Its meaning is congruent to every ones’ existing harmoniously or working with one another; even forgiving. In the Middle English language and Middle Latin language the word is ‘compatibilis’, in Latin another word is ‘compati’ which is compassion or sorrow for suffering with the urge to help; compassion then again is pity, compati in Latin then again means to feel pity.
Mental health programs nowdays are trying to provide direction for consumers who want and need to grow beyond their mental illness and live decent lives in the real world. As consumers we seek someone to listen to us, and lead us in a direction where we feel there is someone to help us learn to care for ourselves. We are like children growing again, learning again. We seek support spiritually, in our lives while in Recovery, in the beginning this is only sight and sound distorting images in our life. Then we begin to find through the different methodologies of treatment in a Mental Health Recovery Program that spirituality is the real life of our thoughts and actions and responses and that we can control our lives through understanding spiritually.
We try to overcome relapsing. Drugs and alcohol slowly become a realization of our lives that these substances and the way of life lived for such is only a poison of our true beliefs and visions. We take the time to begin to see, through not only social support but also through the mind and eyes of professionals, clergy, friends and family members while we are connected to Mental Health.
Compatibility and compassion are the words of romance and survival, of caring and knowing that through a Recovery Mental Health Program, people who are living in anguish whose mental distress hinders them can change and begin to focus on a new chapter in their lives. Through strength, structure and reassurance the negative aspects of which Mental Health clients were bonding to can diminish and consumers can be lead to stand again with pride and feel free to rebuild their lives without pain and sorrow hindering them with indecision and addictions.
Written By Donald Sammons
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Silent Knowledge
That is what Miguel Ruiz calls it in his book Beyond Fear. I never had a name for it. Although this silent knowledge has guided me and given me answers for most of my life. I’ve wanted to write about it for over three weeks, but did not know how to explain it. I let it sit in the back of my mind until I had the answer. That is what silent knowledge is that part of you that gives you the answer, when you do not know how to go about a certain problem. It is not intuition. I leave it in my mind and then when I’m doing something else the answer comes to me. I’ve been guided and have sought answers this way for quite awhile. The answer does not always come fast. Until I started writing this I always wanted the answer to come faster. I now realize the answer comes at the right time. Silent knowledge has been used since the beginning of time. I often wondered since they did not have modern noise, and could listen in silence if they used silent knowledge and relied on it more often. Miguel says, “This is not the first time silent knowledge has been revealed. What is new is that our contemporary interpretation of the ancient wisdom is influenced by scholarship and scientific knowledge from recent times.” If you listen, and trust that the right answers to your problems and the right guidance will come. Have you heard or used silent knowledge?
Monday, January 11, 2010
Personal or Personality
When people are diagnosed with a mental health disorder, many people assume that these people are very ill, incapable of understanding, incapable of thinking coherently, or lacking any creative abilities or lack any ability to care for themselves.
In Recovery, with the aid of case managers, I have learned that I have time to make the changes I need to make for my life to become better. As a mental health consumer, I had to learn to question the thoughts and feelings that exist within myself, and understand the reality of their existence, find answers. A long time ago I did not care to know about myself, within a mirror or within anyone else’s mind, I relied on alcohol and drugs, and these kept the waves from falling upon the shore; reality.
Personal; do I want to share, Personality; do I have the right words? In Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, logic is the tool. Most and I might say many Mental Health Consumers do not have the knowledge of logic or the abilities to reason higher frames of thinking. In our mental health centers in Denver we have the opportunity to understand how DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) works as logic (understanding the principles of Zen Buddhism) to help us change our way of thinking and to make decisions to create a better self from a negative point to a much more positive aspect.
Personal; one’s own understanding and the capability to create, Personality; feeling good about making a change, is gaining self respect for one’s own recovery and rebuilding the self.
By: Donald G Sammons 01/09/2010
In Recovery, with the aid of case managers, I have learned that I have time to make the changes I need to make for my life to become better. As a mental health consumer, I had to learn to question the thoughts and feelings that exist within myself, and understand the reality of their existence, find answers. A long time ago I did not care to know about myself, within a mirror or within anyone else’s mind, I relied on alcohol and drugs, and these kept the waves from falling upon the shore; reality.
