The Eye of my Understanding has Opened

I have been clean and sober for 11 years, recovering from my schizophrenia for 10 years and am presently recovering from obsessive compulsive disorder.  I personally believe that the reason for all my pain, suffering, torture, and torment was so that I can empathize with others and try to be of help.  In the past I firmly believed that the only way others can recover is to follow the same path that I have followed.  That is not true.  Recovery is a personal thing.  Everyone has to find their own methods to follow in their own personal recovery.  The eye of my understanding has been opened.  I can truly empathize with others but when I try to help people I need to help them find their own way in recovery.  My personal methods I use might not work for someone else.  I need to keep an open mind and help guide others into their own methods they use to find recovery.

My eyes have truly been opened.  Now I can be more effective in trying to help my fellow consumers, addicts, and alcoholics.  I need to research different treatment options and use those options to help others.  My way isn't the only way.  I have been living in the darkness but now the true light now shineth.  My purpose in life is to be a beacon to help light up the path for others.  I perceive myself as a lighthouse shining the light to help guide the ships into the harbor safely.

Good luck in your own recovery

Canadian Psychiatric Association - Position Papers

Here is the link to an article on the ethics of involuntary treatment.  Although this paper is intended for medical professionals it is still a beneficial read for others such as consumers, family, friends, people in the legal profession, and any other interested person.  I am totally for forcing someone into treatment against their will because they have the right to be well, live lives of meaning and purpose, and become productive members of society.  Not forcing someone into treatment if they are to ill to know that they are ill, and will not consent to treatment is depriving them of their human rights.  Some people believe that forcing someone into treatment is violating their human rights because they have the right to refuse treatment.  I totally disagree to this belief.  Consumers have the right to be well and if that means forcing them into treatment to be well then that is not violating their human rights.  In fact that is promoting their human rights because they do have the right to be well.

Canadian Psychiatric Association - Position Papers

A Hard Day

I smoke and am a very heavy smoker.  I smoke over two packs a day.  I have decided to quit smoking again.  I have tried many times but failed.  Today is my first day this time.  I have been up since 8:00 am this morning and it is now 9:12 pm.  I have not had a smoke all day.  I am using the patch as a quit smoking aid.  It is next to impossible for me to quit cold turkey.  I have tried that before many times and only lasted about three or four hours.

I have been on the net looking for sites with information on smoking cessation techniques.  I found the Nicotine Anonymous web site.  This organization follows the 12 steps that originated with Alcoholics Anonymous.  I follow the 12 steps to help me with my drug and alcohol addiction.  In fact on Monday December the 6th I celebrated being clean and sober for 11 years.  Kim, my wife took me out to dinner on Saturday November 27 to celebrate.

What I am about to tell you might seem outrageous, but it was easier to give up drugs and alcohol than it is to give up smoking.  I personally believe that nicotine is the most addictive substance discovered by man.  It takes much determination, motivation, and discipline to give up nicotine.  Basically it takes a miracle.  A miracle that I am not capable of performing on my own will power.  As the 12 steps state only a "Power Greater than Ourselves" can deliver us from this awful addiction.  One way He is doing it for me is with the help of the patch but that alone is not sufficient.  I am very highly addicted to nicotine both physically and psychologically.  I need everyone's help.  God's, my wife's, my friends, those in the mental health profession, information I can find on the net, and any other source that I can find to use to help me.

Today is definitely a miracle.  I have gone the whole day without a smoke.  I am only going to stay smoke free just for today.  I am not going to stay smoke free for a week, a month, or a year.  I am taking it only one day at a time.

Wish me luck.

A New Year

A new year is creeping up on us.  This is the time of year when we reflect on the last year and make new years resolutions for the next.  We set goals and objectives on we want to accomplish in this new year.

For mental health consumers we set our goals and objectives on things we want to accomplish concerning our recovery for the next year.  I firmly believe that "if we fail to plan we plan to fail."  We need a road  map to guide us though 2011.

I would to share with our readers what my plans are for 2011.

I will continue publishing the Schizophrenia newsletter published by the Kings County Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia and continue writing for "A Mental Health Perspective" newsletter published by the Kings County Branch of the Canadian Mental Heath Association.  I will continue my collating job with Flyer Services.

I need to decide what I want to accomplish outside my work.  One thing I would like to accomplish is to be given more opportunity to do some public speaking and share my experience, strength, and hope with others.

I also want to further advance my writing career.  I want to become a successful, paid, published, free lance writer.  Writing for magazines and newspapers.  I also would like to do more work on my blogs on the net.

I will continue working on the business plan for our business that Kim and I have started.  We are hoping to have an actual store some day.

For rest and relaxation I want to do more fly fishing this spring and summer.  I never had the opportunity do much fly fishing in the past year.

These are just some of the things I want to accomplish in 2011.

Why am I able to do all of these things?  Because I have been working on my recovery from my mental illness's, addiction, and alcoholism.  The medications I am on are working which help keep the symptoms under control and I am working hard on the psychological aspect of my recovery.

Recovery is truly possible.  If I can recover after suffering from the symptoms of my conditions for many years anyone can recover.  I have been ill for over 25 years.  I started my recovery in the year 2000 when I went to the Beacon Program which was located at the Rehab in Waterville at the time.  At the Beacon Unit they got my medication adjusted and I received psycho-social treatments while I was there.  I am grateful and thankful for what the Beacon Program has done for me.  If it wasn't for them I would not be living in recovery at the present moment.

Have faith, hope, and courage and seek recovery with all your heart you just might find it.  I did.