It is election time again in Nova Scotia. We are voting to see who is going to be our Premier. I am voting for the NDP. I personally feel that they are in politics for the people and will do their best to do what is beneficial for the people. Most politicians do what benefits them the most not what benefits the people. I personally believe that the NDP will do their very best to do what's in the best interest for society. Not just certain parts of society but all society. They will try to solve the economic situation we are in at the present moment. They will try to alleviate poverty in our Province. They will try to improve the health care system and cut down on waiting times. They will try to create jobs and keep the young people in Nova Scotia. At the present moment a lot of young people have to move away just to find a half decent job. They will also do what they can to improve the environment. Overall I believe that everyone should vote NDP. In the past the Liberals or the PC's haven't done much to improve the quality of life for all society. Including the poor. We need a change. That change is the NDP.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Research, Study and Writing
I have decided to advance further in my writing career. I want to become a successful, paid, published, free lance writer. I have been giving a lot of serious thought as to what field I want to research, study, and write about.
I have been seriously considering becoming a science writer. In school I never got past grade nine. As a result of this I never got training in the basic science concepts of high school. So I am thinking about researching and studying the basics I missed in high school. Once I master the basics then I will advance my studies further. I've decided to specialize in scientific research being done on mental illness, addiction, and alcoholism. Once I develop a real good working knowledge on these topics then I will start writing on them and seek to get my works published. I will start finding scientists to interview for my stories.
I have a keen interest in science and mathematics. These were my favorite subjects in school and I made my best marks in these subjects. The decision I made concerning what to write about is based on my passion for math and science. Even though I have no formal training in math and science I am quite capable of teaching myself on these topics. I believe that I can learn just as much as a university student. I will just be teaching myself instead of being taught by a professor.
Before I actually start writing for publication I want to do much research and study first. I believe that a writer needs a real good working knowledge on their subject before they start writing. The editors can tell if you know your subject or not. If the editors think that you don't know your subject very well they will not publish your work. I am going to give myself a year or two before I start submitting works to be published. I am going to start a science blog though and write for that for practice and to develop my science writing skills. I have never written anything on science so I will need to develop the necessary skills to write about this topic. I just thrive on challenges. I am looking forward to mastering this new challenge.
It will take a lot of time before I will start becoming successful as a science writer. There is lots of time. I am not going to a fire. I will just take things slowly and take things one step at a time. Eventually I will reach my destination. There is a lot of hard work ahead of me but I feel that I am up to it. I am looking forward to my journey. I am going to seek to enjoy the journey and eventually arrive at my destination.
Wish me luck.
I have been seriously considering becoming a science writer. In school I never got past grade nine. As a result of this I never got training in the basic science concepts of high school. So I am thinking about researching and studying the basics I missed in high school. Once I master the basics then I will advance my studies further. I've decided to specialize in scientific research being done on mental illness, addiction, and alcoholism. Once I develop a real good working knowledge on these topics then I will start writing on them and seek to get my works published. I will start finding scientists to interview for my stories.
I have a keen interest in science and mathematics. These were my favorite subjects in school and I made my best marks in these subjects. The decision I made concerning what to write about is based on my passion for math and science. Even though I have no formal training in math and science I am quite capable of teaching myself on these topics. I believe that I can learn just as much as a university student. I will just be teaching myself instead of being taught by a professor.
Before I actually start writing for publication I want to do much research and study first. I believe that a writer needs a real good working knowledge on their subject before they start writing. The editors can tell if you know your subject or not. If the editors think that you don't know your subject very well they will not publish your work. I am going to give myself a year or two before I start submitting works to be published. I am going to start a science blog though and write for that for practice and to develop my science writing skills. I have never written anything on science so I will need to develop the necessary skills to write about this topic. I just thrive on challenges. I am looking forward to mastering this new challenge.
