For Immediate Release From National Alliance on Mental Illness!
Finding Contentment With Schizophrenia
A Personal Perspective: Schizophrenia made me want to go back in time.
I am an advocate for schizophrenia recovery and know what it is like to live with the diagnosis. As I meet struggling families who contact me for advice and support, I understand the challenges and loss their loved ones face. I remember in 2007, it really looked like I would never recover and a return to school would not be possible. Every day I grieved for what I had lost, and was desperate to go back in time. But today, I have peace and live in the present.
High school
When I was in high school, I had big dreams. Most of my time was spent thinking about where I would attend college, and what I would study. Dropping out of college due to schizophrenia, and even becoming homeless, was not remotely a part of my wildest imagination for the future.
My teenage life was about practicing the violin and studying. My goal to join the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, which was one of the top five in the country, was achieved at age 13. That year, I also became a student of a violin professor at the Cleveland Institute of Music. I practiced four to five hours every day. No matter how well I did, I was always striving to do better.
In high school, I also did well academically. At 15 years old, I started a special program, enrolling as a full-time college student at the Cleveland area’s Lakeland Community College. I was able to take classes including calculus, economics, literature, general chemistry, and even music theory. Because students at Lakeland wanted to be there, there were no behavior problems. It was exciting to have professors, rather than high school teachers, for all my classes. My life was always centered around my future.
I scored high on my SAT exam and won a half-tuition scholarship to study at my dream school, USC, in Los Angeles, after my graduation. By the time I arrived there, I was set on doing research as a molecular biologist for my career.
USC
My first mental health symptoms appeared right about the time I had achieved my goal and made it to university. I could not realize that life at USC was the perfect fulfillment of all I had hoped and worked for. The academic rigor I had always wanted was part of every class. My first semester there, I took classes including East Asian Societies, and was fascinated by the material. Other students in the dorm were passionate like me, the scenery on campus was beautiful and the food excellent. All I had to do was focus on my dream at USC and study as I had always loved to do, but from the very start, something was clearly wrong with me.
Ravaged by schizophrenia, not only would I drop out of USC, but would become homeless for four years in the LA area. Convinced that I did not need my degree, instead I believed my delusions and expected to become a prophet.
Looking back
I find it ironic that I spent so many years looking ahead to my future. But once I got there, I was unable to enjoy it. Then, after developing schizophrenia, I found myself constantly looking back to the past. I longed to be a student at Lakeland again, or rewind time to begin again at USC.
Read the full article HERE!:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/re... ********
For Immediate Release From NAMI-Maryland!
WHAT: Smart Choices Presentation - Mental Health and Gambling
WHEN: April 18, 2024
TIME: NOON - 1:00 p.m., EST
WHERE: Virtual Registration:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/... It is becoming increasingly obvious that athletes may be more vulnerable than the general population to gambling addiction when you look at the soft signs of compulsive gambling. An over-emphasis on competition, underlying addiction and/or mental health issues, and more may contribute to an athlete's susceptibility to problem gambling. But what can be done to help our athletes and what resources are available?
Join us on April 18th at 12:00 pm for a special presentation: Smart Choices for Athletes! This free presentation - hosted by the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Maryland in collaboration with Alston for Athletes, the Hidden Opponent, and the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling - is a one-hour virtual presentation that will address mental health and problem gambling issues facing our athletes and will include information on resources, support, and additional steps to protect this important and vulnerable population.
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Taller de Parejas - a partir del 18 de abril
¿Esta buscando para algo que usted y su pareja pueden hacer JUNTOS? ¡Únase a nuestro programa y desarrolle cambios duraderos en su Relacion :
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/taller-de-par... ********
TOGETHER now offers a workshop series for LGBTQ+ partners to connect, learn, and grow together. If you are seeking to connect with your partner and strengthen your relationship & finances, then TOGETHER may be right for you! The University of Maryland’s TOGETHER Program is a FREE workshop series for couples. The workshop series includes six-sessions led by relationship and financial experts. We will also assist you and your partner in receiving additional free and low-cost services that you may need, offered by our community partners.
Learn more about Relationship & Financial Education Workshop for LGBTQ+ Couples HERE!:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/relationship-... ********
The University of Maryland’s TOGETHER Program is a FREE workshop series for couples. The workshop series includes six-sessions led by relationship and financial experts. We will also assist you and your partner in receiving additional free and low-cost services that you may need, offered by our community partners.
Relationship & Financial Education Workshop Designed to Help Couples
❍ Strengthen their relationship
❍ Apply healthy relationship skills to improve communication
❍ Identify relationship stressors
❍ Address financial burdens & stress
❍ Learn coping skills to better manage stress and finances
Scroll down to view the full workshop series agenda and topics!
🧩 Workshop Sessions 🧩
The workshop sessions foster a collaborative environment for couples to work as a team on their relationship and finances! It is imperative that both partners are willing to attend and participate in all sessions together. Workshop sessions are 2½ hours each, held once per week online via Zoom. You can expect 3-10 couples to join each workshop.
As soon as you sign up, we will connect with you!
BONUS ✦ Receive Gift Cards ✦
We want to hear from all participants in the program to see how well the workshops are helping! Couples can receive up to $260 in gift cards for surveys completion and perfect workshop attendance.
*To join and participate together, couples must be 18+ years old and living in Maryland, Washington D.C. or Virginia. When registering, please only sign up for one event listing and share both partners’ contact information including email addresses and phone numbers.
Learn more and REGISTER HERE!:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/couples-works... VISIT NAMI-Maryland HERE!:
http://namimd.org/ ********
For Immediate Release From NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore!
Some exciting things are in the works here at NAMI Metro. As we continue to expand our reach, we’re focused on building new ways to connect with young people, showing up in-person in Ess*x and West Baltimore through our pop-up NAMI Family Support Groups (you can find them and sign up on the calendar on our website!), and getting feedback from the community about their experiences with healthcare and their needs.
This painting was imagined by @lunarlinzzz and filled in by some of the most inspiring young adults you’ll ever meet, who shared their stories for a new film series we’re producing (set to come out later this spring, details to come!), that will help normalize conversations about #mentalhealth among students and young people so they feel safe seeking support.
It takes each and every one of us, when it comes to cultivating a culture of empathy, care, and support. If the journey we’re on sounds like one you’d like to join, check out how you can get involved at
www.namibaltimore.org, or consider supporting our free programs when you get a ticket to LOUDER at bit.ly/louder2024
VISIT: NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore HERE!:
https://www.facebook.com/NAMIMetropolitanB... ********
For Immediate Release from NAMI-Mid Charleston!
WHAT: Mark your calendars for an event you won't want to miss! The Waccamaw
Center for Mental Health is thrilled to announce their Mind and Body Health
and Wellness Fai.
WHEN: Wednesday, May 8, 2024,
TIME: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM., EST
HOW: The deadline to RSVP is April 19, 2024. Secure your spot today and take the
first step towards a healthier, happier you. Sign Up HERE!:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C5lWHBbMknt/
Posted By: agnes levine
Wednesday, April 17th 2024 at 2:20PM
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