site.

Impact of insurance companies on research

Both of these early organizations closed by 1961. The insurance companies of the time did not recognize Chiropractic as an evidence based treatment for mental illness. Without on-going funding was not possible to continue these institutions . In 1973, Dr. Schwartz published a report on 350 patients afflicted with mental illness. It indicates that people with mental illness got better in a measurable way . He wrote a book, "Mental Health and Chiropractic: A Multidisciplinary Approach." Since this time there has been Interest in this approach to helping in the physical and mental health of all patients.

If you have a mental illness it may be good practice to see your local chiropractor. Mental Illness is a disease that you can have meaningful recovery from. For all of us there is a unique path to healing. I encourage you to look at chiropractic as one tool in your arsenal.

Mental Health "Injustice System" - Failures Criminal Rights & Just Dispositions

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 17:59:00 -0500

Introduction

If we are to temper justice with mercy, we have to consider the individual and societal needs of forgiveness in order to soften (temper) our need for justice. This helps us assure that the punishment, if warranted, fits the crime. Today, we have systems where those with mental illnesses are charged for crimes or wrongdoings and are met with such incredibly harsh and seemingly disproportionate punishments. We do immense harm to a person's spirit and ability to overcome, repent, develop and grow from mistakes and recover. Further, we do specific harm to the basic civil and human rights of all. - paraphrased, author unknown.

As a part of the advocacy work that I do, the mentoring, and peer support, I run into a lot of people who have criminal issues. So far my experience in dealing with the criminal court systems have brought up both challenges and opportunities. One thing I can say with certainty is that it has at times been a huge disappointment.

I live in a County where there are five full-time attorneys in the District Attorney’s Office. Between them they deal with 2,500 cases a year. They’re good people who work hard for our community. Unfortunately this is one of the areas where I found some disappointment. In a meeting with the district attorney, he laid out all the things that he would not consider as being partially or wholly mitigating circumstances. The case I was involved with was abstracted and given to him so we could discuss some of the very real problems with cases like this. I’m not sure he actually read it. He is after all a very busy guy. So we never really got to the heart of the conversation.

Are we seeing these cases clearly and early?

One of the first factors that I saw in this case is that early identification and careful evaluation of the arresting officers reports should have raised a flag that this was not a criminal matter. Apparently the attorney presenting the charges to the court did not read the full statement of the arresting officer. I think in any reasonable level the probable cause that a crime had been committed was seriously in question. In fact, it may have been more appropriate to refer the matter to the adult protective service agency and/or medical professionals.

The second factor that I saw in this case is based on my experience in dealing with people who have mental illnesses. I have practical day-to-day experience with people on all levels of the spectrum and have seen major improvement in the quality of their lives and their ability to reach meaningful recovery. Facilitating this recovery is a large part of what I do. I know many the mechanics from practical experience. I feel qualified enough to say; that based on this lady’s diagnoses and my observations of her leads me to believe that her low day-to-day functioning puts her at risk. I did however feel that with the support of halfway house services, medical stabilization, helping her to build healthy support networks, she would be very likely able to stop having interactions with law enforcement. Actually, with this individual, I know I had a significant impact on the outcome of the case. I appeared in the case as a friend to the court to facilitate communications between the court and the defendant because of her significant mental illness. The significant portion of this mental illness was demonstrated by her largely disorganized thinking and varying functionality from day-to-day.
It was pretty clear to me

It didn’t take a lot of investigation to figure this out. In the arresting officer’s report, he noted some issues that clearly illustrate that mental illness may have been a mitigating factor in the crime. The arresting officer says several things specifically; that she was unable to and not unwilling to follow simple commands, that she was incoherent, and that there were large amounts of psychotropic medications visible to him. He does not mention specifically but I assume all of the medications were properly labeled and prescribed to her.

The judge asked me about my general opinion about the case. I pointed out to him that on the face of the arresting officer’s report that it was a lot more likely to be a psychological crisis than it was a crime. Apparently he agreed with me. Once back in session, the judge asked both attorneys to appear in chambers. I know basically what was said in that meeting. The judge simply asked why we were not thinking of a civil solution in this case. It would seem that both the defense counsel and the prosecuting attorney agreed immediately. The terms for a deferred prosecution agreement were discussed and settled upon.

How can someone consent to an agreement with the court if they clearly do not understand it?

English: Justice and Law Suomi: Oikeutta ja lakia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the presence of the defense counsel I participated in the discussion about the deferred prosecution agreement and what it meant to her. I started to grow concerned after about 45 minutes of conversation with her. In that time she was never once able to clearly articulate and/or paraphrase what a deferred prosecution meant to her and what would be expected of her. I am not sure she understood that the prosecution of the crime would only happen if she did not follow along with the civil requirements. As a recall, she was still asking about how much jail time she was going to receive. It didn’t seem to sink in that jail time was not an issue. I think it was at this moment that her civil liberties started to erode. If she could not understand what the agreement meant she could have never consented to it. I did mention this to several parties. I also advised various parties that to reduce the likelihood of seeing her before the court again she would need more comprehensive services than were being discussed.

This is where my conversation with the judge may have had in negative impact. Since it was so easy to put a deal on the table, she was not evaluated for competency. For various reasons she was ordered to comply with state law that did not suit her needs. Because the civil solution came up so fast, any real understanding of her competency was not investigated. Due to this, I felt that the civil solution on the table was a failed solution. She perhaps did not get the care she needed to avoid re-entry into the system. Approximately one year after the first case I got a phone call from her. She had been arrested again and the circumstances were almost the same as the previous case.

If you want changes in our department sue us

There are people who complain about costs in our system. In talking with agencies like the Department of Corrections they realize this is a problem also. They are the ones having to deal with inmates with mental illness in high numbers. I had a director of one such department that flat out told me the only way to affect changes in our organization is to sue us. This is because they lacked funds and resources for treatment.

There are evidence-based solutions that are highly effective. The use of peer support can contribute as part of the answer. Peer support specialists are much more cost-effective and have better percentages of reimbursement rates for their services. Along with this more intermediary respite care facilities are required. Current admission standards for mental illness generally requires that a person say that they have a plan and intention to kill themselves. I think more investigation and research by the criminal justice system needs to be done in this area as viable methods to reduce re-entry are available and these programs are financially prudent.

Training is an important issue also. The need for more training for officers in crisis intervention may help to resolve issues without arrest. It might help identify mental health crisis as compared to criminal intent. I believe that lawyers need better education about evaluating competency. Traditionally, not guilty by reason of mental defect or insanity is almost impossible to make a case for. Competency to assist in defence should be clear if the person can’t understand what they are agreeing to. Lawyers could have a better understanding of what a successful disposition looks like given the balance between justice and civil liberties. Hopefully this will broaden the defenses that are available.

Change is needed and can be done

An American judge talking to a lawyer. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It would seem that the civil and criminal liberties that we all enjoy as citizens are desaturated for those with significant mental illnesses. Insight on this factor comes not only from this case, it also comes to us right from the jails and prisons themselves. The Bureau of Justice statistics reports that says 61% of state prisoners have a mental illness, jails have a rate of 41% of inmates with mental illness. In general our population has about 5% of people who have diagnosable severe mental illnesses in any given year. As an example, our County has around 80,000 people. This suggests that 4000 people in our community have major psychological problems. Considering the high numbers of people with mental illness in the justice system, how many of these cases are being misidentified? How many cases are we missing? Also, what can we do with these people anyway? For many states and counties the resources are very restricted. There are cost-effective and effective recovery methods and resources that can be developed and tend to reduce re-entry into the system. With some willingness, people with mental illnesses can receive the benefit of justice tempered by mercy.

