One type of therapy is “one on one”.
Another is hospital therapy.
Another, out-patient therapy in a program.
Another: lying on a couch.
Another – sipping tea while sitting in a chair.
Another…group therapy.
Shock therapy.
Pain therapy.
Medication therapy.
It took all these therapies over the years to become normal.
Types of therapy are different for everybody.
I have been given the best of care and in my blog I hope to pass that on to other people!
My mental health is very important to me.
A healthy mind can make for better physical and spiritual health.
I fought long and hard to be normal. When I had poor mental health it seemed that I could never be normal again. But I never stopped trying.
Along my road to recovery I discovered all kinds of amazing therapies and medications which made it possible to enjoy life again!
My two major setbacks involved alcohol and drugs. It has now been 22 years since I drank or took drugs.
I am very thankful for all the help along the way.
If I can become normal so can other people. I have hope that every day gets a little bit better. I am thankful for the blessings of God and for today!
My sister is not only a sister but a friend.
We love each other very much and have always been there for one another.
My mental illness has caused some very hard times in my life, and my sister has helped me in the worst times as well as the normal times. We lived together a few times until I was ready to live on my own.
There is no better sister than mine.
Her accomplishments in her education and career have been something special to look up to. She has a great sense of humor and we have shared many laughs together. She lives a good distance from here, so it is always a special time when I see her.
She has her own family now who loves her and keeps her very active.
May God bless her and keep her healthy!
My brother is the best guy I have ever known. He has done a lot for me in the difficult days as well as the good days.
How lucky I am to have a brother like him! We have done a lot together. Our sense of humor is similar and we have some good laughs.
Our love for one another will always be there.
He is my favorite brother, however he is my only brother.
Thanks Bro!
Exercise is an excellent source of mental therapy.
When I was a kid my dad bought us a set of weights. After which, in many of our family pictures, I was seen flexing my skinny little arms and showing off my little muscles.
I enjoyed running in school on the soccer team and running on my own.
I also enjoyed running after girls.
I continued to lift weights and joined a few gyms along the way.
As I got older I started to walk and not run. About one year ago I stopped walking because I had trouble with my back. But, I am currently getting physical therapy and looking forward to hitting the road again.
I am so thankful for the health I do have and remember growing up with the saying “anything is possible that you put your mind to”.
The worst mental illness I have ever had was depression.
I found it difficult to get out of bed.
It seemed everybody was happy but me.
Nothing interested me and I had lost my sense of humor.
It seemed to keep me from learning anything.
I found it hard to talk to people about anything.
I tried reading and taking walks. I tried not to let it bring me down. I got therapy and medication. Still it kept it’s grip on me.
But I fought back… and, eventually, with help, with therapy, with medication the depression finally left me.
You can beat it but it takes time. Keep the hope!
Yesterday was Sunday May 11, Mother’s Day and my birthday. My mom is 95 years young and I am younger.
My sister and brother-in-law pulled out all the stops as they hosted our get-together. I had a wonderful birthday and Mom enjoyed her special day as well.
Mom gave me hope when I thought there was no hope.
For all these years I have been part of a family that cares about one another. Mothers are special in a family, not just on Mother’s Day, but on every day. Yesterday we took the time to be thankful for the mother who kept our family whole.
And to celebrate my many decades as her son.
As a baby, I was baptized Presbyterian.
Later in life I was baptized Baptist.
Then I was baptized Methodist.
Still later, I was baptized Mormon.
The last church I was baptized in was Pentecostal and I have continued to worship there for the last seven years.
Even if you have never been baptized or have no desire to be baptized;
even if you do not believe in God or have no desire to believe in God;
you must believe in yourself and the importance of your life.
I believe in hope for the mentally ill.
I believe there is a path for recovery for everyone.
I believe in one on one therapy and group therapy to help mental illness.
I believe in the miracle of medication to help mental illness.
I believe my time in mental hospitals helped me.
I believe there is a cure for mental illness.
I believe you’re never alone with your mental illness.
I believe God has helped me with my mental illness.
I believe my family and friends have been there for me in the bad times and the good times.
I believe that others with mental illness can become normal as I have.
I believe it is never too late to enjoy life.