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As the mother of a beautiful young man who struggles with schizophrenia every day of his life, I am always tempted by magical thinking. What if Ben’s symptoms could be brought under his control without medication? What is he could somehow manage the hallucinations himself, if he only “understood” their origin? Our Brain -How [...] Recovery in mental illness is possible, yes – but is often a tightrope walk for all involved: consumers, family, friends, providers. To paraphrase Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman, “Respect must be paid.” This is an excerpt from today’s radio interview with Ray Andrewsen of WQUN AM in Hamden, CT, where he asks [...] Schizophrenia Awareness Association
The Schizophrenia Awareness Assocation (SAA) in India has declared this day Schizophrenia Awareness Day. Schizophrenia affects one percent of the world’s population. Not just in the United States; this is an international statistic. The Times of India has a wonderful article today, talking about recovery and the need for [...] Another great resource, especially if you’re looking to contribute your experience professionally, and want to get your Masters’ Degree online : Masters in Health Care . This latest blog post also lists the 20 Greatest Memoirs in Mental Illness. Whether you have been diagnosed yourself, are providing services professionally, or as a family member (lots [...] I’d always been under the impression that when Ben was ready to leave his group home, he’d be gradually weaned off the 24-hour staffing to, perhaps, 16 or 12 hours of supervision. But no. Ben’s recent accomplishments, notably lasting six whole weeks at his new job, have forced the issue of getting him “graduated” from [...] This marks one month of employment for my son Ben. One full month! He loves his job. He has an answer when people ask him “What do you do?” The increase in his energy and pride is thrilling. Really. Thrilling. Do I worry, still? Hmmm. Well, let’s just say I’m keeping my eyes open [...] My son Ben is two weeks into a job. An actual job, with paychecks and everything. And by “everything”, I mean a reduction in benefits which almost wipes out the money he’s earning…but that’s another story. The main thing is that Ben is earning this money, and that feels completely different to him. The [...] Three hundred people showed up to a job fair this month for seasonal work at a local tourist attraction. Twenty people were hired, and one of them is my son Ben. Why is this such a big deal? Because Ben hasn’t been hired for a job in over eight years, since before his first hospitalization [...] Henry’s Demons: Living with Schizophrenia, A Father and Son’s Story by Patrick Cockburn My rating: 4 of 5 stars Henry’s Demons is an insightful look into both the family experience when schizophrenia strikes a loved one, and into the U.K. System of care. As a parent in the United states, I couldn’t help but compare [...] Ben has a chance at a job. A real job. Minimum wage, yes, but for him to make it to a second interview, and then to a possible job offer for the summer…well, the tears I feel remind me that I hadn’t really even dared to dream this for him. Ben hasn’t had a job [...] |
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