Alas Poor Vince I Knew Him Well - Suicide of A Kind Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:39:00 -0500

Suffering (Photo credit: Mockney Rebel)

Last week, one of the people that I have been privileged to work with found that life was too difficult to bear. It would seem that he had no self-preservation instinct left at all. I know this place all to well. I have been there too. The difference between Vince and myself is that I got caught.

This man may have been one of the most kind and gentle souls that I have ever known. He lived in absolute terror for many years. He had the overwhelming feeling and belief that people were watching him and out to get him. Unfortunately many of the people who were supposed to be looking out for him fell short of their responsibility. I say this because I have heard comments from other practitioners who did not accept that he had strong paranoid beliefs. I’m not writing this to condemn them. I am however suggesting that it is very easy for us to discredit the feelings and symptoms of those people that we work with. I think that this is somewhat understandable with the enormous caseloads and limited resources that many of us have to help others.

It’s very likely that in this case his kind and gentle demeanor worked against him. It simply amazed me that anybody who was so kind and gracious could believe that people were out to get him. We talked often. I never doubted that he was scared. I never doubted that he was troubled. We walked side-by-side, hand-in-hand, together for a while.. On a daily basis I saw how much fear this man went through. It may sound odd, but I don’t mourn his death. Death comes to us all. What I do mourn is his suffering. Perhaps this is because suffering is something that almost everybody can identify with.

The Buddha suggests that all of life can offer the substance of suffering. Life involves suffering. Death involves suffering. Sickness involves suffering. Getting what you want involves suffering. Getting what you don’t want involves suffering, the more we struggle to hold on to everything, the more we suffer. Life is a process of constant change and continued losses.

We do not ultimately become happy because of that car, that girl, that job, or any other external factor. When we cannot see anything but incomprehensible fear, none of these things can have a lasting positive impact. All of these things will feel like a loss in time. This is particularly true in the case of people who have mental illnesses. Unless you have lived in this space you may not truly be able to understand. I don’t believe anyone wishes to have a life comprised of a repressive mind. Perhaps this is why I am not trying to impeach the practitioners that he worked with. It can be very difficult to identify with the details and the symptoms unless we can make a comparison to our own suffering. How can we clearly look at someone who has a mental illness? What factors occlude our views of others?

I think there’s a trap that we set for ourselves when we work with others. Do we see those that we work with as people? Can we recognize their humanity, or do we see them as a collection of symptoms? Do we see them as a diagnosis? Without the recognition of their humanity you cannot make a lasting impact on somebody’s life. Unfortunately, the way that these cases are delivered to us are via a diagnosis and symptoms. These diagnoses indicate certain protocols. It would seem that there is a one-sized, fits all, application of treatment. This does not work well in an environment where each individual has their own set of challenges.

Each of us, has our own path up the mountain. Due to this, I would like to challenge those who work with those who suffer to see each person in a holistic light. Strive to not see them as just a diagnosis. Strive to see the diagnosis as a description, a general description, of a predicament. When we look at our treatment protocols, we have to consider the whole person in order to help them. We have to look beyond the newest fads in treatments. Instead we should look at working with people as other craftsmen look at their trade. A master craftsman looks at his projects to find their hidden potential and selects his tools carefully to affect that outcome. I would like to urge all of us to look at people in this way. Hopefully, we will become ever more experienced at creatively meeting the needs of others.

For me Vince will have a lasting legacy. He is such an excellent example of a compassionate soul that he has taught me a lot. These lessons have been incorporated into my set of tools. With each individual that I meet, I seek that hidden potential. Perhaps the example that he set with his gentle and kind manner can lead me to better understand those around me. I am certain that it will help me to continue to look at people with compassion and hope. I am confident that through his example I can increase my ability to be a servant to those around me.

Vince, I want to thank you for all that you’ve taught me and the confidence that you put in me. To gladden the mind we need to consider things a virtue. Without a doubt, my time with you, and my experiences of you, are full of virtue. With your passing, I will celebrate your life in the best way that I can. You will be with me always.

Mind Over Matter - Can We Heal Ourselves With Our Thoughts?

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 18:28:00 -0500

brains! (Photo credit: cloois)

I once asked a medical doctor, a specialist in his trade, if he believed in a mind body connection. He simply said no. I then asked him a question. If there is no mind body connection how do you wiggle your toes? I am sure he understood what I was asking. Do you believe that person can influence their health based on their state of mind. His training and experience were built upon protocols that examined and managed disease through biochemistry once a condition existed. For him there was no proactive approach. To him the only cause of disease that he could consider was on that basis.

More and more research is being conducted on how much our point of view; our minds in its conscience and less than conscience minds affect not only our bodies but our whole universe. Physicists and cosmologists have felt for some time that merely perceiving things brings them into their manifested form. Scientists in their search for understanding how our universe exists in the state that it does have found that the very universe changes based on our perspective. Theories like Einstein's theory of relativity and Schrodinger's and his infamous cat.

Setting the physics aside for a bit, let's consider how different states of emotion can be connected to biophysical outcomes. One good example of this is the fight or flight response. At the moment that the mind detects a crisis situation developing, changes that are subtle and not so subtle begin to happen in the brain. These changes are distributed to both the electrical activity and the neurotransmitters that our brain uses to control the rest of the body. There is an intense increase in the rate that our synapses fire. Both our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems work to increase breathing and heart rate. Our adrenal gland produces both adrenaline and cortisol. Both of these chemicals introduce changes in the body. It also can produce significant damage after prolonged or frequent production in the system. It can affect the condition of the heart, lungs, and as research continues it appears that it affects the immune system. There are some studies that suggest that within seconds of stressful stimulation changes happen in the way our immune system works. This change includes changes in the very cells and structures that our bodies produce. It can affect the ability of the body to heal itself and in other cases can directly start attacking parts of the system.

These changes are also echoed in the digestive system. Some people consider the stomach to be the second brain. This is because of the high concentration of nerves that are located in the area. Sugars (glucose) increase in the blood.

As the body is pushed to the limits, feedback through the erosion of function and messages returning from these systems causes further changes in the brain until it actually alters its own structure physically, electrically, and chemically. If this cycle continues in both intensity and frequency further and further changes (not particularly beneficial) occur the whole system becomes damaged. With enough stress our DNA can begin to change via entheogenic responses.

The basis for these changes in a causal way is controlled by the perception of events as they develop and how we (in our minds) interpret these events. If we see danger we react to that danger, if we experience things that we believe are beneficial our bodies and brains react to that too.

Another good example might lie in diseases such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Recent research has indicated that these might ultimately be caused by the hypothalamus becoming exhausted and then sort of going off line. It is similar to when a computer has reached a critical condition and shuts down. It is like the infamous, "blue screen", that so many computer users have experienced.

There seems to be a clear connection between how we see things and how body reacts. We have the ability to do some fantastic things. Our bodies are much more accomplished at producing the chemicals and enzymes that keep us well. In a healthy state our bodies are the best pharmacy. This indicates a strong causal relationship for the belief that our state of mind does change our body. It is mind body medicine in a nutshell. Our minds not only give us the ability to move our toes on command but it can change the automatic responses that our body takes to deal with differently perceived environments.

