Home Journeys to Recovery

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                         EVERY DAY SHOULD BE MENTAL HEALTH DAY

                                                                              BY Guy Czmyrid - May 2012

            When I hear the wors "Mental Health Awareness Month, a few things come

to mind:  Bad, or darkdays, and good days.  I learned the hardd way what happens

when an individual with a mental illness goes off meds, or forgets or fails to take

his or her meds, But I have come a long way since thos "dark days."

             To recover from mental illness, an individual mus want to help himself.

Loved ones cannot hold your hand and do eerything for you.  Now, I take control

of my meds, and i get a refill before I run out of meds.  I try to be a role model

for my peers.  I am very blessed and give thanis for my peers and family members

who gie me the support I nee to make it thrp\ough the bad ays as I continue to

recover.

             I lost my mom lasst October, and I miss her a lot.  Mom helped me so much -

we used to work on the NAMI "In Your Own Voice" program, which I, and a co-leader

present to local organizaions and for the NAMI Kane County North Family-to-Family

classes.  I hope to continue educating the public in the future.

            My wish is that we all would live every day like it's a mental health awareness

day-not just on days in May.  And, let's akk sat a prayer that Governor Pat Quinn will

stop cuttingg the funding for critical mental health programs. 

                                JOURNEYS TO RECOVERY

                                    RECOVERY AND BEYOND

                                     IN OUR OWN VOICE                         

                                                                     bY Guy C.  November 2010

          In February, 2010, Joyce and I had the opportunity to take part in an

In Our Own Voice Training program held in Peoria at the Embassy Suites.  It

was a productive weekend   It involves several stages.  The format involves: 

Introductions by both presenters and subjects including Dark Days, Accept-

ance, Treatment, coping skills and Successes, Hopes and Dreams.

          In Our Own Voice expands people's knowledge of mental illness. 

Misunderstandings, fears and myths are replaced with insight, awareness

and acceptance as people learn from the men and women whose lives were

interrupted by mental illness, but who are now role models for hope and

recovery.

          In Our Own Voice gives people who have recovered from a mental

illness the chance to bring 'hope' to families who have a loved one

suffering from mental illness that their loved ones can recover.

          In closing, I would like to than NAMI for giving Joyce and me the

iooirtunity to take the IOOV traing classes on behalf of NAMI Kane County.

              IMPORTANCE OF THE ROLE FAMILY AND FRIENDS PLAY

                            IN THEIR LOVED ONE'S RECOVERY

                                                                             by Guy C., January 2010

               The family plays an important role in the Recovery of an individual

who is diagnosed with a mental illness.  All too often family members disown

a loved one who suffers from mental illness.   I cannot stress to you how

important the support of family members, friends, and relatives play in one's

Recovery.  My loved ones and friends have given me the support to maintain

my Recovery.    

              I know personally of cases when the family and friends have

disowned an individual who is diagnosed with mental illness.  These friends

who have been disowned by their loved ones find it's hard to make it in the

community.  If parents are deceased, this is when living family members and

friends should come in to give support to the individual who has the diagnosis

of mental illness.   In closing, I would just like to say, "Treat your loved one

or friend like you would treat any other friend or relative who does not suffer

from a mental illness."  

                                     COMMITMENT

                                                             by Corinne, February 2009

I had a conversation with the moonlight that maybe it should not

bother to come out until the sunshine world is nice enough to help

bring safety and commitment in direct sunlight and on cozy grey

days, and on the melting of our hearts and the goodness of our

minds.  The sunshine world has always known this, and the moonlit

night followed; and, if kept true to one another, always will.

                                    RAY OF HOPE

                                                                                 by Guy C., 2009

             Hope to me means that other individuals and I who suffer

from a mental illness can get control and maintain control over the

illness.  By following a relapse prevention pan and a recovery plan,

we can succeed in whatever path we choose to take. 

             Often our loved ones and family members have high expecta-

tions and hope that their relative will succeed in all their present

and future endeavors no matter what they choose in life.  The

individual with the illness needs his or her family members' support. 

So many times the family does not want anything to do with the

person who suffers from an illness.  When this happens, the success

rate of the family member who suffers from the illness is very low

because the person has little to no self-esteem.

            In conclusion, my hope is that the family member who suffers

from mental illness will find support and will succeed in the same way

his or her peers do who have the support of family members and friends.

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