I feel duty-bound to write a blog post - it seems to have been a while, and I want to keep this blog current. Even when I decide that I am moving away from the subject of mental health, which I do at regular intervals, I keep getting drawn back in. I suppose, considering my history, this is hardly surprising.
Anyway, a couple of months ago Rethink Mental Illness, the charity, asked me to be involved in helping to plan a National Psychosis Summit to be held in London on the 10th of April. I was really flattered to be asked, and especially pleased when it transpired that I was going to be paid for my services (I have a feeling I may have blogged about this already).
So, things are now moving forward. I have already taken part in two teleconferences on the subject (I always hope that people will ask me what my plans are on those days, so that I can say, 'I have to take part in a teleconference'. If they don't ask, I tell them anyway. Because it makes me feel important). I expect there will be some more confabbing to be done before the big day. Which will be a pleasure, because when you are interested in a subject, working on it seems just like play.
I have, of course, been invited to the event, and am really looking forward to it. On the day itself, I will endeavour to stay calm and to be useful. If I can get across my primary points - i.e. a) that the mental health system would work much better if patients could trust in it, and this would be helped if they were not forcibly treated b) that people who are labelled 'schizophrenic' are less likely to recover than those who are not and c) - well, I could go on forever, so let's stick with a) and b) for now - then I will be a happy woman.
I have already taken an important step forward, and chosen my outfit for the occasion.
Outfits are important! I hope you are happy with yours! Seriously though, I like your statement that people who are NOT labelled with schizophrenia are more likely to recover than those who are...and I think this is because they are less likely to be told that they have a LIFELONG disease that must be treated LIFELONG... Along with the label, of course, goes that forcible treatment, about which I have written so much and alas, with some bitterness. I have experienced both the label and the forcible treatment so much and so brutally, in the U.S. that a lot of my PTSD stems from it. Now what? I am trying to get off my 2 antipsychotics but I do not know for certain that after decades it is possible...Partly because of others expectations, frankly, but partly because of withdrawal. On the other hand, at 61, I need to keep trying or I will feel an utter failure and my fears of AP related dementia will only grow. Thank you for your blog, and I am glad you still post from time to time. BW, Pam Wagner of WAGBLOG in the US
ReplyDeleteI am honoured that you read my blog Pam. I have followed your experiences with interest, and I really hope you succeed in becoming medication-free.
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