New Years Resolution

2012 is coming up fast.  Today is Christmas day.  I am having a wonderful X-mas with my wife and family.  Dinner should be ready soon.  I helped prepare the veggies.  I have been reading my Guitar Player magazine Mom bought me a couple of days ago.  It has a lot of inspiring articles in it and I have picked up a few tips which brings me to my New Years Resolution.

I love music and at one time I was a professional musician playing the drums.  I have listened to a lot music over the years.  I have listened to everything.  Classic rock, hard rock, heavy metal, soft rock, blues, jazz, pop, old fashioned country, modern country, classical music, and opera.  The only kind of music I will not listen to is rap.  I find the lyrics offensive.

Last X-mas I received a acoustic guitar with a pick up in it.  It's a GWL guitar.  It has a wonderful sound both as an acoustic and electric.  I must confess I haven't played it much over the last year.  A few weeks ago I started getting down to business with it and started playing a lot.  I also purchased guitar lessons which teach me how to play rhythm, lead guitar with a pic, and how to finger pick.  I also have tons of music books on different genres.  Gospel, rock, country, rhythm and blues, and jazz.

I have decided that my New Years Resolution is to learn how to play the guitar.  I want to become really good at rhythm and lead guitar.  I also want to bone up on my singing abilities and become a better singer (which at the present moment isn't very good).  I am going to spend 90% of my spare time practicing, reading up on music theory, reading guitar magazines, and buy more guitar lessons to work on.  I am always talking about my destiny.  Well, my destiny is to become a successful musician.  I love music and I love making music.  Eventually I want to get good enough to either join a band or start up my own band.  I do have to decide what genre I want to learn to play.  I like so many different kinds of music I am having trouble deciding just what genre I do want to learn to play.  At the present moment I know several gospel songs, a few rock songs, and a Christmas song.  I will have a problem deciding because of my OCD but I will overcome this and make a decision.  Once my decision is made I will definitely get down to business.

This is my New Years Resolution and I will stick to it come hell or high water, despite my OCD.  I will not let myself change my mind and get side tracked.  I am going to become a successful musician.  Period.

An Update

I haven't written anything for my blog lately so I thought I would write something tonight.  I thought I would write an update on what's going on in my life.  I am still recovering from my schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, addiction, and alcoholism.  On December 6th this year I will be clean and sober for 12 years.  My wife and I are going to do something special to celebrate.  My wife had a lot to do with me staying clean and sober that long.  She was a real big help to me in this regard.  She is very special to me.  Without her I would be like a little lost sheep in the wilderness wandering around aimlessly.  

I am still working hard.  I still write for the CMHA newsletter called "A Mental Health Perspective."  I still write for, format, and put together the Schizophrenia Newsletter published by the Kings County Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society, and I am still collating (putting flyers together).

Kim and I have been really busy with her business.  We have attended a lot of craft shows this year.  We have one to do tomorrow and then we are done for the season.  We will be starting up again next fall.  Plus we will be attending the Farm Market downtown a few times during the summer months.

For fun and relaxation I do a lot of research on the net and play computer games.  I love intellectual activities.  I love doing research and writing.  I would love to go to university but that's not practical.  It would take to long to get my degree and it would cost to much money.  I have decided to do my own research and become a self-taught expert on the subjects I decide to research.  I also want to start writing essays and research papers.  Maybe even some day have them published.

When I want to take a break from it all that is when I play computer games.  I am not very good at them but I have a ball playing them anyway.  I love the challenge and they are fun to play.  Playing computer games takes my mind off of everything and I get wrapped up in my game.  It is a great change from all the work that I do.  I need to have balance in my life.  I also take time out for my marriage.  Kim and I spend a lot of time together and we do things together.  We love travelling together, and eating out together, when we have the money.

I try to have a balance between my marriage, work, and rest and relaxation.  I also take time out for my friends.  I feel that  a social life is very important to one's mental health.  I still take my medication the way it is prescribed.  If I stop taking my meds I will get ill again.  I make regular visits to my psychiatrist.  I also have a good support system in place.  I have Kim, my psychiatrist, my mom, and other mental health professionals in my life.  When needed I always have someone to turn to for help.  Many times I turn to more than one person.  That gives me more options to consider when I seek advice and help for my problems.

Overall I am living a great life.  I love life and love being alive.  I am living in recovery.  Recovery is truly possible.  I am living a life of meaning, purpose, and am a productive member of society.

I would like to say to my readers.  Good luck in your own recovery.

Problems With My Blog

I have just discovered that the photos and pictures I have been posting on my blog do not show up on other people's browsers.  They show up on mine but not everyone else's.  I did not know about this.  I greatly apologize for this problem.  I thought that everyone could view my photo's, pictures, and posters.  In the future I will only post text on my postings.  

Once again I apologize for this and hope that my readers will forgive me for this problem.

Bye for now.

Tony

SSNS Conference Poster

SSNS Conference

Friday, November 4^th, 2011

8:45 am to 4:30 pm

The University Club

Dalhousie University Campus

1 Alumni Crescent

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Secure online conference registration with payment by credit card or bank debit is available by clicking here.

