National Alliance On Mental Illness (NAMI)

I had a valuable experience at work the other day.  We learned about NAMI, the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for Americans affected by mental illness.


Working with the public means we never know what kinds of inner burdens are being carried by the people we interect with on the public desks. 


NAMI is dedicated to changing our perceptions of people with mental illness.  They offer wonderful programs, such as support groups for people who struggle with mental illness or wonder if they are mentally ill, as well as those who care for someone who has a mental illness.  They promote hope, reform and health through support, education, and advocacy.


The 2 presenters were NAMI/CCNS voluneers, and were living with different mental illnesses.  They were very willing to enlighten us in every way possible, and gave me some "scripts" and insights to use at the Reference Desk if necessary.


The most important thing I learned...which I learned far too late to help my family...is that if you must call the police because someone is  losing control, make sure you ask them to send a qualified individual who has had training in dealing with mental illness...and above all do not let the person know you called the police. This can, as we know, backfire disastrously. 


Our presenter illustrated this by relating a personal account. 


I am grateful that NAMI exists, because the public so desperately needs to learn these things, and to have its perceptions changed.


But I feel sad that this information is getting out so slowly.


I wish everyone would learn about NAMI and become part of the healing of our world.

Guilt

I keep hearing about how bad guilt is.

The book I am reading by James Van Praagh about ghosts says that guilt affects the health of the person experiencing it. But it also has a bad effect on the spirits of our deceased loved ones. It can hold them back from going forward into the light; and is generally distressing to their well being.

This is the best reason for healing my own guilt.

It's not that I don't have lots to feel guilty about. But wallowing in guilt may be harming Maris's spirit.

The Bach Flower Remedy Pine can alleviate guilt.

If I had not reacted to everything over the years with such guilt, it might have been easier to see that Maris had a mental condition that needed to be treated. Maybe I was not the cause of every single difficult day he experienced.

When he came down with an illness, we always reacted appropriately and treated it, or took him to the ER, or whatever was required. How then could we not see that he needed help in other areas?

Well, let's not start all over again with the guilt.

Sharon, our counselor at L.O.S.S., keeps reminding me I am not god....i.e. that if my influence (or lack of) was so powerful, I would be a god).

I maintain I have plenty to feel guilty about. But I realize now that my guilt is not helping Maris, and I need to heal it. Harming my own 2nd and 3rd chakras is the least of my worries.

Forgiving myself may be the most difficult thing I have ever done. But if it helps Maris, and brings him some measure of peace, I will do it.