CHOICES: #8 - Functionality and Functionality

Don:

You hit a lot of issues.  The US had disability programs and some drug coverages.  Many people in this country get disability, but these benefits are insufficient.  The benefits put them below the poverty line.  I talked with many people whose benefits will pay the rent, but then they have choose between food OR medications.  It's a disgrace that the richest country in the world cannot do better tahn this.

If they find work, but earn more a certain amount (which is less than the amount of their benefits), they lose their benefits, which puts them in the hole.  In a sense they can't afford to work.  Yhis is not not good treatment practice.

Stigma is a big part of all this.

Keep your comments coming.

[By the way, I responded to your comments from last weeks blog, but not until the end of the week.  If you go back to Choices #7, you will see my comments.

Robin

Janet,

You are an adult, and have the right to make your own choices (and you are responsible for the consequences).  You don't have to do what your parents say you should do.

Kindly remember our e-mails of about four or five months ago.  You live with your parents, and that's okay for now, but I don't think they have the right to tell you to censor what you say and do.  You have another option, as we had discussed.

Please understand I say this out of care and concern.

Cheers,

Chris

Janet:

I have a good friend who had a very similar problem, only it was her children who were opposed to her speaking out.  She spoke up anyway through a newspaper article (which was exactly what her children did not want).  But now that her family has seen how her article and subsequent speeches have helped so many others, they have done a 180 degree turn.  They now support her efforts whole heartedly and assist her in any way they can.

Robin

Robin

Mike:

Very well put!

I train other consumers to make presentations about their mental illness to the general public and many other types of audiences, and I tell every one I train that they are providing a very important public service.  And I mean it!  Think about it.  It's a service no one else can provide.  They [and you]speak with experiental authority and people listen very carefully and ask a lot of questions because they know they're hearing the unvarnished truth.

I don't know where you live, but get on www.nami.org and find your state or nearest local branch of NAMI [National Alliance on Mental Illness] and ask about their "In Our Own Voice" [IOOV] program.  They will train you to speak about your illness, and like me, they will provide you with as many opportunities to talk as you want.  It's a wonderful program.  It's a very good fealing to give these presentations.  People treat you with great respect you for what you have been through and how you have handled it.

It is because of this program that I ended up writing blogs for www.SchizophreniaConnection.com.

Get back to me and tell me what you think.

Robin

Mike:

Good for you!  Your speaking out when the opportunity arises and that's precisely what we need to do.

You shouldn't do anything until you feel you're ready for it and that usually takes some time.  I've got a few years on you.  I've had schizophrenia for over 50 years.  Listen to your heart and mind, and you'll know when the time is right.

Robin