Personal; do I want to share, Personality; do I have the right words? In Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, logic is the tool. Most and I might say many Mental Health Consumers do not have the knowledge of logic or the abilities to reason higher frames of thinking. In our mental health centers in Denver we have the opportunity to understand how DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy) works as logic (understanding the principles of Zen Buddhism) to help us change our way of thinking and to make decisions to create a better self from a negative point to a much more positive aspect.
Personal; one’s own understanding and the capability to create, Personality; feeling good about making a change, is gaining self respect for one’s own recovery and rebuilding the self.
By: Donald G Sammons 01/09/2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
How Meditation has helped Me
I have tried meditation for many years, with varying degrees of success. The meditation class that Carrie Solano at 2succeed teaches has been particularly helpful to me.
We begin by spending about fifteen minutes talking and reading special cards, something similar to fortune-telling cards. We have angel cards and native-American cards. Those who wish to, shuffle the deck, and pull out one to read. The cards are intended to provide personal insight and guidance.
I rarely use the cards, myself, but have been amazed once or twice by how well they relate to my current situation.
Reading the cards is a good exercise to begin with, because it tends to get us to focus, and to make us feel that we are connecting to a spiritual or inner part of ourselves.
We then lower the lights, and Carrie puts on a meditation CD, which usually is a type of very relaxing music. Often the CDs have sounds of nature, or gentle-sounding instruments, like flutes, which I find helps to relax me deeply.
Carrie then instructs us to get comfortable, loosen tight clothing if desired, put both feet flat on the floor, and take three deep, cleansing breathes. We then begin the meditation, in which we try to gently quiet our minds, and reduce or eliminate the constant chatter that most of us have going through our minds all the time.
I often have difficulty persuading my mind to become quiet, as I believe most people do. If I can get it to quiet for several seconds, or maybe even a minute or so, I find that I become much more relaxed, both in my mind and body. I find that things don’t bother me as much. My body starts to feel a little bit better, and some of my aches and pains lessen. Sometimes, I don’t even feel the need to scratch an itch, but just let it be until it goes away by itself.
We meditate for about twenty minutes, and then Carrie lets us know that it is time to come out of it. We each open our eyes when we are ready, and then the lights are gradually turned back on. While we are meditating, there are several candles burning, as well as a type of incense coming out of a misting-type device. It is never completely dark in the room, but just a nice low light.
I’m always a little disappointed when the meditation is over, because it never seems quite long enough for me. I am always much more relaxed when it is over, though.
Even though I meditate at home from time to time, I have noticed that doing it in a group helps a great deal to keep my mind from wandering, and to help me stay focused. Maybe there is even some sort of group energy that helps to make the meditation more effective.
Afterwards, we all have tea, herbal tea or whatever we want. It’s a nice way of coming back to the “real world”. We often talk at that time about what we experienced while meditating, or about other spiritual or mystical things. Often the discussion is very interesting.
I personally feel that the meditation and the card reading, and the discussion afterward is completely compatible with any and all religious or spiritual beliefs, or with the lack of such beliefs. We all have the need to relax and quiet our noisy minds, and connect with that special something that is inside of our minds.
Todd Thorne
We begin by spending about fifteen minutes talking and reading special cards, something similar to fortune-telling cards. We have angel cards and native-American cards. Those who wish to, shuffle the deck, and pull out one to read. The cards are intended to provide personal insight and guidance.
I rarely use the cards, myself, but have been amazed once or twice by how well they relate to my current situation.
Reading the cards is a good exercise to begin with, because it tends to get us to focus, and to make us feel that we are connecting to a spiritual or inner part of ourselves.
We then lower the lights, and Carrie puts on a meditation CD, which usually is a type of very relaxing music. Often the CDs have sounds of nature, or gentle-sounding instruments, like flutes, which I find helps to relax me deeply.