The Use of Herbs and Supplements in Mental Illness

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:11:00 -0500

Pictures of herb samples from categories of Chinese Herbs Tonifying Herbs: Herbs that Tonify the Yin (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The use of herbs for the treatment of mental illness is not new. Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM has had preventive and acute care formulas. Other cultures have similar offerings for treating the mentally ill. Mental illness manifests it disease in the mind, body, and spirit. It is good to look at all of the ways that we can foster our mental health. There are many things that we can do to impact our lives in a holistic manner. All three aspects of ourselves require unique tools for health. Herbs are useful to treat the body and mind over the long term. Many of the best herbal treatments work to prevent the cause of disease. In their whole form most herbs are naturally balanced and have less undesirable side effects.

As with all medicines it is best to check with your doctor to be sure that there are no bad drug reactions. There are clearly times when certain herbs should not be used. For example, 5-Hydroxytryptophan also known as 5-HTP or oxitriptan, is not indicated when a person is taking carbidopa (for the treatment of Parkinson's disease). This supplement is usually derived from the Griffonia_simplicifolia plant. People with depression and binge eating patterns may find some relief from using this. In each case we have to balance the benefit with the risks

If you are considering adding herbs to your treatment regiment it is wise to seek a certified herbalist or perhaps an osteopathic doctor. There several excellent herbal systems for treating mental illness. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda from India offer time tested help. The people of Tibethave a wide variety of Tibetan herbs for restoring and preserving health including mental health.

Many of us have now heard about herbs for mental health like St. John's Wort. This herb has been shown in a statistically significant way to impact depression. There are lesser known supplements. Niacin (vitamin B3) may have a fundamental function as a nutrient. Research shows that people with schizophrenia are deficient in niacin. It helps to balance out various neurotransmitters. Another effective tool for relieving the effects of depression and support mood is rhodiola rosea. This herb is thought to effect depression by optimizing serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain. If you are bipolar or have panic or obsessive disorders you may find help in the form of inositol. People who are interested increasing there intake of this can eat more red beans and cantaloupe. There are also commercial preparations that are available. No matter what your mental health issue herbs and supplements are good additions to your health care regimen for body and mind.

Western Vs Alternative & Complimentary Medicine - How to Decide?

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 10:47:00 -0500

The original advisory opinion was requested by the World Health Organization in 1993. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What is wellness?

According to the World Health Organization wellness, "is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." This is not a measurement you are likely to nail down in one neat package. So figuring out what systems of medicine to use is a hard choice if you only consider one way of looking at it.

Each System Produces Data

In 2005 there was an article about the correlation between Chiropractic care and the levels of serum thiol. Serum thiol is a tool that is used to measure your body's ability to heal its own DNA. Although this test is not completely inclusive it does give a good estimate of the overall potential for wellness. It does not actually indicate wellness. The research compared the clinical result of the thiol with ratings of wellness as a result of chiropractic care. In general the relationship between high levels of thiol in the serum correlated to high levels of wellness as it was perceived by the patients. What is it that the data really tells us?

While this paper does show a strong connection between these tests it is only anecdotal. This can only show an anecdotal relationship because the data does not really have a one-to-one relationship. The data is not the same type of measurement and therefore cannot speak directly to the relationship between the two. It does show statistically how often levels occur high on both tests. If these levels are both high at the same time we know that they are likely to indicate wellness. This is a lot like testing soil. When the chemistry is right, there is an environment that is conducive to getting healthy plants. It does not guaranty healthy plants however.

A Difference In Perspective

It is hard to find a common perspective for tests measuring clinical levels of a substance to a subjective rating of wellness. It starts to become clear that finding wellness for ourselves is a life-long process of learning. We have to consider our condition and what various systems of medicine provide us to individually address our wellness. We must look at a number of factors which may include trial and error to figure it out. We can compare systems of medicine based on the outcomes in overall wellness. There are challenges to understanding what tools may be best for us.

What makes comparing systems of medicine so hard is often how the systems see things. Some systems of medicine were developed to manage the disease and infirmity in us. In many ways these systems are effective at stabilizing and managing these diseases. Westernized Medicine has been busy over the years developing tools to detect disease. It is not surprising to learn that tests used to detect disease are not particularly effective at testing wellness. The definition of wellness contains not only the lack of disease, but a more completely harmonious state of being. These systems are helpful to alleviate disease in many cases. That certainly contributes to wellness. At lease most of the time.

When A Medicine System Is Not Helpful

There are definite times when these medicines decrease wellness. It would not be helpful to take a medicine that introduced an overall drop in wellness. Sometimes this drop may be due to undesirable side-effects. At other times wellness would not be present without the medicines. We have to understand how to evaluate things based on our needs. There is more than even how our bodies feel to consider.

Social scientists have also looked to apply metrics to wellness with much the same result. In the desire to cure mental disease traditional medical treatment indicated medication to both stabilize and manage the disease. Again this does not measure wellness. It measures how often a person has undesirable mental conditions and what medications are likely to change that state of being. It only addresses chemistry based on diagnosis of disease. Since it only considers one part of a person's illness it can be considered myopic in its approach. It is in many cases an important factor in care but not a complete solution.

A Balanced Approach

The study of peer supported care systems has shown that they support wellness and recovery from mental illness. This data showed that wellness was not limited to any specific facet of their lives. It seems to be better at managing manifestation of disease than medication or therapy alone. Again, for some people medication is an important part of care. So it would be a poor choice to use one and not consider the other.

What systems will you choose?

Comparing Westernized Medicine and Alternative and Complimentary Medicine can be a daunting task. The data that is produced from the process of studying them is different. To understand the dynamics of these choices we may consider things like the serum thiol. We can now collect a list of things that work most of the time. This can give us a great place to start. We must begin use other tools to narrow in on the solution that is right for us. Look for the markers that indicate your wellness and combine those in to what systems of medicine you choose. This will promote your health and well-being. It is at this point that you can decide, Western vs Alternative Medicine.

The Role of Peer Support In Mental Illness Recovery

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 09:43:00 -0500

Rethink Mental Illness (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is safe to say the dominant concerns of mental health institutions are to stabilize and manage the effects of mental illness. Less attention is brought to bear on actual recovery. There is a growing body of evidence that supports Peer Support Specialists as an effective tool for helping people find recovery. There is enough evidence that Medicare and most Medicaid programs accept billing from certified Peer Support Specialists. There are a growing number of private insurance companies that are accepting billings too. The ones who aren't accepting billings seem to be studying the dynamics of it. It seems foreign to many of us to think of mental health as something that you have a chance of recovery from.

Carl Rogers was a professor and researcher in psychology. He was distinguished enough in his achievements in mental health that the American Psychological Association gave him an award. His research showed that if you build the person behind the disease you heal the whole person. He noted that for this to work you had to have a very open view of someone. Many therapists could not practice at that level so it is not used much. It seems that people who have recovered from a mental illness can adopt this mindset easily. These people can see the person behind the disease. It offers hope when someone truly understands the challenges you face. The Buddhists suggest that we heal with our presence. Where we offer peace, here is peace. Where we offer healing, there healing is also. We do effect the people around us. Peer Support Specialists impact their consumers in a meaningful way.

So what is a Peer Support Specialist? A Peer Support Specialist is a person who has made significant progress in their own recovery. They are people who are generally interested in the wellness of others. These people are dedicated and seek certification by their state to bill and practice as a Peer Support Specialist. Peer Support Specialists have practical experience in building support for lives challenged by mental illness. They have done it themselves and often know the best local resources. They will know where to help you look for help and know how to speak the language of those sources. Many of them have worked with the agencies for their own needs and have built many good contacts.

