Peer Support

When I think of the training I just went through in Knoxville, I am proud to know that I have accomplished something for myself. I also, have learned more about our illnesses and how I can make a difference by helping others assist themselves in maintaining their own well being.

I think back 10 years ago, I was so sick and so many people had to help me with a lot of my responsibilities. I wanted to be the one to take of these things myself but for so many years, i think since my early teens i have been in an out of control state of mind that has kept me from growing as a person.

I think about the present, I am working on me, I have re-established relationships with the most important people in my life. The ones who have always been there for me and the ones who cared and wanted to understand even though they didn't know how.

That is where my job at the present comes in, yeah, i am working but only voluntarily at the moment. See I have no sound education presently, the college I went through was bogus and I am still fighting to make them understand at the government level that i was taken advantage of. I was a victim of business trying to make a quota and they trapped me along with several others at the time. I however, ended up not being able to handle the pressure due to the hard work I had put into the two years and the plans I had made to change my life. I went into a state of totally closing off from the world. There were other people who contributed big time to this break-down but, I had basically wasted two years of my adult life which I was seriously devoted to changing me...

back to the present, I know have grown after 17 yrs. to understand that I am still worth fighting for. A man whom I love very much told me that many time during this time but, I refused to believe him because i didn't love myself. He was my best friend and I could talk to him about anything, we have went our separate ways and i miss him very much. I will always love my friend Brian forever.

I have found and inner peace which makes me who I am. With God in my life, who has always been there, I accepted him as a child. I had walked away for so many reasons guilt and shame, stubbornly wanting to do things my way, I could name a list a mile long and God and I have been through that list a thousand times. I would go to church and then quit. Start back and then find some reason to move on. I loved being part of the church but felt I had only a certain leashed area which I could go because of my mental illness. I never felt i had the chance to fully worship in my church the way God and I needed to.

I had a Sunday School teacher and couple of great friends who accepted me and made me feel useful and wanted. The ladies of the church were wonderful for the most part but the men in most cases were not. I felt they felt were threatened by the unknown of my illness.

I know that other diseases or disorders came about in our lives at the church that were not even questioned. I know that there were time when I felt alone in my church which should not have been. I do know that some tried and they know who they are and others didn't and they know who they are.

My future, is full of hopes and dreams and successes already reached and in gear for my life. I am now a trained teacher for BRIDGES (Building Recovery of Individual Dreams, Goals and Educations, through Support). I have a WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) that I refer to on a daily basis. I just completed training for Peer Support Certificate Training. This is a training that will help me help others. I work really hard helping others on my own time and I try to be there for all of my friend and co-consumers. I think my phone number is very well published out there to help these people and I am there twenty-four seven. As long as I am healthy myself that is. I have learned that I can't be a good support for anyone if I am sick or not in a good place. I usually send them to someone they can talk to that I feel will help them like I can, usually they can do better. This is what I do and I hope I continue to grow in for the next segment of my life. I know there is no money involved here but, i have been dirt poor all my adult life so whats new. Right? Right.

Peer counseling for me is helping a friend help them self. Teaching them that they are capable and that jumping into the hospital isn't the right thing for them. Taking the med's has kept me growing and out of the hospital for over 13 yrs. now and I listen to my doctor do what I think is right based on what my doctor and I come to agree on and do my maintenance plan. If you don't know what that is I will be happy to explain it to you! just give me a call! love to all! God Bless you always,

Vanessa

This week inside my new life

You know,

It is one thing to be concerned about your own health and what's happening to you personally. When it is your child laying there it is another story. In the past two yrs. I have experienced this on two different occasions. I about lost my daughter about two yrs. ago and this week they admitted my son less than half of his blood was still in him.

They still don't know why a kid 17 yrs. old and tall and big to boot could walk into the emergency room after a second doctors visit that low on blood.

They think that he is bleeding somewhere in his stomach but with the tests that have been done they have no real clue for sure.

Greg has always been healthy as a horse. I think he went to the doctor, minus the pleading for school excuses for toe aches and minor home stay excuses, once in his life.

It is so scary to me to find your son white as a ghost one morning and hardly able to move around physically when he has been so healthy before.

I know that the Lord never puts more on you than you can handle and I am counting on that to be the case here. I pray that each of you keep praying for Greg because we still don't understand what is going on and the doctors are still running all kinds of tests. He is home from the hospital, last night, but he is still feeling very rough. So far his body is still holding the blood in his system and we are praying that what ever was going on has vanished. I know with God, All things are possible.