Telephone registration and payment by Visa or MasterCard is available by calling 465-2601 or            1-800-465-2601 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1-800-465-2601      end_of_the_skype_highlighting       (toll-free in Nova Scotia)

Alternatively, you can fill out and mail in the attached Conference Registration Form, along with your conference registration fee.

Topics to be covered:

·        Cognitive remediation for schizophrenia (also known as neuroplasticity-based cognitive training for schizophrenia) – Dr. Susan R. McGurk, Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, New Hampshire

·        An interactive session about antipsychotics and their side effects – Dr. David Gardner, Department of Psychiatry & College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University, Halifax

·        Peer support – Vince Daigle, Peer Support Worker, Healthy Minds Cooperative, Halifax

·        Psychosocial rehabilitation – The Beacon Program, Kentville, Nova Scotia

·        Cognitive behavioural therapy and how it can help with relationships

·        Employment – Gail Kelly, Connections Halifax, and staff of The Mindful Mango, Halifax

·        Promoting recovery through a Wellness Program –  Dr. Zenovia Ursuliak, Nova Scotia Early Psychosis Program and the Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Halifax

Registration fees (includes lunch and two refreshment breaks):

Regular: $150

SSNS Member: $100

Student: $50

Unwaged: $25

All-day parking passes are available for $10.

Ten conference bursaries are available for individuals who live with a mental illness.

For a Conference Bursary Application Form, please contact the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia by return email or by calling 465-2601 (            1-800-465-2601 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            1-800-465-2601      end_of_the_skype_highlighting       toll-free in Nova Scotia).

To become a member of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia, please complete and mail in the attached Membership Form along with a minimum tax-deductible donation of $15.00.

The chickadee was chosen to represent the theme of recovery because chickadees are friendly, hardy little birds that thrive in good times and bad. The bird is shown looking up to convey a feeling of hope.

Designer: Terri Vernon, SSNS member

Conference Sponsors

Please click on the sponsor's logos to visit their websites.

Suicide

No one likes to talk about suicide. It can be painful and uncomfortable to discuss. This situation can be made worse by a sometimes negative perception in the community. Suicide is often a dark secret that no one wants to share.

Unfortunately, silence has not made suicide go away. People who are at risk for suicide often do not share their feelings with others. They fear family members will think differently of them. They fear professional repercussions. Most of all, they fear that no one will care. It is a misconception that people suffering with thoughts of suicide want to keep it a secret.

To view the rest of this web site click on the link below.

http://oneinfive.ca/topic/suicide/

Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia Information Session

The Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia

Information Session

Thursday, Sept 22nd, 2011

3:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Room 252 (originally, 206)

NSCC Annapolis Valley Campus, Middleton

295 Commercial Street

Purpose

With your help, the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia (SSNS) is

working to develop a community-based, volunteer-led family support

group in Annapolis County. The Society invites you to a town-hall

meeting to learn about the SSNS and its chapters, and to discuss

opportunities for a support group in your area.

The meeting is intended for family members and supporters of

individuals affected by schizophrenia or another mental disorder, as well

as people living with or who have experienced mental illness, service

providers, and other interested parties.

Refreshments will be provided.

If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Hilary

Thorne at 1-800-465-2601, or by emailing hilary.thorne@bellaliant.com.

Website: www.ssns.ca | Web Blog: www.blog.ssns.ca

The Department of Sociology at Acadia University &

the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia (Kings County Chapter)

invite you to

The At Home/Chez Soi Project:

a research demonstration project investigating

mental health and homelessness

in five Canadian cities:

Moncton, Montreal, Toronto,

Winnipeg and Vancouver

Claudette Bradshaw

Moncton Site Coordinator

Chez Soi/At Home Project

Mental Health Commission of Canada

Friday September 23, 11am

Beveridge Arts Centre Room 325

(Faculty of Arts Lounge)

Claudette Bradshaw was elected as the Member of Parliament for Moncton-Riverview-

Dieppe (1997 to 2006); and served as Minister of Labour, Multiculturalism, Status of

Women, Literacy, and Minister responsible for Homelessness Initiatives in Canada. In this

talk, Ms.Bradshaw will discuss the innovative multi-sited research project, At Home/Chez

Soi, which involves over 2000 people who are homeless and living with a mental illness .

ALL WELCOME

For further information or inquiries please contact Prof. Mervyn Horgan, Department of Sociology

(mervyn.horgan@acadiau.ca)

An Interactive Presentation on Concurrent Disorders

Thursday, September 15^th, 2011

6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

The Hub

2nd Floor, 1673 Barrington Street

Halifax, Nova Scotia

The From Recovery to Discovery Peer Support Group is open to anyone affected by mental illness, either directly or indirectly.

FREE!

Image credit

Thursday, September 15^th, 2011

An interactive presentation on concurrent disorders with Susan Kilbride-Roper and Graham Hooper

Susan Kilbride-Roper has been working and volunteering in the mental health community for sixteen years. She and her husband own and operate a mental health promotion organization, The Empowerment Connection.  Susan believes passionately in the resilience of the human spirit and, through the mutual experiential sharing of peers who have survived and thrived while living with concurrent disorders of mental illness and addiction, has had the privilege to meet some of the most resilient and gifted individuals who continue to inspire her every day.  She looks forward to being “inspired anew” by the members of the From Recovery to Discovery Peer Support Group.