Peer Support Specialists work at all levels in the system for example, the CMHS National GAINS Center for Systemic Change for Justice-Involved Persons with Mental Illness is highly supportive of what they call Forensic Peer Support. This is peer support for those with mental illness involved in the criminal justice systems. Some Peer Support Specialists work directly for insurance companies. Some county mental health systems are also using Peer Support Specialists to help in times of shrinking resources and it seems to be working. These individuals, working as a part of a team of practitioners are making a big contribution in the lives of others.

If you are looking to become a certified Peer Support Specialist the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is a good place to start. They have excellent information listed on their web site. They are also a good resource for information if you are looking to contact peer support too.

If you are recovering and not yet sure that you wish to become a Peer Support Specialist that is okay. When you are ready it is rewarding experience to invest yourself in someone's recovery. To those Peer Support Specialists, agencies, and people effected by mental illness, keep up the good work. It is never to late to begin recovery.

Alternative Medicine In America

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:32:00 -0500

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Americans Use Less Alternative Medicine Than Other Countries

World-wide the amount of people who use some form of complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM, is estimated to be 65% to 80%. This translates roughly into 3 billion individuals who use systems of medicine other than the model we are most familiar with here in the United States. In our country the use of alternative medicine is estimated to be about 36%. The typical American person will use these therapies in addition to our westernized system of medicine.

To change the balance of how much CAM and regular medicine we have to change certain aspects of both our culture and system of care. In the past our doctors were trained around treating symptoms and disease in a reactionary model. Certain conditions indicated specific intervention. Then our doctors started to focus more preventative care. This was reinforced by research that showed that perhaps we could take a slightly longer view on medical care. At this point there was still a large reliance on intervention with medicines or procedures.

Western Medicine vs. Alternative Medicine

Logo of the United States National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine , part of the National Institutes of Health. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This system of medicine has made some wonderful strides. During the process it evolved into an

institution where often the most humble and human qualities were ignored. This is in contrast to many alternative systems of medicine. Much of the philosophy behind these systems strive to seek a balance in all of life. Physical, mental, and spiritual factors must be addressed to have complete wellness in life.

Alternative Medicine Acceptance Grows

Our growth as a society has begun to really change both individual acceptance of alternative

medicine and that of the medical community. Approximately one-third of all American schools of medicine offer classes in alternative medicine. Some of the schools that are included in this list are Harvard, Yale, John’s Hopkins, and Georgetown University. This new found acceptance has spread to encourage some alternative medicine coverage by insurance companies. A recent comment from insurance carrier Mutual of Omaha said that it saves about $6.50 in covering alternative medicine.

Image by Sprengben via Flickr

While alternative medicine in our society is less prolific than in other parts of the world it is growing. Support for this has come from a new trend being considered by our institutions that are charged with overseeing and paying for medical care. This consideration is called “Evidence Based Medicine”. Simply if the research shows that something works, use it. This is true even if it may not come from your tool chest. With continued research into the efficacy of alternative medicine the percent of Americans that use it will grow quickly.

Belief vs Hope?

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Sat, 5 May 2012 13:01:00 -0500

Which Is More Important In Mental Illness Recovery?

Journal of Semantics (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Recently, I’ve been following an interesting battle of semantics. Both were offering words of slight distinction. These terms were presented relative to mental illness. What you see posted below, is what I wrote in response to it. To both parties in the conversation, I give you credit. You have both identified matters of import. This is true even if these matters are wrapped in semantics. This discussion inspired me to write this as an article. These wrappers of linguistics cover an underlying fundamental principle about improving our lives.

Parental Advisory: Explicit Semantics! (Photo credit: dullhunk)

Does It matter?

It may be just semantics or maybe not. It does not matter what you call it belief or hope. There is a great barrier of fear in people. This fear is generally of the unknown. While in this state it is very common that people are reactionary and lack clear perspective. They don't realize what they can and cannot control.

They don't realize that the way that they have to look at things from this point forward is going to be entirely different. It can be hard to dismiss your entire ego. This presents a big challenge.

The Buddhists have been trying to tell us this for 2000 years. It is very hard to identify with our core being. Most of us identify with the present experience that we are having. These factors all contribute to limit our ability to make good / rational choices.

It Gets More Complicated

To compound this, people who are suffering from mental illnesses cannot identify with the life that is free from suffering. The suffering that they know is at least familiar and therefore more comforting than the vague promise of equanimity. It can be difficult to sever the attachment that we have to our suffering.

As a person does begin to believe or to become hopeful, they begin to have the ability to recover. In this way they have overcome the first hurdle. This hopefulness / belief may be based on an understanding that they have options. Options offer empowerment.

Belief & Hope!

As I have suggested, fear is the fear of the unknown. Our part of the puzzle is to help people to come to terms with, and understand their predicament. This helps them breed basic human understanding and compassion. This breeds the ability to self-advocate. Now, in this way, I can both believe in and have hope for people, not just the mentally ill.

Personal Experience With Recovery

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:28:00 -0500

An emoticon with a smile. For more emoticons in Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:Emoticons. 32px|alt=W3C|link=http://validator.w3.org/✓ The source code of this SVG is valid. Category:Valid SVG (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Do you have a personal story of recovery? Do you write on recovery or compassion? We're interested. Please contact us. Email Us Here. We believe that everything is possible when accomplished by a community.

I find other peoples perspectives informative about the way that I see mine. The student and teacher is one. So if you have something to say give us a heads up and we will consider your post. Thanks in advance

Bill

Positive Psychology - A Consumer's Story - Todd Mueller

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 09:14:00 -0500

This story is part of an ongoing series about people who have mental illness and are beginning to find or have found a meaningful level of recovery. I think it’s good to hear the experiences of others who are dealing with their own mental illnesses. We can use these to help us accept ourselves and identify our issues in a tender and loving way. Todd is a wonderful man and has made some great strides in his life. I would expect this to continue as he becomes more involved in the clubhouse where he is a member.

Hello My Name Is Todd Mueller And This Is My Story

I had a normal childhood. I had excellent scores in grade school. But high school was a different story. I started going to parties when I was 15 and continued until I was 23. I turned 18 in my senior year and was able to go to bars. When I graduated in 1977, jobs were plentiful. I started working at Manitowoc Ice.when I turned 23 I met my wife Ronnie and was married in 1985.

My misery started in 1999 with backaches. I tried Vicodin and it didn’t help. I was sent to Green Bay and put on an old antidepressant called amitriptyline. It worked. I saw many doctors and made many trips to to clinics and hospitals including the Marshfield clinic. From the numerous MRIs, CT scans and a spinal tap, the doctors diagnosed me as having migraines. My migraines happen on a daily basis so I stayed in the dark as much as I could.

You can’t imagine the suffering I had. The physical illnesses were constantly rolling around in my head. Finally I started to realize something else was wrong. Mental illness. Finally the clinic in Two Rivers talked to me about seeing a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist was in the Manitowoc. She said I had anxiety, and gave me some medication samples and sent me on my way. The second time I saw her was in the waiting room and I was crying. The next week I committed myself to holy family mental health unit with a nervous breakdown. I stayed in there for six days. I met a psychiatrist there. That was 1999. He worked with me until 2002 and said he could not help me anymore and that I should go to Green Bay. That is when I quit my job. I could function no more.

