If You Label Me, You Negate Me – A Dialogue On The Labels That Are Used About Mental Illnesses

Introduction

I consider myself to be very fortunate. I get to have dialogues with people on a wide range of topics. one of the topics that I am most passionate about his recovery from mental illness. To that effect, I participate in many discussion groups on the Internet. LinkedIn is one such resource for me. From time to time, I post my responses to others on my blog as articles.

The post that I responded to, unedited

"I haven't seen that particular documentary, Bill, but will check it out. Treatment models in other countries were noted throughout this thread. Some good DVDs to check out are "Healing Homes: An Alternative Swedish Model for Healing Psychosis", "Open Dialogue: An Alternative Finnish Approach to Healing Psychosis", "Crazy for Life" and "Take These Broken Wings". Working to Recovery offers 2 excellent DVDs, "How to Start and Run a Hearing Voices Group" and "Talking with Voices: An Introduction to Voice Dialogue". We hope to bring Ron Coleman and his wife, Wales, UK, who are now researchers in the field, to Wisconsin this coming spring to help teach voice dialoguing to people with lived experience and their clinicians about this effective model of healing for people with psychotic disorders.

Bi-Polar Bear (Photo credit: oxygeon)

I have found that the language we use also lends itself to supporting or dispelling the social stigma around mental illness/substance use disorders. If I may gently point out, you state "I am Bi-Polar". May I suggest that you are NOT your illness. You have Bi-Polar. As a NAMI Connections state trainer, we teach our facilitators that people are not their disorders and we no longer go around and identify each other by our disorders when opening Connection support group meetings. We are so much more than our disorders. I am joyous that you have found a recovery path that works for you. Each individual can do so and we need to foster and support that hope."

My response verbatim - Name Redacted

As always you are a great resource. I find it very interesting to hear the perspectives from other countries. I'll have to check these out.

I don't doubt the labels can and do reinforce social beliefs, including stigma. To reinforce this point, the Dutch theologian Kierkegaard says, "if you label me you negate me". I look at diagnoses is terms that are useful to describe a general predicament. Each pilgrim has there own path up the mountain. Everyone with the mental illness has to find their path to recovery. In my case, I'm grateful for my predicament. I have never encountered anything more instructive. It has led me to a greater understanding of compassion and hope. It has been beneficial in helping to support others. It's that lived experience that we talk about in peer support.

Words themselves have great limitations. For instance, the word moon, is not actually the moon. It is more like a finger pointing at the moon. As far as not being my illness, I suppose that means that I'm not a "graduate" of a masters program (2 of them actually), am not a father, or any other term that we might classify ourselves with. Again, these are merely labels.

The real substance of these labels does not encapsulate me or anyone else. It's interesting though when we

Veronica538 at work as truckdriver (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

ask people in our society what they do for a living they tend to make statements about their jobs as who they are. For instance, A person could drive a truck. How many hours a day are you a truck driver? Are you always a truck driver? At night when you lay in bed are you a sleeper as compared to a truck driver?

I am not disputing what you have to say in any way. As a matter fact I am a great believer that people should understand these terms as a general description of a circumstance. We still call people with cancer, cancer patients. But it is far from inclusive of their whole being.

I would encourage you to look at the body of my work on my blog. I try to be pretty clear in my writing and work with others that they are more than a diagnosis. These issues are more like facets on a diamond, part of the whole. I hope to continue to be able to grow in my ability to not use labels as time goes on.

When I sit next to the bed of someone who has tried to kill themselves I don't look at them as a diagnosis but instead as a human being. I don't try to tell them that I know better about their lives than they do. Most of the people that they've encountered in the mental health system have already tried that. Instead, I feel the most humane thing that can be done in these circumstances is to merely hold their hand and cry with them. In this context, I am a "friend".

So frankly, I am truly grateful for my predicament and could care less if you call me bipolar, Bill or any other label. I do realize though that for some people these terms are a great burden. So again, I would encourage you to read my work. It would be wonderful to get your feedback in areas that I can grow in. I think however that I support what you say entirely. It's just a shame that we do not have more elegant expressions.

I spend most of my life working with various professionals, doctors, lawyers, judges, and my peers (all labels by the way) to teach them to see beyond these terms. To everyone of them I suggest that a person is more than one aspect of their being. I encouraged them all to see people as people no matter the diagnosis.