Thanks for your prayers and all your thoughts,

Vanessa n' family

Trusting others and their motives

After I became well enough to see things for myself, I started questioning my own opinions and choices. I also, questioned those who were around me and their motives because of being taken advantage of while I was very ill.

It is sad when trust in someone you love or have thought you trusted all your life turns out to be an issue for you. For years, I put my faith in my love and guidance of family members and now because of my experiences I didn't even trust them. Most of which had or have never given me a reason to distrust them in any way but, for some reason I didn't feel secure. I still have a hard time some days but have trained myself to override those fears. When I get to feeling these thoughts in my head I remind myself of the fact that they are family and friends and have been there for my whole life. I also, tell myself that they were unable to reach out to me and help me with my issues because of ignorance to the subject at hand. Mental illness back then was not a very well researched subject in the area we live in, especially.

I know that they didn't know how to handle my outbursts or the misunderstandings that caused ciaos in our lives.

I know these things played a major role in their actions and words that seemed to cut me like a knife at the time. We have never been able to get completely at ease until recent years of healing.

I really have to take these thoughts into consideration when, I have bad days or have thoughts of being inferior which happens a lot.

Healing came from learning to love me. I had to learn to trust that I was okay and that I was worth something before I could become able to do this. Years of self destruction lead me through trials that a lot of others only read about in the papers. I however, taught myself, to go on. I had mentors in my life that helped me through these times. As time went on my parents became my biggest and main support. They were there and always worked overtime to keep me from falling farther than I did. I thank God for them and all that they did and do for me.

Trust is learned and grows over a period of time. I first loved myself and then I could love others enough to care to trust them. There was a time I didn't care if anyone cared for me or not. I wanted to be in my own little private existence and erase the rest of the world. I wanted to die at times and also, wanted to forget that I had to include others in my life on an adult level. I lost a lot of years due to medication changes and overdoses which made it impossible for me to function. I can't blame anyone for these days but, i do have to learn to trust even my family concerning the fact that they were able or couldn't do anything to stop the process.

These things I have healed from and the trust is growing each day.

Love to my family whom I keep close to my heart and love very much even though for years I could not show them in the right way.

nessa

helping others

Morning folks,

I am writing this morning about helping others. I personally get a charge out of helping others. I also enjoy being part of an elite crowd of people who believe in themselves enough to find their place in life, in a world where they feel unwanted and unsafe a lot of the time. I walk around sometimes with my head down hoping people won't ask me anything or talk to me because I know how they perceive mental illness. I have learned from past experience that those who judge me because of my mental illness have the problem not me.

Those who judge me for having a brain dysfunction, 1) usually have an issue or two themselves that they are hiding and don't want to face up to. 2) have no idea what mental illness really is. They think it is mental retardation. I think these people, most of whom are supposed to be educated people, need to listen and take heed. 3) third, they don't want to be around us because they are afraid it will rub off on them. like a disease. You don't know how many times my own family has made me feel this way. Not meaning to I am sure, but out of ignorance to the facts of mental illness.

That, along with so many other things is my motivation for helping others. I will probably live out the rest of my days doing so as long as I am able.

I don't have a car so it is hard for me to get to people sometimes but prayer goes a long way. I also, have ways of getting where I need to get to and usually do a pretty good job of being there for folks. I am a friend to all and helping others is what i am good at. I love it!

Vanessa

Struggling through each day.....

There are times when it is hard to pick up and go on when your are hurt by someones words. Although, sometimes they are misunderstood the person saying them can cut like a knife. This causes you to want to retreat into a world of self examination, like you have done something and the real truth is it is only another persons opinion. Not gospel!

When you have a challenging life and others who seem to understand say things that you don't quite where they are coming from, it is very confusing. I have learned through the years if I don't ask what, why, how, or when; I usually live with a lot of unnecessary confusion that can become anger or other emotions that can be detrimental to ones health both physically and mentally.

So, when others say thing to you that you feel are belittling to you or they try to make you feel they are above you, just remember that even the best of them are human and make mistakes. I met a so called phyco-specialist, my words, not their title, and it seemed to me that I always was way under her intellectually. I feel that her knowledge made her intelligent but, her life skills were atrocious. I knew so much more about human emotion the she and could accomplish a lot more than she, with my compassion and understanding of others. These qualities they don't teach in higher education. They are learned behaviors. I feel because of my compassion and insight due to life circumstances I am just as qualified as most of these therapists sitting in offices giving advice. Advice that a lot of time they know nothing about except what Freud taught them and others in books.