Todd Mueller -Photo Credit William Ehrendreich

I found a psychiatrist in Green Bay and the first thing he said after looking at me is you need to get on disability. He interviewed me for two hours. Diagnosis: severe bipolar mixed type I and type II and also an anxiety disorder. After two tries and a lawyer I got my disability. My psychiatrist and I continue to work on combinations of medications that helped me for about three years. I had faith in him. We finally came up with a combination of medications that help me. We worked together when I needed adjustments or am depressed or stressed out. I sometimes have suicidal thoughts. The migraines were resolved by a knowledgeable neurologist with a daily medication which I still take today. In approximately 2005 I started to drink in bars again. This put a big strain on my marriage. Finally I quit in drinking entirely in 2010. I have not had a beer since.

I started seeing the new therapist in 2012. She found painting pathways clubhouse on the Internet. She printed it out and I decided to give it a try. I was impressed. I became a member a week later. I now know other people who have mental illnesses and could speak to them freely about it. I’m learning to build self-confidence. I’m getting a sense of being somebody. People take me as I am and I can trust them. I even laugh once in awhile. This is because I’m happy to be here! I try to stay busy and take short breaks in between my projects. Just like my recovery, there will be baby steps.

I tried to take a large leap a few weeks ago but just went backwards for about three days. The staff members told me to take it easy but I did not listen. I think I now know better. From now on I will take their advice in consideration. This is also a part of my recovery.

My psychiatrist does not want me working right now because I can’t take the stress he’s afraid I will go backwards and then Roni, my wife, gets the brunt of my stress.I look at painting pathways as a means to get success. I am learning to navigate on the computers. I’m learning new ways to meet people. I’m helping others and I am volunteering. I have a feeling of usefulness. When I came here I was afraid of starting a conversation and now I’ve overcome that. I will talk to anyone who just like a conversation or to help guide them to where they want to go. I would like to thank my wife for sticking with me through the difficult times then, now, and in the future.

I think I see a pattern that is beginning to to develop. A loving and accepting community helps to build the confidence and compassion that a person needs to renovate their lives. If you have a mental illness and are struggling with it, I would urge you to seek out recovery-based organizations and practices. Soon perhaps, you too will be able to create your own positive psychology story. Soon, you’ll be able to celebrate your own success and him recovery.

Practices & Methods: Crisis De-Escallation

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:49:00 -0500

Anger Controlls Him (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Psychological Crisis

Often a person who is in a psychological crisis does not have the tools to ask for help. These individuals are likely to act out. Is important that all people who work with those who have a mental illness including law enforcement officers, counselors, and peer support specialists have a good understanding of what it takes to help move a person from that place when they're angry and confused.

It is possible for someone to be diverted from doing dangerous acts to themselves and others. The formalized name for this process is called crisis de-escalation. Crisis de-escalation relies on the development of good communication skills in addition to good situational awareness.

In a recent experience that I had with an individual at a peer supported recovery-based program, someone with significant mental health problems was triggered by a seemingly harmless joke. The individual who made this joke had no intention of indicating disapproval. It was not intended to make this person angry. It happened anyway. This person began to make threats and was extremely agitated because he felt like his personal welfare and self-esteem had been significantly impaired.

Mental illness & Prison

(Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

He had a very difficult time hearing the apology or the sincere desire for his welfare, care, and safety as well as those who surrounded him. Through the process of crisis de-escalation this young man was helped to make successful choices and was safely diverted to a crisis intervention center instead of jail or prison.

I have to consider this a victory. I have been working for many years to increase both my communication skills and my ability to help people achieve meaningful recovery. Along the way I have had many experiences with people who are in crisis situations. I have experienced this as an instructor for law enforcement officials, crisis intervention workers, peer support specialists, and other professionals.

Show Human Empathy

When we observe someone who's in a crisis mode, there are several important factors to remember. If you're experiencing a person in crisis as a law enforcement officer, you may be trained to intervene immediately. This is not always the best response. Take the time that is required to make an investment in the person. Be aware of tactics. If you reach the end of your ability to cope with a situation give the individual some space and take a deep breath. Do what you can to deal with a person with your communication skills. Some people will not be able to deal with their pains and fears. For police officers it is important to have one officer provide support to that person. While this is going on, rely on other officers to establish a safety zone for you and the person that you are dealing with. This will also help you to deal with other types of violent situations. I have read too many reports of officers who were dispatched to a domestic violence situation and have gotten hurt in the process. No one wants to face this.

Self-awareness

It is important to watch your own emotions during this process. It is easy to get excited, angry or frustrated with an individual who seems non-compliant, irrational, or angry. The idea behind crisis de-escalation is to take your time, be compassionate, and begin to develop trust with an individual. If you show your anger and frustration it is very likely to increase anxiety in the other person. You have to show active leadership without further threatening the person who is struggling.

Permit Silence

If someone doesn't immediately respond to a question or statement be patient. With the

Contemporary rendering of a poster from the United Kingdom reading "Keep Calm and Carry On", created during World War II. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

intensity of feelings it is very likely that the person may not hear what you have said. This is not a sign of being non-compliant. If you allow for a moment of silence it's much less likely that you will get less frustrated and so will the other individual.

Give Clear Messages

If you give mixed signals it is reasonable to believe that a person who is in mental trauma will feel destabilized by your communications. It will foster a feeling of further confusion and trauma. It may excite a person to take an aggressive stance and hurt themselves or someone else.

Along with clear messages it is also vitally important to manage the pace of the conversation. Think about how you like to be treated when you're angry frustrated or scared. Sometimes it might just take a minute to calm down so it's important to give them some space not only physically but in the messages that you give.

It's fair to give them a moment to consider their options. They may not realize they have any. Often when a person is in psychological trauma they can't find a way to deal with their suffering. They really just want someone who can take over making most decisions. They want someone who can take gentle control. They may not feel that they can decide what to do. Options is the key. Combine options with a bit of leadership and it will make a big difference.

Reinforce positive behaviors

Nobody likes to be criticized. When a stressed-out individual agrees to take a less aggressive response try thanking him or communicate your appreciation. Recognize that they are trying to do what they can to avert a negative situation for themselves or others. They just want the pain to go away. They may not be able to ask for help or understand what would help the situation. When you reinforce positive behaviors they will begin to get confidence in your ability to help them find a safe way out.

Training and education on crisis de-escalation

There are many great resources for individuals who want to learn more about crisis de-escalation. Publications from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, particularly the GAINS center focuses on support and training for those dealing with people with a mental health issue. This training is not just for professionals. Much of this training can be translated into good communication skills to assist with loved ones who are going through a traumatic process. There are many other excellent training resources. In the end learning to develop good communication skills, compassion, and forward thinking helps us all.

How To Be The Shaman In Your Own Life

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:26:00 -0500

Goldes shaman priest in his regalia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When you stop to think of it, the best medicine that we experience enters into our lives when we can understand how to heal our whole life. This happens when we accept the individual truths that we have. These truths are like those of Gandhi.

In his, "experiments in truth", he found a much more pure path for himself when he looked honestly at each moment. He transformed his commitment to consistency of truth to the acceptance of current truth, examined under the lens of compassion. It is said that , "each pilgrim has their own path up the mountain." This Buddhist's contribution to understanding counsels us to view our basic needs in a broad yet simple manner. This is seconded by Gandhi's encouragement; do so renewed in each moment and each state of being.

Shamans aptly describe our nature as if we are spirits wrapped in dirt. This dirt is the vary substance of the universe. It is matter. This gives a cocoon for, "us", to dwell in. Our bodies are the, "spacesuits," in which we exist. Most spiritual or vision led healers heal mind, body, and spirit. When we understand how we see things, we start finding the best medical practices for ourselves. This change in understanding is exactly what the shaman is hoping that you find. The answer then comes from the doctor with in. In doing this we stand one step closer to our own healer or shamanic nature.