It will take a lot of time before I will start becoming successful as a science writer. There is lots of time. I am not going to a fire. I will just take things slowly and take things one step at a time. Eventually I will reach my destination. There is a lot of hard work ahead of me but I feel that I am up to it. I am looking forward to my journey. I am going to seek to enjoy the journey and eventually arrive at my destination.
Wish me luck.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Hobbies
I personally believe that hobbies are very beneficial to ones mental health. Especially if one isn't working. We need to find things to do that will occupy our time. We do not want to be just sitting around doing nothing. That just gives us opportunity to dwell on our problems. We need to get away from our thoughts and be occupied with something.
A person needs to sit down and figure out what sort of things that they enjoy doing. Maybe even experimenting with different activities just to find out what we do like. There are myriads of choices out there. For example. Reading, listening to music, painting, drawing, knitting, playing a musical instrument, writing, and playing computer games. These are things that someone can do individually.
There are other things one can do that involves other people. For example. Playing hockey, soccer, tennis, baseball, playing board games, playing card games, playing floor hockey, volley ball, playing chess, engaging in track and field, skiing, snowshoeing with others, and many other activities as well.
A person can engage in activities such as bird watching, hiking, canoeing, fishing, camping, nature watching, back packing, whale watching, winter camping, and deep sea fishing. The list is endless.
All these activities are very beneficial to a persons mental health. Doing things that don't involve other people are great for just spending time with yourself. A person needs time out from all the other activities and hassles of life. Engaging in individual activities help you get focused on what you are doing and just have fun. It teaches you to be successful at your activity. It helps you develop good self-esteem. It teaches you to believe in yourself. It shows you that you can do things and be successful at what you are doing. It is just beneficial to you psychologically and emotionally. It gives you a sense of accomplishment. It gives you something to do to give you meaning and purpose in life. A person does not have to work to find meaning and purpose in life. You can find it in your hobbies. Overall it is just great for you mental health.
What about engaging in activities that involve other people? This is very beneficial to your mental health as well. It helps you get out and be with other people. You don't have to sit around where you live and be alone all of the time. Consumers have a habit of sticking to themselves and not getting out to socialize. It's a pretty lonely life. If we get out and engage in activities with others we are not so alone in life. It teaches us how to conduct oneself appropriately when engaging in social activities. It teaches us how to communicate with others. It teaches us what team work is all about. Very simply engaging in social activities brings much joy and happiness in life.
Overall hobbies are a great thing to have in ones life. The benefits are endless. I have just scratched the surface. There many many other benefits to engaging in hobbies as well. If you are just sitting around not doing anything with your time try to pick something that you might enjoy doing and give it a try. You will be surprised at the outcome. If you have to experiment with different activities until you find one that best suits your personality, and that you love to do. I engage in hobbies when I am not working at my jobs that I have. I get great pleasure out of doing this. I get the same benefits from it that I have been discussing in this article. Give it a try. You will not be disappointed.
A person needs to sit down and figure out what sort of things that they enjoy doing. Maybe even experimenting with different activities just to find out what we do like. There are myriads of choices out there. For example. Reading, listening to music, painting, drawing, knitting, playing a musical instrument, writing, and playing computer games. These are things that someone can do individually.
There are other things one can do that involves other people. For example. Playing hockey, soccer, tennis, baseball, playing board games, playing card games, playing floor hockey, volley ball, playing chess, engaging in track and field, skiing, snowshoeing with others, and many other activities as well.
A person can engage in activities such as bird watching, hiking, canoeing, fishing, camping, nature watching, back packing, whale watching, winter camping, and deep sea fishing. The list is endless.
All these activities are very beneficial to a persons mental health. Doing things that don't involve other people are great for just spending time with yourself. A person needs time out from all the other activities and hassles of life. Engaging in individual activities help you get focused on what you are doing and just have fun. It teaches you to be successful at your activity. It helps you develop good self-esteem. It teaches you to believe in yourself. It shows you that you can do things and be successful at what you are doing. It is just beneficial to you psychologically and emotionally. It gives you a sense of accomplishment. It gives you something to do to give you meaning and purpose in life. A person does not have to work to find meaning and purpose in life. You can find it in your hobbies. Overall it is just great for you mental health.
