Holiday Seasons can get to be too much for some of us I recently lost a friend Joe to suicide. He was in his mid forties with a wife and two wonderful children. He had just been diagnosed with the Bipolar disorder and was struggling to understand just what that meant. He was a successful professional in his career and well thought of in his community. So why such despair? Part of the issue was the shame and guilt he felt about being diagnosed with the Bipolar disorder. Another aspect is he felt alone in his battle. He talked with his therapist but felt what does she know she doesn't live with this pain.
This is where the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) comes into play. If only Joe realized he was not alone. DBSA is a patient-directed, peer driven national organization focusing on the most prevalent mental illnesses - depression and bipolar disorders.
Understanding there are others in your community to talk with who have Depression and or the Bipolar illness can be relieving and comforting. It can be pivotal in one's recovery. DBSA educates and offers support to those with the Depression and Bipolar disorders by using mutual support from peers who live with these illnesses.
Are you struggling with Depression or the Bipolar disorder? You don't have to go it alone. Talking about what it is like, offering support to others and getting support from others can be the third ingredient in the Recovery and Wellness process "Mutual Peer Support". We all know about Doctors and Medications. We have heard of going to a Therapist or Councilor but how many realize the power of peer support in conjunction with those.. Gathering support from those who have learned what works and what doesn't work in managing it. There are so many things one can do in addition to medications and therapists to manage the diseases. Exercise, balanced nutrition, setting up recovery goals and what is very powerful is talking with others who have these illnesses.
Do you have a friend who has or if you do and are over 18 are diagnosed with Depression or Bipolar there is a support group in Schenectady starting January 7th.
DBSA Schenectady County.
If only Joe knew he was not alone, that others are here to share their experiences to offer support. If only he knew that Depression and Bipolar illness are not character defects but physical illnesses.
Do you want to get in contact with this support group? Let me know. Your contact with me will be kept confidential.
Because posting the facilitators email address and phone number isn't a good thing to do on the internet. Spammers get hold of it and the facilitator of the group would be overwhelmed with spam I can give you the needed contact info via Private Message.
DID YOU KNOW:Did you know these folks have been diagnosed with Bipolar and or Major Depression?
Actors and Actresses: Ned Beatty, Jim Carey, Rosemary Clooney, singer, Patty Duke,Connie Francis, singer and actress, Shecky Greene, comedian, Moss Hart, actor, director, playright, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Robin Williams, Jonathon Winters, comedian.
Artists: Alvin Alley, dancer, choreogapher, Ludwig Von Beethoven, Francis Ford Coppola, director, George Fredrick Handel, composer, Joshua Logan, broadway director, producer, Vincent Van Gogh, painter
Entrepreneurs: Robert Campeau, Pierre Peladeau, Ted Turner, media giant
Miscellaneous: Buzz Aldrin, astronaut, Clifford Beers, humanitarian, Garnet Coleman, legislator (Texas), Larry Flynt, publisher and activist, Kit Gingrich, Newt's mom, Sol Wachtier, former New York State Chief Judge
More Info:
http://www.mental-health-today.com/bp/famous_people.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_with_depression
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