Almost all of the shamanic traditions include some version of a, "vision-quest". This is a process where we learn to transcend our egos. It helps to remove the critical portions of our being and it allows us to just experience.

The real substance of shamanic healing is what we take from these experiences. The impression that this makes on us helps us to choose our point of view. These conclusions can be very instructive. They help us identify what we truly believe. Seeing this clearly is how we are empowered like the shaman is to heal. We can practice the medicine that best suits the needs of the soul, spirit and body.

Deutsch: Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948), politischer und spiritueller Führer von Indien. Ort unbekannt English: Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948), political and spiritual leader of India. Location unknown. Français : Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), Guide politique et spirituel de l'Inde. Lieu inconnu. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The sages tell us that this is how we can heal whole lives. It helps us to find healing in a personal way. The, "spirit-led" doctor seeks, with their visions and instruction, to help us contend with the struggles of our reality. It is how we can influence our own existence in this landscape of life. Physicist Werner Heisenberg and others suggest that matter does not exist unless it is observed. It is only the potential to, "be," anything. We create our world by how we see it.

On this basis another physics thought experiment, Schrödinger's Cat, gives a hypothetical consideration about what a cat would experience if locked in a box. In this postulate, the box is hardened against all detection of events within. There is no ability to observe anything accept the qualities that are presented by the exterior of the box. This incidentally establishes the box as matter.

While the box's external is established by our perception, the actual status of the cat becomes questionable. Since there is no one to observe the cat, does it really exist? There is no observation at all. There is nothing to establish the particular properties of the universe without rational conception of being.

The shamanic schools are built upon this rationale. What you really think about your life is why you have the reality that you have. How you really feel about things is what matters. It is, in fact, matter. When we begin to step out of our drama and seek visions, we begin to notice something. We can change our lives by how we choose to see them. It affords us options in the quality of the life that we experience. We can maintain a perspective of wellness. We can have the serenity of confidently and purposely established constitution. We can have a high quality of life.

This mind over matter helps us to create our existence each day. It could be considered to be our form of cybernetic connection to the universe. This is where we affect the all. It is how to have life and life more abundantly.

Werner Heisenberg (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the case of Schrödinger's Cat, to help "isolate" it from manipulation, conditions existed to keep it from external jeopardy. There was randomly offered, "uncontrolled" peril for the cat. This stipulation existed insuring that you would never know if the cat was ever able to be perceived as alive. We can also learn from this. When begin to see our medicine as the medicine-men of old, we are forced to confront our existence beyond the body. The mystical healers urge us to understand that we fight a losing battle trying to preserve our bodies.

We are beings that are much broader and dynamic than our bodies which are fixed in time. We are eternal beings. What we truly seek is to prosper and perpetuate the being within. If we take the most wholesome practice of our medicine and apply it to ourselves and to others, we not only live better but so do they. This is what makes us all the shaman, the visionary, the ones who heal by faith. It is in this moment we can look at our lives with gratefulness. This is when we can take assurance that we have found the path and restore our wellness. With this revelation absorbed, you have become the shaman for yourself.

What Does It Mean To Be Mindful?

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:17:00 -0500

There are a lot of words that we could use when talking about being mindful. In its essence mindfulness is being aware in the present moment. Much of the time our attention is in

vested in our passions about the past. This is because our process of growth has given a foot hold on those memories. Our minds give a sense of present reality to feelings that you have at this time about our past and tries to speculate about our futures. Our minds are constantly drifting in and out of awareness.

For example, for those of us who are old enough to remember when most clocks ticked you would notice the sound. If you apply yourself to something like reading a book your attention becomes captivated by the content. When we stop reading we begin to notice things around us and we notice again the sound of the clock. Our reality is closely tied to what we are aware of. There is a part of you that notices everything. It does not judge and does not get distracted. It is the observer.

Deepak Chopra, (www.deepakchopra.com) who teaches mindfulness as a part of a process of spiritual, physical and mental health suggests that we can step back and look at ourselves in a mindful manner. This ability to be mindful comes when we understand ourselves as one person in several states. There is part of us that observes, there is that part of ourselves that is invested in the process observing, and the part that evaluates what we observe. The more we identify with the part that observes, impartially without getting caught up, the more we begin to have the ability to be mindful about our lives.

While there are many methods for fostering a mindful awareness, most are comprised of practices that quiet the mind. A quiet mind helps us to not get swept away. A quiet mind helps us identify

Jan3 Mindfulness Journal (Photo credit: maile&justin)

less with the experience and more with the one that experiences. As we have a quiet mind we can begin to watch our thoughts and feelings. As we watch our thoughts and feelings we develop the ability to choose our reactions to what we feel, think and see the world.

The Buddhist have a saying, "There are many paths up the mountain" or sometime it is put as, "There are many paths to God". In mindfulness training you may find that certain paths fit your needs better than others. For some people meditation methods such as watching yourself breathe works to foster a "present awareness". Others may find a simple stroll does the trick. Maybe a good bath puts you in that place where you can watch everything in the present moment. It really does not matter which path, school or technique that you choose if they work for you they will all lead to the same place.

This is a place of personal empowerment and peace. For one who is mindful has the power to do anything they want. We only have this moment. Yesterday is just merely a memory and tomorrow a dream. Right now at this moment, with the power of mindfulness behind you your life can be forever changed.

Bipolar Disorder In Children

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 22:06:00 -0500

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

According to the National Institute Of Mental Health (NIMH) Bipolar Disorder is a serious mental illness that can affect the brain. While less diagnosed, Bipolar Disorder in children can have as much impact as adults with Bipolar Disorder. In the past Bipolar Disorder was known as manic-depression. The term manic-depression is less used today. In basic terms a Bipolar person experiences cycles of unusually intense emotional states. These emotional states are typically seen as periods of either intense high or low emotions. These states of mind and emotion are distinctive.

From time to time we all may feel depression. For individuals with Bipolar Disorder, the depressive phase tends to be extreme. This depression if often incapacitating. This may lead to prolonged or frequent absences from work, school, or other important responsibilities. Bipolar depression may impact personal hygiene and physical wellness. Bipolar Disorder in children has been linked to poor school attendance, behavioral problems, and academic failure.

As we can see the depressive phase can have significant impact. Bipolar mania may be just as troublesome. Bipolar mania is characterized by periods of extreme energy, excessive and fragmented speech, and often wild or intense beliefs. For example a person in a state of intense Bipolar mania may think that they are somehow superhuman in aspects of their lives. For some this manifests as a completely delusional state of mind. At this level Bipolar Disorder can have a significant impact on both the Bipolar person and those around them. Other symptoms of Bipolar mania can include; Extreme happiness or silliness, rapid speech, trouble falling asleep, loss of focus, risky behaviors, sexual extremes.

Bipolar Disorder should be diagnosed by an experienced physician. Bipolar Disorder in children can often be a complicated diagnosis. Both children and teenagers can show signs of Bipolar Disorder that are actually symptoms of ADHD or other serious medical conditions. This makes it hard to diagnose children with this disease.

There are generally three types of Bipolar Disorder that are diagnosed. These are; Bipolar type I, type II, and Bipolar effective. Bipolar I & II are generally determined by the speed that the cycles of the depression and mania.