What about engaging in activities that involve other people? This is very beneficial to your mental health as well. It helps you get out and be with other people. You don't have to sit around where you live and be alone all of the time. Consumers have a habit of sticking to themselves and not getting out to socialize. It's a pretty lonely life. If we get out and engage in activities with others we are not so alone in life. It teaches us how to conduct oneself appropriately when engaging in social activities. It teaches us how to communicate with others. It teaches us what team work is all about. Very simply engaging in social activities brings much joy and happiness in life.
Overall hobbies are a great thing to have in ones life. The benefits are endless. I have just scratched the surface. There many many other benefits to engaging in hobbies as well. If you are just sitting around not doing anything with your time try to pick something that you might enjoy doing and give it a try. You will be surprised at the outcome. If you have to experiment with different activities until you find one that best suits your personality, and that you love to do. I engage in hobbies when I am not working at my jobs that I have. I get great pleasure out of doing this. I get the same benefits from it that I have been discussing in this article. Give it a try. You will not be disappointed.
My Computer
My computer is my sanity. I spend 99% of my spare time on my computer.
I use it for my research. I have several blogs on the net that I write for. I use my computer for my writing for my two writing jobs. I also play computer games on it as well.
I do a lot of research on the net. I research Christianity, schizophrenia, concurrent disorders, addiction, and alcoholism. I also do some research on Church History. I also do research on the scientific aspects to mental illness, concurrent disorders, addiction, and alcoholism. Especially scientific research on these topics. I am an intellectual type person. I get great pleasure out of doing research. I would rather do research on these topics than read a novel. To me personally reading novels is just a waste of time. I am a knowledge seeker. I want to get knowledge. There is a saying, "knowledge is power." Especially if it's the right type of knowledge.
Concerning my blogs I am having a ball. I just love writing. I love the very act of writing. I love sharing my knowledge with others through the medium of writing. I also love to share my experience, strength, and hope with others. I love writing about my personal experiences. I love to use my writing skills to help others. I love to tell others that there is hope. Recovery is truly possible.
I presently have two writing jobs. I write for the "A Mental Health Perspective" newsletter. This newsletter is published by the Kings County Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. It is an excellent newsletter. It has quite a wide distribution. It is distributed all over Nova Scotia, even as far as Australia. I love writing for this newsletter. It gives me the opportunity to help the mental health community. I can also help reduce that awful stigma out there in society. One way to reduce stigma is to educate the public about mental illness. I also write for the "Schizophrenia Newsletter" published by the Kings County Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of NS. This newsletter comes out every four months. It contains a lot of good articles pertaining to schizophrenia. It covers a variety of subject matter on schizophrenia. It is the perfect medium to get the word out there. I just love writing for this newsletter.
When I need to get away from it all I play computer games. I just love playing war games. I play with infantry men, tanks, half tracks, war planes, and other types of war machines. I can play my games for hours even without a smoke break. I do this just for fun and relaxation. It gets my mind off the everyday hassles of life. It gets me away from my problems for awhile. It is just time out for myself.
Overall computers are a very important component in my life. I use them both for work and for fun. I get much pleasure and satisfaction out of using computers. I am grateful and thankful that man has invented computers. Without my computer I would be like a little lost sheep in the wilderness. Thank God for computers.
I use it for my research. I have several blogs on the net that I write for. I use my computer for my writing for my two writing jobs. I also play computer games on it as well.
I do a lot of research on the net. I research Christianity, schizophrenia, concurrent disorders, addiction, and alcoholism. I also do some research on Church History. I also do research on the scientific aspects to mental illness, concurrent disorders, addiction, and alcoholism. Especially scientific research on these topics. I am an intellectual type person. I get great pleasure out of doing research. I would rather do research on these topics than read a novel. To me personally reading novels is just a waste of time. I am a knowledge seeker. I want to get knowledge. There is a saying, "knowledge is power." Especially if it's the right type of knowledge.
