TRUST ~ TRUTH

I was browsing through the dictionary and came upon these two words Trust and Truth. They are right together in the dictionary....so they must complement each other. I wonder sometimes if society today understands that trust and truth are so important. I also wonder why is it some people can get by with not telling the truth. Don't they understand they are hurting people. If someone does not want to do something, then have enough integrity to say so, but don't kill the messenger !!!

The dictionary says TRUST is the firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing.

The dictionary says TRUTH is consistently telling the truth, being honest.

I have been reading the book by Sheri Dew 'Telling It Like It Is. ' A writing in her book made me think:

"Every relationship-husband and wife-parent and child-best friends-colleagues-is dependent on trust. It is not possible to have a relationship with someone you cannot trust. The only thing you can have with someone you can't trust is a strategy."

• Why do we have to develop a strategy?
• Why do we have to always feel like we need to watch our backs?
• Why do we have to feel distrust in our daily dealings?
• Why do we always have to be on guard?

My parents always taught us kids that our word was our bond, and that when you say will do something, carry through. These are the childhood lessons that have guided my footsteps in this life. Have I made mistakes ~ OH YES ~ but I realize we are merely humans and carried on. Every day I thank my Dad and Mom for the lessons they taught us.

Blessed are those who have been given Holy Parents.

NAMI WALKS FOR THE MINDS OF AMERICA

Tomorrow is the NAMI WALK. I want to thank those who supported me: My sweet hubby Ned, Lura, Janet, Allyson, Everett, Marcy, (Ward S, Dale D, Bob H, Bob T. These are my hubby's coffee buddies), Anonymous, and my daughter Debby. Your thoughtfulness is appreciated so much. As I walk, I will be thinking of you.....God Bless...and thanks again.....

On September 26, 2009, I will be walking for the minds of America. The National Alliance on Mental Illness and NAMI state sponsors the yearly walk. I will be walking for our daughter, as many of you know, who suffers from Schizophrenia. This is a cause I am committed to, and participated in for the last 3 years. It is a major fund raiser for NAMI State, so they can continue to provide our FREE EDUCATION programs, such as Family to Family class, BASICS, Bridges, Support Groups, and many more programs. The walk is a fun event, even in the rain.

We found out we didn't melt !!

Mental Illness is a medical illness. No one is immune. About 60 million Americans experience mental health problems in any given year. One in 17 lives with the most serious illnesses, such as Schizophrenia, Major Depression and Bipolar.

Treatment works, but it can take 10 years, between the onset of symptoms and getting help. Half of cases begin at age 14, but less than half of children or adults get help when they need it. People with serious mental illness (SMI) live 25 years less than other people. (NAMI-NIMH)

I would like to share some facts and numbers published by the National Alliance on Mental Illness:

• One in four adults-approximately 57.7 million Americans-experience a mental health disorder in a given year. One in seventeen lives with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, major depression or bipolar disorder, and about one in ten children have a serious mental or emotional disorder.

• About 2.4 million American, or 1.1 percent of the adult population, lives with schizophrenia.

• An estimated 5.2 million adults have co-occurring metal health and addiction disorders. Of adults using homeless services, thirty-one percent reported have a combination of these conditions.

If these statistics don't raise awareness of mental health issues, nothing ever will. People would never discriminate against someone who has cancer, diabetes or similar diseases. Mental illness is a disease of the brain, the most important part of the whole body.

Please support me as I walk on the 26th of September. Simply click on the link below to make an on-line donation. Any and all amounts are welcome. Thank you for lightening my steps as I WALK FOR THE MINDS OF AMERICA, and for helping me along the way. God Bless...

http://www.nami.org/walkTemplate.cfm?section=NAMIWALKS&template=/customsource/namiwalks/walkerpage.cfm&walkerID=100213