I was a founding member of the Painting Pathways Clubhouse. I love the term that we use, "colleagues". But again it still a label. It just happens to be a more palatable label than mentally ill. At the clubhouse I have seen many miracles. For a group of people who were supposedly dysfunctional, I have seen us come together as a community and do things that supposedly other "normal people" can't do. Thank you for your continued work. I appreciate you.

With A Little Help From Your Friends - Peer Supported Respite

Institute of Mental Health 6, Nov 06 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 Introduction

"What is clear from the results is that these patients could do as well or better in a less restrictive environment," said Tom Greenfield

There is an increasing mental health crisis around the entire world. With worldwide financial resources quickly eroding many countries are running out of the ability to care for those with a mental illness. Due to this, we need to re-evaluate our practices and systems of treatment. Hospitalization, medications, and cognitive therapy may not be enough to promote psychological growth.

Logo of the National Institute of Mental Health. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

From research done by the State Of Massachusetts, the National Institute of Mental Health, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows that there is hope for increasing mental health and reduce many of the higher costs of services and treatment. Further there are articles in the American Journal of Community Psychology that cover this research extensively.

The goal is to provide a more prophylactic treatment protocol through the use of services such as peer supported respite centers. Peer supported respite centers are residential, pre-crisis and crisis facilities that are staffed by certified professional peer support specialists. According to one study from Massachusetts peer supported respite is not only cost effective but is more likely to lead to psychological growth.

Institute of Mental Health 4, Nov 06 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A different and less threatening environment

Respite care is different from traditional inpatient hospitalization. Most respite centers are not locked down wards. The average stay at a peer supported respite center may be longer in duration than hospitalization. This is largely possible due to lower total cost of care that consumers receive.  

The longer duration of inpatient care offers opportunities to build skills in self-advocacy, establishing good support networks, and how to deal with crisis in a safe and effective manner. These centers also allow for more time to adjust to changes in medication. This significantly helps with the side effects and allows for emotional support until therapeutic benefits are realized.

Experienced staffing

These facilities are generally staffed by professionals who have been diagnosed with mental illnesses. These people have very practical experience dealing with mental illness and recovery. They have what is referred to as, “lived experience” and have reached a meaningful level of recovery themselves. This enables them to provide very individualized care and treatment plans. Often these practitioners work closely with human service organizations and other peer supported services in the community. These relationships help to establish long term stability and to overcome problems like housing which can be a significant problem.

Respite care and the criminal justice system
Peer supported care is being looked at more often as a resource for alternative sentencing agreements for those who are involved in the criminal court process. The desired outcomes of this would be to reduce re-entry into the system, increase compliance, and reduce the cost of administering these cases. According to the federal government 61% of inmates have a significant mental illness. Often these people are not receiving adequate care even within traditional systems of mental health. It would seem that financial resources are a major contributing factor. One department of corrections director told me that to get any real change in caring for those with mental illness is to sue them. They have repeatedly asked for money to deal with the increased populations that they are mandated to treat. This problem is extended when inmates are released under community supervision.

If you consider the benefits and outcomes from peer supported respite, it is easy to come to the conclusion that a community based respite center can bring both financial and emotional relief. I encourage the leaders of our communities, counties, and states to take a serious look at this option. If we build stronger Americans, we build a stronger America. Respite centers may offer a significant resource in accomplishing that goal.

Chiropractic & Mental Illness

@chiropractic I Voted (Photo credit: planetc1)

Introduction

Chiropractic care has a broad influence on the nervous system. Although most practitioners focus on physical disorders, it is clear that good nervous system health effects emotional and psychological health. According to B.J. Palmer, the son of the man credited with the discovery of chiropractic care, dislocated cervical vertebrae has a real impact on mental health. According to my Chiropractor Ron Ziolkowoski, D.C. of the Ziolkowski Chiropractic Clinic, only 10% of the capacity of our nervous system is taken up by pain messages. The rest of the bandwidth is dedicated to healing and maintaining the body. When organs can work at their best potential which has a natural effect on the mind.

Several impatient patient programs have implemented Chiropractic adjustments for mental health care. In some of these programs Chiropractic was the primary clinical service. In 1922, The Chiropractic Psychopathic Sanitarium was one of the first in the field. Later the name of the facility was changed to Forest Park Sanitarium.