Concerning my blogs I am having a ball. I just love writing. I love the very act of writing. I love sharing my knowledge with others through the medium of writing. I also love to share my experience, strength, and hope with others. I love writing about my personal experiences. I love to use my writing skills to help others. I love to tell others that there is hope. Recovery is truly possible.
I presently have two writing jobs. I write for the "A Mental Health Perspective" newsletter. This newsletter is published by the Kings County Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. It is an excellent newsletter. It has quite a wide distribution. It is distributed all over Nova Scotia, even as far as Australia. I love writing for this newsletter. It gives me the opportunity to help the mental health community. I can also help reduce that awful stigma out there in society. One way to reduce stigma is to educate the public about mental illness. I also write for the "Schizophrenia Newsletter" published by the Kings County Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of NS. This newsletter comes out every four months. It contains a lot of good articles pertaining to schizophrenia. It covers a variety of subject matter on schizophrenia. It is the perfect medium to get the word out there. I just love writing for this newsletter.
When I need to get away from it all I play computer games. I just love playing war games. I play with infantry men, tanks, half tracks, war planes, and other types of war machines. I can play my games for hours even without a smoke break. I do this just for fun and relaxation. It gets my mind off the everyday hassles of life. It gets me away from my problems for awhile. It is just time out for myself.
Overall computers are a very important component in my life. I use them both for work and for fun. I get much pleasure and satisfaction out of using computers. I am grateful and thankful that man has invented computers. Without my computer I would be like a little lost sheep in the wilderness. Thank God for computers.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
The Benefits of Working
There are a lot of benefits to working. I am going to share how working is beneficial to me personally.
Working helps me psychologically. It gives me a sense of accomplishment. I accomplish something every time I put in a days work. It makes me feel that I am a productive member of society. I work to help support myself and I also pay income tax. It gives me an opportunity to socialize with other members of society. Going to work everyday gives me meaning and purpose in life which I never had when I wasn't working. I have something to look forward to everyday. I get the sense that I am living a normal lifestyle because working is essential component of life. I am doing what the rest of society is doing. I personally feel that I am part of the community I live in because everyone else is working as well. I do not feel like an outcast of society any more. I am one with society. Even though I work I still receive some assistance from social services. I do not make enough income to completely support myself but I feel good because I am doing all that I can to support myself and bring in some income even though it is not enough to completely go off of social assistance.
Of course, I benefit financially. If I was not working I would not be able to afford my internet. I am able to afford my tobacco which I would not be able to buy if I wasn't working. After these two things are taking care of I have extra money for other things. I spend some money on my wife. I just love to be able to buy things for Kim. I also have some money to spend on myself as well. Sometimes things crop up and I have the money to take care of these things as well.
Overall working benefits me psychologically, emotionally, and financially. I am just so grateful and thankful that I am able to work. There was a time when I wasn't able to work as a result of my mental illness's, addiction, and alcoholism. I was unemployed for a period of roughly 20 to 25 years. Now, I have been working since August 2001 in the regular work force like the rest of society. I feel good about the whole thing. Recovery is truly possible. There is hope.
Working helps me psychologically. It gives me a sense of accomplishment. I accomplish something every time I put in a days work. It makes me feel that I am a productive member of society. I work to help support myself and I also pay income tax. It gives me an opportunity to socialize with other members of society. Going to work everyday gives me meaning and purpose in life which I never had when I wasn't working. I have something to look forward to everyday. I get the sense that I am living a normal lifestyle because working is essential component of life. I am doing what the rest of society is doing. I personally feel that I am part of the community I live in because everyone else is working as well. I do not feel like an outcast of society any more. I am one with society. Even though I work I still receive some assistance from social services. I do not make enough income to completely support myself but I feel good because I am doing all that I can to support myself and bring in some income even though it is not enough to completely go off of social assistance.