Bipolar Disorder Associated With Other Medical Conditions

Percent of Youth 4-17 ever diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: National Survey of Children's Health, 2007 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is likely that persons with Bipolar Disorder may experience other related medical conditions. Doctors refer to these other conditions as being, "co-morbid". These co-morbid aspects may show up as; substance abuse, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Anxiety disorders, Separation Disorder and others. Sometimes the Bipolar Disorder co-morbidity may be due to side effects of the medications that are given to treat the disease. It is quite common to find a Bipolar patient is over-weight, has elevated blood sugars which may lead to diabetes, or in the case of medicines like Lithium it may be toxic in high doses. In addition to these conditions bipolar medications my cause a condition known as, "Tardive Dyskinesia". Tardive Dyskinesia is a condition that may be permanent. People with Tardive Dyskinesia have problems with repeated movements of the tongue, face, or other

movement issues.

How Does Bipolar Disorder In Children Different From Bipolar Adults?

Currently the treatment of Bipolar Disorder in children may be less effective then treatment of adults. Often children experience more severe behavior problems and symptoms. Children are more likely to suffer from continual symptoms. This can significantly impact the ability for a Bipolar child to see meaningful recovery. It is important to look at a wide range of support for your child. Since Bipolar Disorder is a life-long disease it is important that you work with your child's teachers, doctors and therapists in order to help your child break the cycles of suffering. Good management of Bipolar Disorder must help to mitigate the impact of this illness in every aspect of their lives. While it is important to teach your child good life skills, Bipolar Disorder in children requires that we work with the child to build long lasting and meaningful support systems. For example a child may have a difficult time performing various tasks in life. This may lead to a breakdown in the ability of a child to deal with the basic life responsibilities.

Although it may be hard for a child to do certain things on their own, it is possible to get everything they need taken care of in a responsible manner. Responsible behavior may be less about what a person can do as compare with what a person can get done. It is important to get an inventory of the life skills that a child possesses. From there a plan must be developed to either improve the life skills that a child has or to develop solutions for getting these needs taken care of.

Bipolar Disease in children has been shown to impact their ability to participate in education. It is reasonable to understand that children with Bipolar Disorder may not have sufficient attention to successfully complete assignments or retain the information that they receive. It is very important to build a relationship with the educators that work with your child.

Over time it is possible for children to realize meaningful recovery. When you work with doctors, therapists, and other professionals you will find medications and techniques that work for your child's specific needs. It is important to find a path for your child that directly effects your child's illness. Each person has different experiencess with Bipolar Disorder. Every path to recovery is specific to the person with disease. It is important to treat the person behind the disease. When you develop the person you have a good chance at mitigating the impact of their mental illness.

How can I help My Bipolar Child?

It can be very hard to deal with the ramifications of Bipolar children. It is important to educate your self and to find support for yourself. The stress that is induced in you must be accounted for. You can find support for yourself from organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI offers education about mental illness, support for families and peer support. The United States government has several organizations that deal with mental health. These organizations like the fore mentioned National Institute Of Mental Health (NIMH) and the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offer great information and resources on Bipolar Disorder. Another good resource for dealing with Bipolar Disorder is the Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance.

It is important that you be patient with your child. Please encourage your child to talk about their problems. Be open and listen. Often a Bipolar person will feel isolated and alone. Open support for your child will help them to feel that they are not alone and understood. Help your child to educate themselves about their disease. Hold on to the belief that Bipolar Disorder in children is something that they can recover from. Your children can lead happy and productive lives. Work together closely and you will see lasting change for the better.

The link between sleep and Bipolar Disorder is becoming more and more clear. A regular and consistent sleep schedule will help your child to deal better with their illness and can have a big impact on the cycles of Bipolar Disorder.

Threats Of Suicide

It is important that your child receive immediate medical support if they talk about or demonstrate intentions to commit suicide. Every threat or indication must be taken seriously. Do not write off these indications as a need for attention. This could easily lead to the loss of your child. Sometimes these conditions exist because of reactions with medications. This is why it is important to address these issues with a competent medical professional. Another good resource is the toll-free suicide helpline 800-273-Talk (8255) this is run by the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

With your help and encouragement the Bipolar Disorder in children is treatable and manageable. With the right tools and resources you can succeed in helping to child with this often troublesome disease.

Emerging Treatments & Technologies - Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:59:00 -0500

Ambassador visits Bar-Ilan University (Photo credit: UK in Israel)

Recently, I saw a television program that featured transcranial magnetic stimulation. For me this is a new modality for both mapping the functions of the brain and treating certain conditions. I had simply never heard of it before. Although I found it intriguing I never take any of these things at face value. As a form of practical research I asked psychiatrist Dr. Mandelbaum M.D. what he thought of transcranial magnetic stimulation. His response to me was interesting. Dr. Mandelbaum told me that the clinic had been considering the purchase of an rTMS or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation device for the treatment of certain mental illnesses. One of the specifically mentioned illnesses was for clinical depression. It has been used on patients for whom traditional medical therapies such as prescription medication have not significantly helped to remit the symptoms.

He mentioned several things that seem to make it a bit impractical for clinical usage at this time. Insurance companies currently will not reimburse for this type of treatment. The cost for an rTMS device is about $70,000. Each application or treatment cycle would cost over $4000 out-of-pocket for the average patient. This makes it impractical as a clinical therapy device. It would seem that with time and further research is conducted, this situation is likely to change. Currently the FDA has only really approved TMS as a less invasive method for mapping sections of the brain.

RTMS has been studied in the treatment of several neurological conditions. Some of these conditions include; Parkinson's disease tinnitus and depression. It also been studied in assisting people alleviate the symptoms of both migraines and cluster headaches. Some of the studies have shown that for the treatment of depressive symptoms, specifically chronic and long-term illness. The protocol for treatment of depression relies on frequent rTMS sessions over a 4 to 6 week period. The initial studies have shown some great promise in helping those with this disease. Approximately 1/3 of the patients saw an improvement in symptoms or practical remission of the disease. This may reduce the reliance on pharmacological solutions.

TMS works by subjecting the brain to small dosages of magnetic energy. This has an effect on the electrical functioning of the brain. TMS and rTMS are slightly different in their application. TMS is generally used on an individual basis as a diagnostic tool. RTMS as a treatment system is a bit different. As mentioned before, treatment is given on a frequent basis over 4 to 6 week period. The magnetic stimulation is focused deeper in the brain

Image via Wikipedia

. Much more study is required to understand how effective this treatment may be. It is clearly less invasive than other options for treatment such as electroconvulsive therapy or deep brain stimulation. As with any medical intervention there is the potential for some difficulties because of these treatments. For example, a small but statistically significant number of people receiving TMS may experience seizures. TMS can cause some discomfort in the skin or may affect hearing in a negative way due to the clicking sound the treatment makes. It should probably not be used with EEG electrodes because in severe cases it can cause skin burns.

Most of the clinical studies for TMS have been paid for by the developers of the device. It is clear that further research must be done to assess the veracity of the claims made by the device manufacturers. As independent studies are performed in clinical and academic settings a greater quality of evidence as well as a larger sample group will help to suggest the efficacy of these treatments. Some large institutions including the Mayo Clinic do use rTMS as a therapeutic device at this time. It has been adopted by a few specially trained psychiatrists. The Mayo Clinic doctors have been noticing clinical efficacy that is concurrent with the results of other studies. Only time will tell, if transcranial magnetic stimulation will be a cost-effective and functionally effective tool for treatment of various diseases.

Congrats to the members of Painting Pathways Clubhouse.