Early results were promising

English: A diagram of the Human Nervous system. Français : Schéma du système nerveux humain. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Early on it became quiet clear that mental health patients got better with out successive re-entry to hospitals for psychiatric  care. North Dakota Judge A. W. Ponath showed that at the North Dakota state mental hospital, the positive outcomes ranged from 18‑27%, compared to 65% at Forest Park.

In 1951, Clear View Sanitarium was purchased by the Palmer School of Chiropractic. Each day the patient was examined using a device called a “neurocalometer” (NCM). From there the chiropractic doctors looked at the results and any nerve impingement was adjusted. In addition to this there was an enhanced focus on proper patient nutrition. They often served vegetables from the garden that was grown on-site.

Impact of insurance companies on research

Both of these early organizations closed by 1961. The insurance companies of the time did not recognize Chiropractic as an evidence based treatment for mental illness. Without on-going funding was not possible to continue these institutions . In 1973, Dr. Schwartz published a report on 350 patients afflicted with mental illness.  It indicates that people with mental illness got better in a measurable way . He wrote a book, "Mental Health and Chiropractic: A Multidisciplinary Approach."  Since this time there has been Interest in this approach to helping in the physical and mental health of all patients.

If you have a mental illness it may be good practice to see your local chiropractor. Mental Illness is a disease that you can have meaningful recovery from. For all of us there is a unique path to healing. I encourage you to look at chiropractic as one tool in your arsenal.  

Mental Health "Injustice System" - Failures Criminal Rights & Just Dispositions

Introduction

If we are to temper justice with mercy,  we have to consider the individual and societal needs of forgiveness in order to soften (temper) our need for justice. This helps us assure that the punishment, if warranted, fits the crime. Today, we have systems where those with mental illnesses are charged for crimes or wrongdoings and are met with such incredibly harsh and seemingly disproportionate punishments. We do immense harm to a person's spirit and ability to overcome, repent, develop and grow from mistakes and recover. Further, we do specific harm to the basic civil and human rights of all. - paraphrased, author unknown.

As a part of the advocacy work that I do, the mentoring, and peer support, I run into a lot of people who have criminal issues. So far my experience in dealing with the criminal court systems have brought up both challenges and opportunities. One thing I can say with certainty is that it has at times been a huge disappointment.

I live in a County where there are five full-time attorneys in the District Attorney’s Office. Between them they deal with 2,500 cases a year. They’re good people who work hard for our community. Unfortunately this is one of the areas where I found some disappointment. In a meeting with the district attorney, he laid out all the things that he would not consider as being partially or wholly mitigating circumstances. The case I was involved with was abstracted and given to him so we could discuss some of the very real problems with cases like this. I’m not sure he actually read it. He is after all a very busy guy. So we never really got to the heart of the conversation.

Are we seeing these cases clearly and early?

One of the first factors that I saw in this case is that early identification and careful evaluation of the arresting officers reports should have raised a flag that this was not a criminal matter. Apparently the attorney presenting the charges to the court did not read the full statement of the arresting officer. I think in any reasonable level the probable cause that a crime had been committed was seriously in question. In fact, it may have been more appropriate to refer the matter to the adult protective service agency and/or medical professionals.

The second factor that I saw in this case is based on my experience in dealing with people who have mental illnesses. I have practical day-to-day experience with people on all levels of the spectrum and have seen major improvement in the quality of their lives and their ability to reach meaningful recovery. Facilitating this recovery is a large part of what I do. I know many the mechanics from practical experience. I feel qualified enough to say; that based on this lady’s diagnoses and my observations of her leads me to believe that her low day-to-day functioning puts her at risk. I did however feel that with the support of halfway house services, medical stabilization, helping her to build healthy support networks, she would be very likely able to stop having interactions with law enforcement. Actually, with this individual, I know I had a significant impact on the outcome of the case. I appeared in the case as a friend to the court to facilitate communications between the court and the defendant because of her significant mental illness. The significant portion of this mental illness was demonstrated by her largely disorganized thinking and varying functionality from day-to-day.

It was pretty clear to me

It didn’t take a lot of investigation to figure this out. In the arresting officer’s report, he noted some issues that clearly illustrate that mental illness may have been a mitigating factor in the crime. The arresting officer says several things specifically; that she was unable to and not unwilling to follow simple commands, that she was incoherent, and that there were large amounts of psychotropic medications visible to him. He does not mention specifically but I assume all of the medications were properly labeled and prescribed to her.

