I Will Not Remain Silent Kristen Bellows I don’t like it when people tell me that I’m strong. I don’t see myself as strong. I see myself as someone who did what they had to do to survive. Isn’t that what we’re all doing? I first wrote about suicide in my journal at 12 years…
Learn How To Make Your Life Better, Not Your Illness Better Don Webber In what ways have you found psychiatric medication helpful, if any? Very little, they are just a tool, a small tool, only anti-anxiety drugs have helped me. Have you found psychiatric medication harmful? No Have you experienced any serious physical health problems…
I Gained Strength and Resilience Peggy Hardwick; Albuquerque, NM During your mental health care, have you often felt hopeful about your chance of getting better? Yes. I became hopeful about getting better after I fired my university-employed psychiatrist and went to see a psychologist who runs a community mental health clinic. During your mental health…
Recovered From What? Jean Davison; Leeds, West Yorkshire During your mental health care, have you often felt hopeless about your chance of getting better? Yes. Felt trapped in a situation of which I could see no way out. Has a mental health provider ever told you that you could not reach a personal goal because…
Proud to Be Me! Louise Gillett; Dorset, England During your mental health care, have you often felt hopeless about your chance of getting better? Yes. I was told by a group of mental health doctors and nurses that I would never get better, that I would need medication for the rest of my life and…
Your Life Has Meaning Cyndi McKnight; Middletown, CT During your mental health care, have you often felt hopeless about your chance of getting better? Yes. The possibility of my getting better was not even considered plausible by either myself or workers in the mental health system I encountered until recently. I was often told (and…
Living a Life of my Choosing Christopher Busby; Stoneham, MA During your mental health care, have you often felt hopeful about your chance of getting better? Yes. I feel with every day I get stronger and stronger. I do get discouraged regularly with having to deal with the same challenges and set backs but I…
Compassion for Yourself Al Galves; Las Cruces, NM Have you ever taken a prescribed psychiatric medication? No During your mental health care, have you often felt hopeful about your chance of getting better? Yes. The first treatment I received was very non-directive. It gave me an opportunity to become more comfortable with things about me…
People Have Recovered Marion Kolitwenzew; Sandy Level, VA In what ways have you found psychiatric medication(s) harmful, if any? I am weaning off meds now. When I was taking them at a high dose, I had no energy and no interest in life. I laid in bed until 2 in the afternoon. I felt socially…
Positive Ways to Deal With Life Challenges Kerrie Melton; Manteca, CA During your mental health care, have you often felt hopeful about your chance of getting better? Yes. When I was finally able to get housing it helped a lot, but what helped more than anything was being able to get a peer specialist job…