OUR WONDERFUL BRAINS

To me, this emphasizes just how intricate the brain functions are, and also that there are many things that can go wrong with the way it functions. Schizophrenia is a good example of that. Years ago, the "disease" of the brain was blamed on "the mother" and Schizophrenia was shuffled to the background. Thankfully, research has found that the disease of the brain is actually a 'disease of the brain.' Sadly though, many older people suffering from Schizophrenia, and I mean suffering (and also their families) have not been treated in the proper manner. The person with the disease have had drugs shoved down their throats, warehoused, and also ignored by society. The movie "The Soloist" closely depicts the agony of a person suffering from Schizophrenia. Many of the homeless people suffering with the illness have been ignored by society. It is the lucky family member that has had family to stick by them, even if it is one of the most difficult tasks to undertake. Hopefully, with the heightened awareness in today's society, the stigma against the family and the one suffering with the illness will go away.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI and the National Institute of Mental Health NIMH are two organizations that have been undertaking much research on Schizophrenia, and hopefully, there will be paths for recovery opened, not only for the person suffering, but for their families. Suffering in silence is not fun !!! Another good source for information is NARSAD, the world's leading charity dedicated to mental health research.

~ STRESSED MOMS ~

Severe emotional stress during the first delicate month of a woman's pregnancy may permanently impair the neuro-development of her unborn child, leading to an increased risk of schizophrenia later in life, new research suggests. An article in Time magazine: Stressed Moms, Schizophrenic Kids points to factors, during the development of a child, that leads one to think back to what happened during pregnancy.

The link between maternal stress and fetal development is not new: A study in 2000 suggested, for example, that a mother's stress during pregnancy may increase the risk of congenital brain malformations in her baby. And it has been well established that severe maternal stress is associated with low birth weight and premature birth.

This is an interesting article to read, and made me think back during my pregnancy with my daughter who has Schizophrenia and the events that occurred during the first and second trimester of my pregnancy. Little did I know.......What is interesting though is, all the years my daughter went to therapy, none of the many mental health providers ever asked me for any input, and my daughter went for over 1000 documented visits. Depression often follows when a expectant mother has been abused, mentally, emotionally and physically. Being pregnant only heightens the experience, because the mother has the natural instinct to protect her unborn child as well as herself. Many times the mother feels hopeless and defenseless in her surroundings, and she will put up with just about anything and internalize the hurt, which is not the thing to do. Many years ago, the help was not available, as it is today, and mother's just suffered in silence.

A recent survey by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI indicates Schizophrenia is a chronic, but manageable disease of the brain. More than two (2) millions Americans and their families face the condition every day. Imagine fighting a health care system that is so fragmented that you can't get what you need to recover from a serious mental illness. Treatment does work, if you can get it. The survey results reveal major gaps between what the public believes to be true about Schizophrenia, what science tells us, and the real experiences and realities of individuals affected by the illness.

MENTAL ILLNESS

I just happened on this poster on a site I was visiting. It was posted by Mrs. America. To me this is a wonderful reminder that mental illnesses are real, and should be treated as any other illness is TREATED. Congress has just recently passed parity for mental illness, and this is a huge step for people to access the best care. Mental illness is a brain disease. The only difference is, when a person is diagnosed with cancer, diabetes, etc., people do rush to the person's home with a casserole and offers for help. This does not happen for families with mental illness. Mental illness is a very lonely disease for the person diagnosed and also for their family.

NATIONAL DAY FOR PRAYER FOR MENTAL ILLNESS RECOVERY AND UNDERSTANDING

We light the candle of TRUTH that God will help us dispel ignorance and misinformation about major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, severe anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder.

We lit the candle of HEALING that troubled minds and hearts, broken lives and relationships might be healed.

We light the candle of UNDERSTANDING that the darkness of stigma, labels, exclusion and marginalization might be dispelled for the sake of those touched by mental illness

We light the candle of HOPE for persons and families living with mental illness, for better treatment, for steadier recovery, for greater opportunity to work and serve.

We light the candle of THANKFULNESS for compassionate, dedicated caregivers and mental health professions; for new discoveries in brain research and better medications.

We light the candle of FAITH to dispel doubt and despair for those who have lost hope and are discouraged.

We light the candle of STEADFAST LOVE to remind us of God's love and faithfulness, and to remind us to share the light of love and service for those living with mental illness.

Carol J. Wills

PRAYER FOR MENTAL ILLNESS

NATIONAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK

OCTOBER 5- 11, 2008

O Lord, you have searched us and known us

You know when we sit down and when we rise up,

and know our innermost thoughts.

You search out our paths and know all our ways.

Before we speak, you know our words.

When we were knit together in our mother's womb

You knew us as woman, as child, as man.

Wherever we go, Your hand will lead us.