The judge asked me about my general opinion about the case. I pointed out to him that on the face of the arresting officer’s report that it was a lot more likely to be a psychological crisis than it was a crime. Apparently he agreed with me. Once back in session, the judge asked both attorneys to appear in chambers. I know basically what was said in that meeting. The judge simply asked why we were not thinking of a civil solution in this case. It would seem that both the defense counsel and the prosecuting attorney agreed immediately. The terms for a deferred prosecution agreement were discussed and settled upon.

How can someone consent to an agreement with the court if they clearly do not understand it?

English: Justice and Law Suomi: Oikeutta ja lakia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the presence of the defense counsel I participated in the discussion about the deferred prosecution agreement and what it meant to her. I started to grow concerned after about 45 minutes of conversation with her. In that time she was never once able to clearly articulate and/or paraphrase what a deferred prosecution meant to her and what would be expected of her. I am not sure she understood that the prosecution of the crime would only happen if she did not follow along with the civil requirements. As a recall, she was still asking about how much jail time she was going to receive. It didn’t seem to sink in that jail time was not an issue. I think it was at this moment that her civil liberties started to erode. If she could not understand what the agreement meant she could have never consented to it. I did mention this to several parties. I also advised various parties that to reduce the likelihood of seeing her before the court again she would need more comprehensive services than were being discussed.

This is where my conversation with the judge may have had in negative impact. Since it was so easy to put a deal on the table, she was not evaluated for competency. For various reasons she was ordered to comply with state law that did not suit her needs. Because the civil solution came up so fast, any real understanding of her competency was not investigated. Due to this, I felt that the civil solution on the table was a failed solution. She perhaps did not get the care she needed to avoid re-entry into the system. Approximately one year after the first case I got a phone call from her. She had been arrested again and the circumstances were almost the same as the previous case.

If you want changes in our department sue us

There are people who complain about costs in our system. In talking with agencies like the Department of Corrections they realize this is a problem also. They are the ones having to deal with inmates with mental illness in high numbers. I had a director of one such department that flat out told me the only way to affect changes in our organization is to sue us. This is because they lacked funds and resources for treatment.

There are evidence-based solutions that are highly effective. The use of peer support can contribute as part of the answer. Peer support specialists are much more cost-effective and have better percentages of reimbursement rates for their services. Along with this more intermediary respite care facilities are required. Current admission standards for mental illness generally requires that a person say that they have a plan and intention to kill themselves. I think more investigation and research by the criminal justice system needs to be done in this area as viable methods to reduce re-entry are available and these programs are financially prudent.

Training is an important issue also. The need for more training for officers in crisis intervention may help to resolve issues without arrest. It might help identify mental health crisis as compared to criminal intent. I believe that lawyers need better education about evaluating competency. Traditionally, not guilty by reason of mental defect or insanity is almost impossible to make a case for. Competency to assist in defence should be clear if the person can’t understand what they are agreeing to. Lawyers could have a better understanding of what a successful disposition looks like given the balance between justice and civil liberties. Hopefully  this will broaden the defenses that are available.

Change is needed and can be done

An American judge talking to a lawyer. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It would seem that the civil and criminal liberties that we all enjoy as citizens are desaturated for those with significant mental illnesses. Insight on this factor comes not only from this case, it also comes to us right from the jails and prisons themselves. The Bureau of Justice statistics reports that says 61% of state prisoners have a mental illness, jails have a rate of 41% of inmates with mental illness. In general our population has about 5% of people who have diagnosable severe mental illnesses in any given year. As an example, our County has around 80,000 people. This suggests that 4000 people in our community have major psychological problems. Considering the high numbers of people with mental illness in the justice system, how many of these cases are being misidentified? How many cases are we missing? Also, what can we do with these people anyway? For many states and counties the resources are very restricted. There are cost-effective and effective recovery methods and resources that can be developed and tend to reduce re-entry into the system. With some willingness, people with mental illnesses can receive the benefit of justice tempered by mercy.

Alas Poor Vince I Knew Him Well - Suicide of A Kind Soul

Suffering (Photo credit: Mockney Rebel)

Last week, one of the people that I have been privileged to work with found that life was too difficult to bear. It would seem that he had no self-preservation instinct left at all. I know this place all to well. I have been there too. The difference between Vince and myself is that I got caught.