Carrie then instructs us to get comfortable, loosen tight clothing if desired, put both feet flat on the floor, and take three deep, cleansing breathes. We then begin the meditation, in which we try to gently quiet our minds, and reduce or eliminate the constant chatter that most of us have going through our minds all the time.
I often have difficulty persuading my mind to become quiet, as I believe most people do. If I can get it to quiet for several seconds, or maybe even a minute or so, I find that I become much more relaxed, both in my mind and body. I find that things don’t bother me as much. My body starts to feel a little bit better, and some of my aches and pains lessen. Sometimes, I don’t even feel the need to scratch an itch, but just let it be until it goes away by itself.
We meditate for about twenty minutes, and then Carrie lets us know that it is time to come out of it. We each open our eyes when we are ready, and then the lights are gradually turned back on. While we are meditating, there are several candles burning, as well as a type of incense coming out of a misting-type device. It is never completely dark in the room, but just a nice low light.
I’m always a little disappointed when the meditation is over, because it never seems quite long enough for me. I am always much more relaxed when it is over, though.
Even though I meditate at home from time to time, I have noticed that doing it in a group helps a great deal to keep my mind from wandering, and to help me stay focused. Maybe there is even some sort of group energy that helps to make the meditation more effective.
Afterwards, we all have tea, herbal tea or whatever we want. It’s a nice way of coming back to the “real world”. We often talk at that time about what we experienced while meditating, or about other spiritual or mystical things. Often the discussion is very interesting.
I personally feel that the meditation and the card reading, and the discussion afterward is completely compatible with any and all religious or spiritual beliefs, or with the lack of such beliefs. We all have the need to relax and quiet our noisy minds, and connect with that special something that is inside of our minds.
Todd Thorne
Recovery
Some of the things that help people recover from a mental illness are you have to take responsibility for your mental health and behavior. You have to recognize your symptoms and know what triggers the symptoms. Some people recover with medication and some recover without it. You may not have symptoms if you take medication and it works well for a person. Also you have to learn what works for you. Even though you may have the same diagnoses, what you go through is different. Employment helps a lot in recovery by having confidence and it also helps a person interact with others. Support from family and/or mental health counselor or psychiatrist. It could even be a good friend who knows you and believes in you. Stubbornness, or self determination in the fact that you can succeed even if you have a mental illness, and you will not let anything stop you from realizing recovery, and you would also have to have hope that your dreams and recovery will come to realization. Recovery is an individual thing and to know you can recover. Some who recover and go on to be psychiatrists and such wanted to make sure nobody went through what they did. Some were in college before their breakdown and went on to finish college. Others started after their mental illness and finished and are lawyers, mechanics etc. Some talk about what they went through and some others do not. Finally you have to use your strengths.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Prelude
I sat and watched Christmas come and go, with as much quietude and open mindedness as I could conceive. I heard not very much of a Merry Christmas coming or going as a greeting or departing note, and smiles were not as tinsel or lights upon a tree. The children where I lived were somewhat quiet and as Christmas grew closer, so the silence grew.
I was reminded that my own life had changed that I had changed for the better, new job, quaint apartment, new acquaintances, and my life was different. I was curious and looked into myself, the struggle I had with drug addiction and alcohol, the kinds of people I associated with who were no different than my old self, the late hours and on-going days spent on the streets following shadows into dismal places, and the love lost of family and once ago true friends. I saw that it was Christmas, and I saw time unfolding into the New Year and I beheld the new challenges in my life, of facing fears and letting go of the olden dreams and the fearful nightmares of failure and loneliness.
When you enter into Recovery, your world slowly changes. The hallucinations are images as fearsome as the words which painted them, yet you stand before them and eventually you diminish them as reading a book and a clear pane of glass appears. You lift yourself up from the bent over crouch of carrying such a heavy load that weighted every footstep and thought and notice the load has become lighter, you have written the words in the sky and seen what to set aside and leave behind as painful reminders in the new world you are searching, never again wanting to touch the nest of wasp in the dark sheaves hidden among the rafters.