Graham Hooper lives with a mental illness and has a history of substance abuse. These days, however, Graham works as a musician, a financial project manager, a videographer /editor, and a mental health advocate and peer support worker.  As a husband, father, and volunteer, he is a busy guy.  Though peer support groups, lifestyle choices, and self-knowledge, the conundrum of a concurrent disorder no longer eludes him.  He states that "life has taught me that there isn't one perfect remedy to my troubles - there were, fortunately, lots of little ones."

Inter-Professional Education Series

Walk the World for Schizophrenia

Walk the World for Schizophrenia

Sunday, October 2, 2011

 

1:00 p.m. at Robie Tufts Park, Front Street, Wolfville

 

Our Walk will begin from the Park on Front Street, down Main Street, and back to the Lions Hall for food, music and prizes.

 

Help us to alleviate the stigma and suffering of those afflicted by or living with schizophrenia

Mental Illness Awareness Week

MIAW is October 2-8 2011.

Our goal is to end the stigma associated with mental illness, and ensure better understanding and access to diagnosis and treatment. The MIAW campaign includes:

• Faces of Mental Illness
• Champions of Mental Health Awards

MIAW is coordinated by the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health.

To view the official website on Mental Illness Awareness Week click on the link below

http://miaw.ca/en/default.aspx

Mental Health Promotion - From Recovery to Discovery - September 8th

An Interactive Presentation on Mental Health Promotion

This Thursday, September 8^th, 2011

6:30 pm to 8:30 pm

The Hub

2nd Floor, 1673 Barrington Street

Halifax, Nova Scotia

The From Recovery to Discovery Peer Support Group is open to anyone affected by mental illness, either directly or indirectly.

FREE!

This Thursday, September 8^th, 2011

An interactive presentation on mental health promotion with Tara N. Lee, Health Promotion Consultant, Community Mental Health Program, Capital District Health Authority

Tara works in a health promotion role with the Community Mental Health Program at Capital Health.  Prior to that she worked in Halifax's non-profit, community health and human services sector addressing the health needs of diverse and often marginalized populations through the lens of health promotion.  Tara completed undergraduate studies in health promotion at Dalhousie University and for the last few years has been working towards her M.Ed. in Counselling from Acadia University.

This discussion will begin by exploring an understanding of mental health promotion in a broad social context.  The discussion will then focus on an understanding of mental health and well-being (rather than illness) for individuals from a health promotion perspective.  An underlying value of this discussion is that regardless of who we are, ill or not, we can all benefit from working towards the attainment of good mental health both individually and collectively.  It is hoped that the information shared in this discussion generates rich, diverse and varied perspectives carrying equal weight as we grow our mutual understandings!

Image credit

Thursday, September 15^th, 2011

An interactive presentation on concurrent disorders with Susan Kilbride-Roper and Graham Hooper

Details on this interactive presentation to follow at a later date.

Thursday, September 22^nd, 2011

An interactive presentation on nutrition with Maureen Tilley, Clinical Dietitian, Nova Scotia Hospital

Maureen Tilley is a registered dietitian who graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University in 2007.  She subsequently moved to Ontario and worked in long term care for almost two years.  Returning home to Dartmouth in 2009, she worked at Pete’s Frootique as a community dietitian.  She still does some contract work with Pete’s but works mostly as a clinical dietitian at the Nova Scotia Hospital, the North Preston Wellness Centre, and with Heart in Motion.  She is very passionate about health and nutrition and is a firm believer in ‘what you eat not only affects your physical health, but also your mental health.’  The author of two cookbooks, Hold the Salt! and Hold that Hidden Salt!, Maureen loves to cook and the challenge of proving that healthy dishes can still taste delicious!

The From Recovery to Discovery Peer Support Group is organized as a partnership between the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia and the Healthy Minds Cooperative.

In support of Mental Illness Awareness Week SSNS Presents the Soloist

In support of

Mental Illness Awareness Week

presents

The Soloist is a 2009 drama film directed by Joe Wright, and starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr.

The screenplay by Susannah Grant is based on the book, The Soloist by Steve Lopez.

The film is based on a true story of Nathaniel Ayers, a musician who develops schizophrenia and becomes homeless.

Sunday, October 2^nd, 2011

12:00 noon

Oxford Theatre

6408 Quinpool Road, Halifax, Nova Scotia

General Admission:  $12.00

Seniors and Unwaged:  $6.00

We encourage to purchase advance tickets by calling 465-2601 or 1-800-465-2601 (toll-free in Nova Scotia)

telephone payment by Visa or MasterCard is accepted

The option to purchase tickets online will be announced shortly

Tickets will also be available at the door

For further information on Mental Illness Awareness Week, please click here.

To make a secure tax-deductible donation to the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia, please click here. 

A receipt will be sent to you immediately by email.