I guess what i am saying in this message is I feel that my training as a Peer Support Specialist, Mentor, Friend who has been there; is so much more important to helping these people. I will dedicate myself to being the friend to those who need my help.

God Bless you all and let me know when I can help. love and happiness.

nessa

Good morning to all,

life is good today and we are all going through so much with world tragedy surrounding us. But, for me today it has been a good morning.

I want to say that life inside myself was a very scary situation that I never want to return to but it taught me life lessons that a lot of people never learn.

1.) I should have respect for others and never judge a book by it's cover.

2.) always be leery of others who give the impression that they are always telling you the truth and they know everything. Especially, those of the professional community.

Usually they have never been in a mental break, bi-polar manic episode or, know personally what you are truly feeling inside. They know through technology and books what is common.

3.) Keep an open mind to what the doctor and professional brings to the table because they are experienced and knowledgeable in solutions and information that could be pertinent to our recovery.

4.) Most professionals don't believe recovery is a probable option for most of us.

These things I have learned through my ordeal and I live with these in my mind as I heal everyday.

I strongly believe in recovery on a most definite stand. I believe that with certain helps that we can make a difference like everyone else in this world.

Keeping the faith in this belief is hard when the world tries to shut you down every chance they get. I try to keep an open mind but sometimes it is hard to not want revenge against comments made by my enemies who believe we are to be forced to sit on the sidelines and let them lead us around on a string.

I urge all who have a mental illness to stand up for yourself and all of us standing together will make the voice stronger. Support through NAMI has been an essential growth for me. I suggest this to anyone who will try it.

God bless and don't sell yourself short.

Remember, God didn't make no mistakes and with God, All things are possible.

Also, remember, you have to make an effort to get anywhere no one can do it for you.

You will be surprised what God can do if you give him the chance to show you. Have the gumption to give Him the utmost respect and know he is God. He is in control!

God Bless,

Vanessa Hansen

2/23/10

Here i am

I am back folks after a break due to illness.

I have been receiving calls from other consumers if you will who deal with others who take advantage of their good nature. Trust is something we are learning to reach in our lives after being hospitalized and/or out of touch. I think that trust is a strong emotion that takes a life of learning a person and their traits to understand.

I have learned in my life that if I loose trust in a person it might hurt for a short time but I will get by and go on. I have reached that point in my life.

However, many have not reached that point or possibly never will. They spend their time trying to figure out what they did wrong? How they could have changed things? These kind of questions eat at anyone I am sure but for those of us with the challenges of facing acceptance from others on a daily basis it can be a detrimental factor that can destroy us.

No matter how long it takes in ones life acceptance is a necessity for complete approval and love of ones self. I know it sounds silly that someone else's opinion should have a barring on another's love for their self, but it is true a lot of the time.

A dear a close friend to me informed me this morning that she trusted this woman to be her friend for over a year and that she had been invited on a trip with her to her families for Christmas. Being a consumer and not feeling accepted in most settings she jumped at the chance to feel familiar setting once more in her life.

The trip took place and the womans brother, who was over her money, went her money to go on. When she received these checks she signed them over to her friend in good faith. The trip took place and she had a great time while feeling some what like a third wheel she enjoyed herself and was very excited to tell me about it when she got home.

Now, The lady that invited her on this trip to her parents home for Christmas, is harassing the little older woman for more money for the trip. I am appalled that people will use others like this from any point but especially someone who is situationally distressed already. Someone who has to have a overseer to care for her money and has a mental disability if you must call it that. How can some one be so cruel?

Unfortunately, this happens everyday to the mis-fortunate. I don't see how these people can live with themselves.

This is why I do what I do, why I stand up for these people and fight for their rights to be heard and understood. I beg you all to listen to people like Larry and Linda Drain and search out NAMI for information on how you can help others who need your support.

They are not all looking for your pity most of them just want a chance to become an accepted part of society. You would be surprised how many of them already are working among you that you have no idea they have a problem. Reach out to others and help them come back to reality.

Don't abuse them and take advantage of their trusting nature.

Vanessa Hansen