Of course, I benefit financially. If I was not working I would not be able to afford my internet. I am able to afford my tobacco which I would not be able to buy if I wasn't working. After these two things are taking care of I have extra money for other things. I spend some money on my wife. I just love to be able to buy things for Kim. I also have some money to spend on myself as well. Sometimes things crop up and I have the money to take care of these things as well.
Overall working benefits me psychologically, emotionally, and financially. I am just so grateful and thankful that I am able to work. There was a time when I wasn't able to work as a result of my mental illness's, addiction, and alcoholism. I was unemployed for a period of roughly 20 to 25 years. Now, I have been working since August 2001 in the regular work force like the rest of society. I feel good about the whole thing. Recovery is truly possible. There is hope.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Treating The Whole Person
At the present moment the psychiatric profession treats schizophrenia in two ways. The bedrock of treatment is medication of course. We need medication to get the positive and negative symptoms under control. Once the medication takes hold and gets the symptoms under control then consumers receive psycho-social treatments which are based on the concepts of psychology.
What about the rest of the person? I personally believe that mankind has a spiritual side to them. When people talk about the medication and the psychological side to treatment everything is just fine. Once you start talking about treating the spiritual side everyone gets up in arms. Especially if one starts talking about religion. Particularly Christianity. Why is that? For me personally if it wasn't for my religious beliefs I would not be able to recover from my two mental illness's, addiction, and alcoholism. I just cannot recover just from medication and psycho-social treatments. I need the spiritual element in my treatment and recovery.
Sad to say one cannot receive the spiritual part of treatment from the mental health profession. One has to figure out that part of their treatment on their own. For many consumers that is a very difficult thing to do. Consumers need guidance for their psycho-social treatments. We all need human guides in life. What about spiritual guides. We need someone that would be able to guide us in the spiritual part of our treatment.
Unfortunately I don't have a spiritual guide. The church that I was involved in viewed my mental illness as demon possession. I was full of evil spirits. As a result of this I have not gone back to that church. I have never found someone to be my spiritual guide in life. I am left on my own to try to figure out the spiritual aspect to my recovery. I am thankful that I have been able to figure out what to believe and how to utilize those beliefs and apply them to the spiritual part of my recovery.
The purpose of my writing is to share my experience, strength, and hope with others to help them with their recovery. I personally feel that I cannot share the spiritual side of recovery on this blog for the reason being that my spiritual beliefs are fundamentalist in nature. If I started sharing my fundamentalist Christian beliefs it would offend a lot of people and people would stop reading my blog. People would think what does that have to do with recovery. Much every way. My religious beliefs are a major part of my recovery. If I am to recover I need to treat my whole person not just part of me. The spiritual part of me needs to be fulfilled if I am to enjoy a full and complete recovery. Up to this point I have been trying desperately to avoid the spiritual aspect to my recovery. I have touched on it briefly on a couple of my entries. I didn't go into much detail though.
I do mention my religious beliefs on other blogs but I haven't done so on this one. I have been trying to confine it to just the medical and psychological aspects of treatment. By doing this I have not been sharing my whole recovery with others. Like I said before the spiritual aspect is a major part of my recovery. I have been only telling half my story. Their is a lot more to my experience, strength, and hope concerning my recovery.
I am in a strait betwix two. I am between a rock and a hard place. I don't know what to do about this issue I have been discussing. Deep within my heart, mind, and soul I want to share my whole recovery with my fellow man. If I am to be honest with my readers I am too afraid and a coward to share my religious beliefs with others on this blog. I am afraid of stepping on people's toes and offending them. I am afraid that people will stop reading this blog.
Yet I am being dishonest with my readers by not sharing my whole and complete recovery. I have only been sharing half of my recovery. Not all of it. I just wanted to share these things with my readers. I just felt a need to share this with my faithful readers who read my blog.
