Getting Informed with NAMI

   This last Monday 3.5.12 we had some amazing speakers from NAMI come to class and tell us their travels down the road of Mental Illness.  Seeing these two fellows on the right path in dealing with their MI was encouraging.  They spoke of the "important components of recovery" which started with the "dark days".
The dark days that go beyond just not feeling like getting out of bed at 5am each morning; it would be considered the days that a persons view on life was going against the grain of LIVING a HEALTHY & BALANCED LIFE.  The days where a person with a MI can not cope with living productively.  Whether it be depression, thoughts of suicide, having delusions or hearing voices, just to name a few; the dark days are the days that can continually breakdown a person from the inside out. 
The next component of recovery is ACCEPTANCE -sitting down whether in a jail cell, a cardboard box in an alley, a  hospital bed or a loved ones living room.  This is the turning point of getting an initial hold on MI and getting help.  It has to come from within to be able to step back and realize that help is needed to start living a healthy, happy life.  This can work best with the support and acceptance of those around a person suffering with MI. 
From there treatment of the MI, communicating with the proper health care providers and loved ones to maintain an appropriate treatment plan.  Once the dark days are in the past somewhat as a reminder, acceptance has set in & a treatment plan is established. Coping skills and reintroducing a healthy lifestyle begins on a daily basis. 
The seed is planted, new growth begins and a new life blossoms.  As a witness these two NAMI speakers told the raw truth of their journey in which much success has been made, hope is maintained and dreams are achieved.  Setbacks are inevitable as we all know; its getting back up and on the right path again that will make all the difference.

My practice as an OTA is greatly influenced with each speaker, living life on "life's" terms, and getting more educated.  My father growing up was a great Dad, a Vietnam Vet and a functioning alcoholic.  Fortunately he found acceptance in his own way and got help.  Yay! Right?  It was not an easy road; it took a lot of help from family, loved ones and professionals at first.  It took a while for each of us to accept that this was a DISEASE not a choice.  The choice comes later, a choice whether or not to accept the MI and get help or not (which of course is easier said than done).  Twenty-five years later Dad hasn't had a drop of alcohol :-)  Practice as an OTA will always require patience and understanding; its getting informed as a professional and a person to better help those with a MI.  AOTA.org has a great report on OT and substance abuse that I have attached here to get more insight on understanding and how to help.  Many persons with MI have a comorbid tendency with alcohol or substance abuse like Dad.  To better help a friend, family member, client it starts by getting informed!

http://www.aota.org/Consumers/consumers/MentalHealth/Drugs/35145.aspx?FT=.pdf