This man may have been one of the most kind and gentle souls that I have ever known. He lived in absolute terror for many years. He had the overwhelming feeling and belief that people were watching him and out to get him. Unfortunately many of the people who were supposed to be looking out for him fell short of their responsibility. I say this because I have heard comments from other practitioners who did not accept that he had strong paranoid beliefs. I’m not writing this to condemn them. I am however suggesting that it is very easy for us to discredit the feelings and symptoms of those people that we work with. I think that this is somewhat understandable with the enormous caseloads and limited resources that many of us have to help others.

It’s very likely that in this case his kind and gentle demeanor worked against him. It simply amazed me that anybody who was so kind and gracious could believe that people were out to get him. We talked often. I never doubted that he was scared. I never doubted that he was troubled. We walked side-by-side, hand-in-hand, together for a while.. On a daily basis I saw how much fear this man went through. It may sound odd, but I don’t mourn his death. Death comes to us all. What I do mourn is his suffering. Perhaps this is because suffering is something that almost everybody can identify with.

The Buddha suggests that all of life can offer the substance of suffering. Life involves suffering. Death involves suffering. Sickness involves suffering. Getting what you want involves suffering. Getting what you don’t want involves suffering, the more we struggle to hold on to everything, the more we suffer. Life is a process of constant change and continued losses.

We do not ultimately become happy because of that car, that girl, that job, or any other external factor. When we cannot see anything but incomprehensible fear, none of these things can have a lasting positive impact. All of these things will feel like a loss in time. This is particularly true in the case of people who have mental illnesses. Unless you have lived in this space you may not truly be able to understand. I don’t believe anyone wishes to have a life comprised of a repressive mind. Perhaps this is why I am not trying to impeach the practitioners that he worked with. It can be very difficult to identify with the details and the symptoms unless we can make a comparison to our own suffering. How can we clearly look at someone who has a mental illness? What factors occlude our views of others?

I think there’s a trap that we set for ourselves when we work with others. Do we see those  that we work with as people? Can we recognize their humanity, or do we see them as a collection of symptoms? Do we see them as a diagnosis? Without the recognition of their humanity you cannot make a lasting impact on somebody’s life. Unfortunately, the way that these cases are delivered to us are via a diagnosis and symptoms. These diagnoses indicate certain protocols. It would seem that there is a one-sized, fits all, application of treatment. This does not work well in an environment where each individual has their own set of challenges.

Each of us, has our own path up the mountain. Due to this, I would like to challenge those who work with those who suffer to see each person in a holistic light. Strive to not see them as just a diagnosis. Strive to see the diagnosis as a description, a general description, of a predicament. When we look at our treatment protocols, we have to consider the whole person in order to help them. We have to look beyond the newest fads in treatments. Instead we should look at working with people as other craftsmen look at their trade. A master craftsman looks at his projects to find their hidden potential and selects his tools carefully to affect that outcome. I would like to urge all of us to look at people in this way. Hopefully, we will become ever more experienced at creatively meeting the needs  of others.

For me Vince will have a lasting legacy. He is such an excellent example of a compassionate soul that he has taught me a lot. These lessons have been incorporated into my set of tools. With each individual that I meet, I seek that hidden potential. Perhaps the example that he set with his gentle and kind manner can lead me to better understand those around me. I am certain that it will help me to continue to look at people with compassion and hope. I am confident that through his example I can increase my ability to be a servant to those around me.

Vince, I want to thank you for all that you’ve taught me and the confidence that you put in me. To gladden the mind we need to consider things a virtue. Without a doubt, my time with you, and my experiences of you, are full of virtue. With your passing, I will celebrate your life in the best way that I can. You will be with me always.

Mind Over Matter - Can We Heal Ourselves With Our Thoughts?

brains! (Photo credit: cloois)

I once asked a medical doctor, a specialist in his trade, if he believed in a mind body connection. He simply said no. I then asked him a question. If there is no mind body connection how do you wiggle your toes? I am sure he understood what I was asking. Do you believe that person can influence their health based on their state of mind. His training and experience were built upon protocols that examined and managed disease through biochemistry once a condition existed. For him there was no proactive approach. To him the only cause of disease that he could consider was on that basis.

More and more research is being conducted on how much our point of view; our minds in its conscience and less than conscience minds affect not only our bodies but our whole universe. Physicists and cosmologists have felt for some time that merely perceiving things brings them into their manifested form. Scientists in their search for understanding how our universe exists in the state that it does have found that the very universe changes based on our perspective. Theories like Einstein's theory of relativity and Schrodinger's and his infamous cat.

