Enlightenment

Daolotusbear:

Your illness, clearly a devestating experience, has transformed you.  You are clearly a man of compasion, love and understanding.  You have learned more about life and living, and what is really important, than 95% of the persons in the rest of our society.  And it would appear that what you have learned through "trial by fire" is motivating you to give to others.  Your story is a marvelous epic of heroism.

If your looking for a way to enlighten people, contact you local NAMI office and ask about their "In Our Own Voice" program.  You won't be sorry.  You find your local NAMI office by going to http://www.nami.org/.  If you can't find it there e-mail me at my SchizophreniaConnection e-mail address = robin.cunningham1@gmail.com and I will find it for you.

I leave you with a poem:

WARD 7N

In a white paper cup,

On a green plastic tray,

They bring capsules of hope

That keep my demons at bay.

They record all my crys,

Measure all my tears,

And think they understand

My debilitating fears.

They're an illusion I know,

A reflection of my terror,

For when I turn around,

No one is there.

This deception is my own,

The only way I know

To live with the horror

That permeates my soul.

While I long for peace,

These fears may persist,

For all my pain is proof

That I still exist.

So there is yet this chance,

For as long as I remain,

That compassion will overtake me

And love forgive the pain.

Pax [Latin for peace]

Robin

 I was diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder when I was twenty one and  immediately began trying different treatments. All I remember is the dread that the older medications supplied me with. The feeling of being uncomfortable in my own skinwas horrible. . New medications proved to be a better choice for me. But unlike you, I disagree that this illness is the result of karma. I do not believe God would torment us for a "past life" we fail to remember.

I just hope  you do not feel guilt for something you did not do. Good luck.