Ben Behind His Voices Blog
One Family’s Journey from the Chaos of Schizophrenia to Hope
NEW in 2022! – the Ben Behind His Voices audiobook has been updated with a new intro, epilogue, and bonus material! – available only in audiobook form.
Hear all of the original award-nominated memoir, and find out what has happened in the decade since. We continue our journey into hope.
Depression out of the Closet: The Boss too
Add Bruce Springsteen to the list of celebrities willing to talk about their mental issues.
Springsteen talks about his lifelong battles with depression in a 16,000-word New Yorker profile hitting the stands this week.
Every time someone in the public eye is willing to talk about mental illness, the door opens to acceptance just a bit more, and stigma is dealt a blow.
Ben and I are trying to do the same thing with our book. This week I was thrilled to present "Listen Up! Hearing the Family’s Perspective on Illness " as Interdisciplinary Grand Rounds at Bridgeport Hospital, and honored to receive this feedback:
"I truly appreciated your candor, your humor, and your heart in speaking on this topic. I'd like to think I pride myself on empathy and compassion with all my patients, but I know after hearing you speak, I will double my efforts, all around, no matter the condition. Thanks again for a really worth while and inspiring talk."
To touch another person like that - well, that's the reason I wrote the book and speak out. Thank you.
Yes, right now it is mostly my crusade as Ben's Mom - but someday I hope that Ben will speak out too. I see signs of acceptance in him, but I know he is not ready to say, in public, that he has schizophrenia. That's okay. I will take what we've got, and I know what it takes. Patience. Understanding. Love. And some luck too.
Meanwhile - Thanks, Boss, for your courage and honesty. You've kicked the door open another inch.
a preview of awesome DVD on effects on family: The National Alliance on Mental Illness: In Our Own Voice Family Companion
This is a preview of a DVD associated with a research project. The full DVD is meant to be presented in its entirety along with a program, part of a NAMI-CT collaboration with NIMH, the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the Institute of Living. If anyone would like to see the video with a presentation, Ann Nelson is happy to arrange that for family members or providers. NAMI-CT at 203-927-1541 or familyresearch@namict.org.