Setting the physics aside for a bit, let's consider how different states of emotion can be connected to biophysical outcomes. One good example of this is the fight or flight response. At the moment that the mind detects a crisis situation developing, changes that are subtle and not so subtle begin to happen in the brain. These changes are distributed to both the electrical activity and the neurotransmitters that our brain uses to control the rest of the body. There is an intense increase in the rate that our synapses fire. Both our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems work to increase breathing and heart rate. Our adrenal gland produces both adrenaline and cortisol. Both of these chemicals introduce changes in the body. It also can produce significant damage after prolonged or frequent production in the system. It can affect the condition of the heart, lungs, and as research continues it appears that it affects the immune system. There are some studies that suggest that within seconds of stressful stimulation changes happen in the way our immune system works. This change includes changes in the very cells and structures that our bodies produce. It can affect the ability of the body to heal itself and in other cases can directly start attacking parts of the system.

These changes are also echoed in the digestive system. Some people consider the stomach to be the second brain. This is because of the high concentration of nerves that are located in the area. Sugars (glucose) increase in the blood.

As the body is pushed to the limits, feedback through the erosion of function and messages returning from these systems causes further changes in the brain until it actually alters its own structure physically, electrically, and chemically. If this cycle continues in both intensity and frequency further and further changes (not particularly beneficial) occur the whole system becomes damaged. With enough stress our DNA can begin to change via entheogenic responses.

The basis for these changes in a causal way is controlled by the perception of events as they develop and how we (in our minds) interpret these events. If we see danger we react to that danger, if we experience things that we believe are beneficial our bodies and brains react to that too.

Another good example might lie in diseases such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Recent research has indicated that these might ultimately be caused by the hypothalamus becoming exhausted and then sort of going off line. It is similar to when a computer has reached a critical condition and shuts down. It is like the infamous, "blue screen", that so many computer users have experienced.

There seems to be a clear connection between how we see things and how body reacts. We have the ability to do some fantastic things. Our bodies are much more accomplished at producing the chemicals and enzymes that keep us well. In a healthy state our bodies are the best pharmacy. This indicates a strong causal relationship for the belief that our state of mind does change our body. It is mind body medicine in a nutshell. Our minds not only give us the ability to move our toes on command but it can change the automatic responses that our body takes to deal with differently perceived environments.

The Use of Herbs and Supplements in Mental Illness

Pictures of herb samples from categories of Chinese Herbs Tonifying Herbs: Herbs that Tonify the Yin (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The use of herbs for the treatment of mental illness is not new. Traditional Chinese Medicine or TCM has had preventive and acute care formulas. Other cultures have similar offerings for treating the mentally ill. Mental illness manifests it disease in the mind, body, and spirit. It is good to look at all of the ways that we can foster our mental health. There are many things that we can do to impact our lives in a holistic manner. All three aspects of ourselves require unique tools for health. Herbs are useful to treat the body and mind over the long term. Many of the best herbal treatments work to prevent the cause of disease. In their whole form most herbs are naturally balanced and have less undesirable side effects.

As with all medicines it is best to check with your doctor to be sure that there are no bad drug reactions. There are clearly times when certain herbs should not be used. For example, 5-Hydroxytryptophan also known as 5-HTP or oxitriptan, is not indicated when a person is taking carbidopa (for the treatment of Parkinson's disease). This supplement is usually derived from the Griffonia_simplicifolia plant. People with depression and binge eating patterns may find some relief from using this. In each case we have to balance the benefit with the risks

If you are considering adding herbs to your treatment regiment it is wise to seek a certified herbalist or perhaps an osteopathic doctor. There several excellent herbal systems for treating mental illness. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda from India offer time tested help. The people of Tibethave a wide variety of Tibetan herbs for restoring and preserving health including mental health.

Many of us have now heard about herbs for mental health like St. John's Wort. This herb has been shown in a statistically significant way to impact depression. There are lesser known supplements. Niacin (vitamin B3) may have a fundamental function as a nutrient. Research shows that people with schizophrenia are deficient in niacin. It helps to balance out various neurotransmitters. Another effective tool for relieving the effects of depression and support mood is rhodiola rosea. This herb is thought to effect depression by optimizing serotonin and dopamine levels in the brain. If you are bipolar or have panic or obsessive disorders you may find help in the form of inositol. People who are interested increasing there intake of this can eat more red beans and cantaloupe. There are also commercial preparations that are available. No matter what your mental health issue herbs and supplements are good additions to your health care regimen for body and mind.