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:56:00 -0500

The amazing people @ PPC knocked it out of the park. They raised $7,000. I am proud to be your colleauge!

Positive Psychology - A Consumer's Story - Anne Koss

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:45:00 -0500

Recently someone who read my work said that she felt it was positive psychology. That was wonderful to hear. It is neat to see it work for someone who is close to you. Below is the story of Anne Koss. She has been a wonderful addition to the community that I participate in. So instead of telling you about change in my words now you can hear in the words of others.

Anne Koss

My name is Anne Koss and this is my story. Before I got involved with Painting Pathways my life was not going so well. I had made some poor decisions and wound up in jail. I had struggled with bi-polar illness and addictions. As a result, I had burned many bridges. I was scared and my self esteem was at an all time low. Some of the things that other people take for granted, such as spending time with loved ones and having mutual trust with others, was not possible for me. When I got out of jail I ended up living in a homeless shelter for three months because I had nowhere else to go.

My sisters, Mary and Judy, heard about Painting Pathways Clubhouse from Jane at United Way and they made arrangements for me to learn more. I immediately felt a sense of belonging. I began making friends right away, and discovered that others had experienced situations similar to mine. The level of acceptance I felt was amazing. Participating in the dual recovery support group allowed me to express my feelings and emotions. Keeping busy in the culinary unit baking, cooking and helping others gave me a sense of purpose. I began to develop confidence. I also began to understand the importance of setting goals in my life and following through.

Now my life has changed for the better. Rather than feeling scared and lonely, I now feel more content and open to positive people. I am stable. While I know I have more challenges ahead, I have hope. I am now living independently in my own apartment and I’m attempting to get custody of my son, Jake. I am ready to be a good parent, sister and friend. When people see me today, they can’t believe the changes I have made and the person I am becoming. My story is just one example of how Painting Pathways is changing lives! - Anne koss

Strong caring and compassionate relationships go a long way to build the person behind the difficulties. But then, this is something that we all face in our lives. We all need someone who is empathetic and can truly understand. In this story Anne found compassion from others. I think that her recovery is based on compassion for herself and the compassion from the members and staff at Painting Pathways. Way to go Anne!

Working With Those With A Mental Illness

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Fri, 9 Mar 2012 17:15:00 -0600

We Work With People Not Diseases

When we work with others we have to remember two significant things. First, we are working with the human being not merely the social persona. Secondly, that the real work that we do is on us and not them. We do this work on ourselves because we have to face the numerous labels thoughts and feelings that we project on to the world. There are going to be times when you find it difficult to just interact with someone. Perhaps it's because of some aspect that we see in them. To be honest, sometimes it may be very superficial. Maybe the person you are working with has significant hygiene issues. This may prevent us from recognizing the person behind the hygiene. Some people that you work with can stimulate areas of social intolerance. Perhaps you don't have the same faith. Perhaps you don't have the same culture. Perhaps there's something else that sends you off. It doesn't matter whether it's superficial or not. It's all the same. It puts distance between you and them. When we have closed the distance between you and me, we become us.

Image via Wikipedia

The Danish philosopher Kierkegaard said, "if you label me you negate me". There is no one label or group of labels that will ever typify who we are. Even in the Bible God says about himself that, "I am that I am". He does not even try to describe or label himself. The people that you work with are what they are too. They are the, "being", part of the human being. So placing labels on people negates them. It forces us to assign them more labels. This serves to separate us further. When we are working on ourselves, often it's going to start by us being simply ourselves. To give ourselves permission to be who we are and to remove the labels that we place upon ourselves. You have to recognize your being. This can be accomplished via the lens of compassion. It is the work that we will always do first. First we do it for ourselves, and then we are enabled to do it for others.

Recognize The Whole Being, The Human Being

But how do we achieve this? How do we recognize somebody's base humanity? How can we choose to see their humanity in a way that exceeds the boundaries of our own social judgments and limitations? One obvious example of this is a comment that Mother Theresa of India made about her work with people who have leprosy. She was asked how it was possible to work with people who had such obvious and physically abhorrent diseases. Mother Theresa simply said that she saw them as God in all his most distressing disguises. It is clear that she understood that the being that dwells within is divine. It is the sacred part of us. It happens to be the one thing that we all share in common. We are not what is being experienced, or the process of experiencing, we are the one who experiences. She was a great servant of humanity because she saw the being within, and accepted the being without.

Mother-Teresa-collage (Photo credit: Peta-de-Aztlan)

Understanding Our Practices

To train ourselves in this way, we are required to practice in this way. In order to see somebody else's humanity, you must see your own. In order to have sympathy for somebody's predicament, you must have it for your own predicament. This is what takes off the labels, the blinders, the hatreds, and the things that separate us. There's an interesting story about a young boy having a discussion with his father. The boy says that he's going to write a story about himself. The father thought for a moment. Then he suggested to the young man that if he is going to write a story about his life that he should do so in a way that teaches others about their own lives. When we go through this process of training and working on ourselves we do that so we can translate that to others.

If you work with people who have mental illnesses you're going to hear a lot of labels. These are lables that are used by society and ourselves. You may hear bipolar. You may hear depressed. You may hear schizophrenic. These terms communicate some generalities that we can use to gain perspective about an individual's predicament. Each person that we work with will have their individual path from their disease to their recovery. The Buddha suggests that we all have our own path up the mountain. Our job with others is to erase these labels. We must strive to help others find their path. When we help others to remove the labels that they placed upon themselves they will begin to find their own path. In the end we do this because this helps to remove one of the most insidious labels that we encounter. This is the label of," mentally ill".

A Life You Can Walk Through

noreply@blogger.com (Clarisse) — Fri, 9 Mar 2012 16:48:00 -0600

Introduction by Robert Frost, Road Not Taken

If you take a moment to consider it, there may be some benefits to walking. You may find that it is an investment that pays off in your whole being. In his poem, The Road Not Taken, Robert Frost says: "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference". He begins this poem wondering about how to choose the path to take. In the journey of life, what dictates the roads that we will follow? How do we choose when we come upon one of the many junctions that we face? Do we choose our path because the rest of the herd goes there? Does that suit our truths and individual needs? We should also think about how we will travel it. We have to understand what will bring us the most benefit. Will we walk, drive, or fly? Why do we choose to do it that way?

Great benefits of walking

For me I have chosen the path that dictates a simple life. I have a literal road that I walk. Actually, I walk almost every where that I go. This has introduced me to the benefits of walking. For me the decision to use my feet as a primary mode of transportation has made, “all the difference”. It helps me to take things as they come. Literally and figuratively one step at a time. Not only do I experience more of what goes on around me, I have found tranquility. I am dedicated to this simple act. It has brought me great peace and has changed my point of view about the world.

Here are 5 great benefits of walking

1. Walking gives us a way to manage the momentum of our lives.

2. It enforces a certain determination to reach a goal.

3. We work with each step to both identify and overcome those things that challenge us in our path.

4. Regular walks build the health and vitality of our bodies.

5. Our minds get the support that a healthy body provides

Walking benefits your whole life

A life you can walk through

We all search for peace and equanimity. How many of us find it? In my experience it seems to allude most of us today. We can have busy and frenetic lives. Whether you choose, like I have, to walk it may not matter. But ask yourself, do I take moments of quiet reflection in life? We can foster peace and well-being. This happens when we understand where we go and how we get there. Please consider your road. Perhaps you may consider how walking can benefit you. When you do, you may also experience a life you can walk through.