You wonder and smile in the mirror and it’s all good, self esteem and respect have a new acquaintance, and it’s you, happy to know a gift can be priceless as believing in oneself or others who have chosen to overcome the first step of Mental Disability and continue the traveling into their sobriety not matter how long the journey.
Written by,
Donald Sammons
December 26, 2009
I was reminded that my own life had changed that I had changed for the better, new job, quaint apartment, new acquaintances, and my life was different. I was curious and looked into myself, the struggle I had with drug addiction and alcohol, the kinds of people I associated with who were no different than my old self, the late hours and on-going days spent on the streets following shadows into dismal places, and the love lost of family and once ago true friends. I saw that it was Christmas, and I saw time unfolding into the New Year and I beheld the new challenges in my life, of facing fears and letting go of the olden dreams and the fearful nightmares of failure and loneliness.
When you enter into Recovery, your world slowly changes. The hallucinations are images as fearsome as the words which painted them, yet you stand before them and eventually you diminish them as reading a book and a clear pane of glass appears. You lift yourself up from the bent over crouch of carrying such a heavy load that weighted every footstep and thought and notice the load has become lighter, you have written the words in the sky and seen what to set aside and leave behind as painful reminders in the new world you are searching, never again wanting to touch the nest of wasp in the dark sheaves hidden among the rafters.
You wonder and smile in the mirror and it’s all good, self esteem and respect have a new acquaintance, and it’s you, happy to know a gift can be priceless as believing in oneself or others who have chosen to overcome the first step of Mental Disability and continue the traveling into their sobriety not matter how long the journey.
Written by,
Donald Sammons
December 26, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Freedom
Recovery: Choice: Freedom
In the year 2004 there was founded a “Freedom Commission on Mental Health”. Their final report was about Recovery, being the “common, recognized outcome of Mental Health Services”. There were topics and reports written on subjects of Recovery such as, Recovery in Different Cultural Aspects, the differences of Mental Health and Addictions recovery and topics pursuing the individual in Recovery, the family, community, organizations as well as providers.
It was stated during this commission that, “Mental Health Recovery is a journey of healing, a transformation for a person with a Mental Health illness to able to live a meaningful life in a community of his or her choice while striving to achieve potential.
Recovery is: Self Direction
Empowerment
Strengths Based
Peer Support
Self Esteem
Responsibility
Hope
Self management and control over one’s recovery is a part of recovery which is a part of the experience. Responsibility is a rung in Recovery of the consumer, in making decisions and maintaining attitude when making adjustments in one’s life. When it comes to submitting yourself to medication, to help gain control of the self and adhering to the principals set forth by you the consumer, the doctors and staff help gain control over the illness which interferes with your health you have made a step to becoming refined without the discord of abandon.
Recovery is not easy, it is choice which leads to freedom from the barriers of mental instability and helps gain the strength to move on into other stable realms of life, through Hope, building self-esteem and sobriety.
By Donald Sammons
In the year 2004 there was founded a “Freedom Commission on Mental Health”. Their final report was about Recovery, being the “common, recognized outcome of Mental Health Services”. There were topics and reports written on subjects of Recovery such as, Recovery in Different Cultural Aspects, the differences of Mental Health and Addictions recovery and topics pursuing the individual in Recovery, the family, community, organizations as well as providers.
It was stated during this commission that, “Mental Health Recovery is a journey of healing, a transformation for a person with a Mental Health illness to able to live a meaningful life in a community of his or her choice while striving to achieve potential.
Recovery is: Self Direction
Empowerment
Strengths Based
Peer Support
Self Esteem
Responsibility
Hope
Self management and control over one’s recovery is a part of recovery which is a part of the experience. Responsibility is a rung in Recovery of the consumer, in making decisions and maintaining attitude when making adjustments in one’s life. When it comes to submitting yourself to medication, to help gain control of the self and adhering to the principals set forth by you the consumer, the doctors and staff help gain control over the illness which interferes with your health you have made a step to becoming refined without the discord of abandon.
Recovery is not easy, it is choice which leads to freedom from the barriers of mental instability and helps gain the strength to move on into other stable realms of life, through Hope, building self-esteem and sobriety.
By Donald Sammons
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