Western Vs Alternative & Complimentary Medicine - How to Decide?

The original advisory opinion was requested by the World Health Organization in 1993. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What is wellness?

According to the World Health Organization wellness, "is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." This is not a measurement you are likely to nail down in one neat package. So figuring out what systems of medicine to use is a hard choice if you only consider one way of looking at it.

Each System Produces Data

In 2005 there was an article about the correlation between Chiropractic care and the levels of serum thiol. Serum thiol is a tool that is used to measure your body's ability to heal its own DNA. Although this test is not completely inclusive it does give a good estimate of the overall potential for wellness. It does not actually indicate wellness. The research compared the clinical result of the thiol with ratings of wellness as a result of chiropractic care. In general the relationship between high levels of thiol in the serum correlated to high levels of wellness as it was perceived by the patients. What is it that the data really tells us?

While this paper does show a strong connection between these tests it is only anecdotal. This can only show an anecdotal relationship because the data does not really have a one-to-one relationship. The data is not the same type of measurement and therefore cannot speak directly to the relationship between the two. It does show statistically how often levels occur high on both tests. If these levels are both high at the same time we know that they are likely to indicate wellness. This is a lot like testing soil. When the chemistry is right, there is an environment that is conducive to getting healthy plants. It does not guaranty healthy plants however.

A Difference In Perspective

It is hard to find a common perspective for tests measuring clinical levels of a substance to a subjective rating of wellness. It starts to become clear that finding wellness for ourselves is a life-long process of learning. We have to consider our condition and what various systems of medicine provide us to individually address our wellness. We must look at a number of factors which may include trial and error to figure it out. We can compare systems of medicine based on the outcomes in overall wellness. There are challenges to understanding what tools may be best for us.

What makes comparing systems of medicine so hard is often how the systems see things. Some systems of medicine were developed to manage the disease and infirmity in us. In many ways these systems are effective at stabilizing and managing these diseases. Westernized Medicine has been busy over the years developing tools to detect disease. It is not surprising to learn that tests used to detect disease are not particularly effective at testing wellness. The definition of wellness contains not only the lack of disease, but a more completely harmonious state of being. These systems are helpful to alleviate disease in many cases. That certainly contributes to wellness. At lease most of the time.

When A Medicine System Is Not Helpful

There are definite times when these medicines decrease wellness. It would not be helpful to take a medicine that introduced an overall drop in wellness. Sometimes this drop may be due to undesirable side-effects. At other times wellness would not be present without the medicines. We have to understand how to evaluate things based on our needs. There is more than even how our bodies feel to consider.

Social scientists have also looked to apply metrics to wellness with much the same result. In the desire to cure mental disease traditional medical treatment indicated medication to both stabilize and manage the disease. Again this does not measure wellness. It measures how often a person has undesirable mental conditions and what medications are likely to change that state of being. It only addresses chemistry based on diagnosis of disease. Since it only considers one part of a person's illness it can be considered myopic in its approach. It is in many cases an important factor in care but not a complete solution.

A Balanced Approach

The study of peer supported care systems has shown that they support wellness and recovery from mental illness. This data showed that wellness was not limited to any specific facet of their lives. It seems to be better at managing manifestation of disease than medication or therapy alone. Again, for some people medication is an important part of care. So it would be a poor choice to use one and not consider the other.

What systems will you choose?

Comparing Westernized Medicine and Alternative and Complimentary Medicine can be a daunting task. The data that is produced from the process of studying them is different. To understand the dynamics of these choices we may consider things like the serum thiol. We can now collect a list of things that work most of the time. This can give us a great place to start. We must begin use other tools to narrow in on the solution that is right for us. Look for the markers that indicate your wellness and combine those in to what systems of medicine you choose. This will promote your health and well-being. It is at this point that you can decide, Western vs Alternative Medicine.

The Role of Peer Support In Mental Illness Recovery

Rethink Mental Illness (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It is safe to say the dominant concerns of mental health institutions are to stabilize and manage the effects of mental illness. Less attention is brought to bear on actual recovery. There is a growing body of evidence that supports Peer Support Specialists as an effective tool for helping people find recovery. There is enough evidence that Medicare and most Medicaid programs accept billing from certified Peer Support Specialists. There are a growing number of private insurance companies that are accepting billings too. The ones who aren't accepting billings seem to be studying the dynamics of it. It seems foreign to many of us to think of mental health as something that you have a chance of recovery from.