Good luck in your own personal recovery.
What about the rest of the person? I personally believe that mankind has a spiritual side to them. When people talk about the medication and the psychological side to treatment everything is just fine. Once you start talking about treating the spiritual side everyone gets up in arms. Especially if one starts talking about religion. Particularly Christianity. Why is that? For me personally if it wasn't for my religious beliefs I would not be able to recover from my two mental illness's, addiction, and alcoholism. I just cannot recover just from medication and psycho-social treatments. I need the spiritual element in my treatment and recovery.
Sad to say one cannot receive the spiritual part of treatment from the mental health profession. One has to figure out that part of their treatment on their own. For many consumers that is a very difficult thing to do. Consumers need guidance for their psycho-social treatments. We all need human guides in life. What about spiritual guides. We need someone that would be able to guide us in the spiritual part of our treatment.
Unfortunately I don't have a spiritual guide. The church that I was involved in viewed my mental illness as demon possession. I was full of evil spirits. As a result of this I have not gone back to that church. I have never found someone to be my spiritual guide in life. I am left on my own to try to figure out the spiritual aspect to my recovery. I am thankful that I have been able to figure out what to believe and how to utilize those beliefs and apply them to the spiritual part of my recovery.
The purpose of my writing is to share my experience, strength, and hope with others to help them with their recovery. I personally feel that I cannot share the spiritual side of recovery on this blog for the reason being that my spiritual beliefs are fundamentalist in nature. If I started sharing my fundamentalist Christian beliefs it would offend a lot of people and people would stop reading my blog. People would think what does that have to do with recovery. Much every way. My religious beliefs are a major part of my recovery. If I am to recover I need to treat my whole person not just part of me. The spiritual part of me needs to be fulfilled if I am to enjoy a full and complete recovery. Up to this point I have been trying desperately to avoid the spiritual aspect to my recovery. I have touched on it briefly on a couple of my entries. I didn't go into much detail though.
I do mention my religious beliefs on other blogs but I haven't done so on this one. I have been trying to confine it to just the medical and psychological aspects of treatment. By doing this I have not been sharing my whole recovery with others. Like I said before the spiritual aspect is a major part of my recovery. I have been only telling half my story. Their is a lot more to my experience, strength, and hope concerning my recovery.
I am in a strait betwix two. I am between a rock and a hard place. I don't know what to do about this issue I have been discussing. Deep within my heart, mind, and soul I want to share my whole recovery with my fellow man. If I am to be honest with my readers I am too afraid and a coward to share my religious beliefs with others on this blog. I am afraid of stepping on people's toes and offending them. I am afraid that people will stop reading this blog.
Yet I am being dishonest with my readers by not sharing my whole and complete recovery. I have only been sharing half of my recovery. Not all of it. I just wanted to share these things with my readers. I just felt a need to share this with my faithful readers who read my blog.
Good luck in your own personal recovery.
Quality of Life Report
Quality of Life Report
Mental illness can be a devastating illness for anyone; however, it is especially difficult for young adults as it often disrupts their education, career plans and the raising of a young family. The symptoms of psychosis can confuse the mind, disorient perceptions, and unsettle important relationships with family and friends. But there is hope, schizophrenia and psychosis are treatable and recovery of quality of life is possible when people are able to find the right path to open up options for treatment, support and hope.
The Schizophrenia Society of Canada (SCC) recently commissioned a Canada-wide survey to learn how it can support people living with schizophrenia and their families to recover the best quality of life possible. Through a qualitative and quantitative survey and cross Canada focus groups, 1,086 people with mental health experience shared what quality of life means to them. The results revealed that people living with schizophrenia and their families share similar hopes and frustrations regarding their quality of life.
This article is from the Schizophrenia Society of Canada web site.
To read more on about this subject go to the SSC web site by clicking on the link below
Quality of Life Report
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