So guide us along the pathways to hope,

that night becomes bright as day.

So lead us on our walk together,

that darkness is lifted from our hearts.

So encourage us that our sisters and brothers

Who have mental illness shall know that

they never walk alone.

Amen

WHY US ??

Sometimes in life, things go wrong and this is what happened with my daughter. At age 12-13 she started acting out. My first husband had just moved on to "greener pastures" (and he never looked back) leaving me alone with my two daughters to cope the best as I could. This was a particularly bad time for him to leave, because his daughter needed him so badly. I was working full time, trying t0 make ends meet, and also take care of my family. He left us with very little money to live on. Back then the child support laws were bad, not like they are in todays enviroment. I refused to go on welfare. It just wasn't something I would consider. I had always been taught to work hard and do the best you could to provide for your family.

My daughter, up until she was about 12-13 years of age, excelled in school, won first prize in a poetry contest for the Ladies Community Club. She won a bicycle for gathering the most donations for the American Cancer Society. My father was dying of cancer, and she thought this was a wonderful tribute for him, which it was. My father passed away from cancer at age 62. My daughter was so pleased she had been able to honor my Dad by her actions with the ACS.

One day, it was like a light-switch went off -my daughter's complete personality changed almost over night. She started sluffing school, running away, and just doing things that were out of character, and destructive. It concerned me greatly, because, first her behaviour was so out of character, and I was alone. Back in those days, everything was blamed on bad parenting and bad behavior. Little did we know, that YEARS down the line, her behavior would have a word assigned to it. Yes, it was heartbreaking to see this happen to a beautiful young girl. It was like a whirl wind...and I couldn't stop it from happening. My pleas to her father to help, went on deaf ears.

For years, I was alone, working and trying to make ends meet. Many nights I would be out looking for my daughter, then go to work the next day, without sleeping. I firmly believe some Higher Power was watching out for me, because many times I would be able to find her and bring her home. Sometimes though, I couldn't, and those were troublesome times for both of us. Running away from home, for young girls, is not good. They are extremely vulnerable. The expression "when bad things happen to good people" would certainly apply. Some of the things that happened had far-reaching consequences. The biggest concern for me was, that she would come home alive at all. Being out alone, at such a tender, young age, is asking for trouble. She was with a peer group that wasn't the best.

After a couple of years of running away, her behavior started to become more bizarre. I didn't know what was going on, and back in the "old days" there wasn't the help and knowledge available that there is now. I have thought many times to myself, how unfortunate this was, because now there is so much more knowledge, less stigma, and more acceptance of mental illness and far better treatment. Mental illness was a taboo subject way back when. Mental illness is a hard hand to be dealt....both to the person and also to the family. Many times families walk away because it is easier than dealing with all the issues. I couldn't walk away though...she is my daughter and I love her (but sometimes it is very difficult to keep this perspective.) I will continue our story again soon.

But I want to leave you with a thought.....WHEN LIFE HANDS YOU LEMONS, MAKE LEMONADE !!!!

Telling My Story

Today I am going to start telling my story about my daughter's (and my) journey through the trials and heartaches of mental illness. The journey began around 1975, back when mental illness was a "taboo subject". Back when all problems were blamed ON THE MOTHER, and little was actually known about the subject of mental illness. Back when there was so much stigma surrounding mental illness and no one ever talked about it. Back when many families suffered in silence, as we did. Before 1990, the stigma surrounding mental illness was overwhelming (and sometimes, even to this day is). The one thing we have found out, as a family is, KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. When a family has a loved one diagnosed with cancer, diabetes or some other ailment, the neighbors bring over casseroles and offer help. When the illness is mental illness, then the stigma kicks in, and families are left with the feelings of low self-esteem and "what did I do wrong"? and are left completely alone to cope and do the best they can to help their loved one.

I am going to start telling our story, beginning with the younger years and up to the the current days. Hopefully, this will help other families with their struggles. I will be including information gathered from medical sources as well as other agencies out there that provide so much valuable information. If anyone has any questions or comments, please feel free to ask them. If I do not know that answer, I certainly will find the information for you, and get you the answer. GOD BLESS !!!

At the end of my blog, you will find many sources for information. Please research these sites if you want more information. Simply click on the title, and the link will do the rest. Each state in the union has a state chapter of National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI, and they are there to help you.