Carl Rogers was a professor and researcher in psychology. He was distinguished enough in his achievements in mental health that the American Psychological Association gave him an award. His research showed that if you build the person behind the disease you heal the whole person. He noted that for this to work you had to have a very open view of someone. Many therapists could not practice at that level so it is not used much. It seems that people who have recovered from a mental illness can adopt this mindset easily. These people can see the person behind the disease. It offers hope when someone truly understands the challenges you face. The Buddhists suggest that we heal with our presence. Where we offer peace, here is peace. Where we offer healing, there healing is also. We do effect the people around us. Peer Support Specialists impact their consumers in a meaningful way.

So what is a Peer Support Specialist? A Peer Support Specialist is a person who has made significant progress in their own recovery. They are people who are generally interested in the wellness of others. These people are dedicated and seek certification by their state to bill and practice as a Peer Support Specialist. Peer Support Specialists have practical experience in building support for lives challenged by mental illness. They have done it themselves and often know the best local resources. They will know where to help you look for help and know how to speak the language of those sources. Many of them have worked with the agencies for their own needs and have built many good contacts.

Peer Support Specialists work at all levels in the system for example, the CMHS National GAINS Center for Systemic Change for Justice-Involved Persons with Mental Illness is highly supportive of what they call Forensic Peer Support. This is peer support for those with mental illness involved in the criminal justice systems. Some Peer Support Specialists work directly for insurance companies. Some county mental health systems are also using Peer Support Specialists to help in times of shrinking resources and it seems to be working. These individuals, working as a part of a team of practitioners are making a big contribution in the lives of others.

If you are looking to become a certified Peer Support Specialist the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance is a good place to start. They have excellent information listed on their web site. They are also a good resource for information if you are looking to contact peer support too.

If you are recovering and not yet sure that you wish to become a Peer Support Specialist that is okay. When you are ready it is rewarding experience to invest yourself in someone's recovery. To those Peer Support Specialists, agencies, and people effected by mental illness, keep up the good work. It is never to late to begin recovery.

Alternative Medicine In America

Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Americans Use Less Alternative Medicine Than Other Countries

World-wide the amount of people who use some form of complementary and alternative medicine, or CAM, is estimated to be 65% to 80%. This translates roughly into 3 billion individuals who use systems of medicine other than the model we are most familiar with here in the United States. In our country the use of alternative medicine is estimated to be about 36%.  The typical American person will use these therapies in addition to our westernized system of medicine.


To change the balance of how much CAM and regular medicine we have to change certain aspects of both our culture and system of care. In the past our doctors were trained around treating symptoms and disease in a reactionary model. Certain conditions indicated specific intervention. Then our doctors started to focus more preventative care. This was reinforced by research that showed that perhaps we could take a slightly longer view on medical care. At this point there was still a large reliance on intervention with medicines or procedures. 

Western Medicine vs. Alternative Medicine

Logo of the United States National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine , part of the National Institutes of Health. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This system of medicine has made some wonderful strides. During the process it evolved into an 

institution where often the most humble and human qualities were ignored. This is in contrast to many alternative systems of medicine. Much of the philosophy behind these systems strive to seek a balance in all of life. Physical, mental, and spiritual factors must be addressed to have complete wellness in life. 

Alternative Medicine Acceptance Grows

Our growth as a society has begun to really change both individual acceptance of alternative 

medicine and that of the medical community. Approximately one-third of all American schools of medicine offer classes in alternative medicine.  Some of the schools that are included in this list are Harvard, Yale, John’s Hopkins, and Georgetown University. This new found acceptance has spread to encourage some alternative medicine coverage by insurance companies. A recent comment from insurance carrier Mutual of Omaha said that it saves about $6.50 in covering alternative medicine. 

Image by Sprengben  via Flickr

While alternative medicine in our society is less prolific than in other parts of the world it is growing. Support for this has come from a new trend being considered by our institutions that are charged with overseeing and paying for medical care. This consideration is called “Evidence Based Medicine”. Simply if the research shows that something works, use it. This is true even if it may not come from your tool chest. With continued research into the efficacy of alternative medicine the percent of Americans that use it will grow quickly.