This Week - Mental Illness Awareness Week.

SUNDAY night I went to the downtown heart of our city and over to the courthouse steps where I once heard and saw Barry Goldwater speak. (I didn't dare get too excited over Mr. Goldwater, since he was going to blow up the world, don't you know.)
On Sunday, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) held a candlelight ceremony to read a proclamation from the mayor of our town that this week, Oct. 4-11, would be Mental Illness Awareness Week. Several people spoke. One father read a poem his son had written before he died; his voice broke halfway through. I am not sure if the son committed suicide or not. That is his picture on the sign ( in the very poor photo I took): Adam. His mother is holding the sign and his father is beside her, smiling.
We all try to smile for the camera. For a little while - just a moment - they are forgetting about Adam so they might inspire hope in others that life can go on without a loved one. A loved one who, perhaps, died because he couldn't get the help he needed.
Stricken by a heart attack or stroke, you will get an ambulance right away; knowledgeable, tender care in the hospital from doctors and nurses; and the therapy to convalesce and get back to normal.
Manic and suicidal, your cry for help may be answered by a team of police with stun guns, physical force, and a trip to jail. Many people with mental illness end up in jail instead of hospitals. Four million of us in the U.S. will develop a brain disorder in the next year.
If you are worried about a loved one there is a NAMI organization in your state. Find out how you can help them; find out how they can help you - femminismo

Welcome September

TONIGHT I attended the eighth of 12 meetings at NAMI - National Alliance on Mental Illness.
We learned more about empathy tonight and reflective conversation. The use of emphasizing "I" and not "you" when making statements to our mentally ill family members.
Brain disorders are what I am learning about during this 12-week class.
Many times we believe family members are alcoholics or drug users because they want to be. Sometimes it's to quiet the voices they hear inside or to escape those voices.
Sometimes it's a dual problem.
If you have someone with a brain disorder in your family - bipolar illness, schizophrenia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder - look into finding your local NAMI chapter and seek out the information they can provide. The Family to Family class is excellent! - femminismo

Life's A Tasty Dish ... Mostly.

MOSTLY I do think life is pretty good, but I am seriously blessed. I just wanted to let you know this and remind myself at the same time. Just like these bees lolling in the purple blossoms on the cardoon, I've got it easy. I work for it, don't get me wrong, but I've been lucky too!
For four weeks now I have been attending "Family to Family" classes through Oregon's NAMI chapter (National Alliance on Mental Illness). We have studied brain disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder), symptoms, crisis intervention, suicide prevention, family interactions and the way in which *all* family members are affected by mental illness and tonight we studied - in a very limited way - the functions of the brain and the ways in which scientists *hypothesize* mental illness happens.
There are so many causes, so much conjecture, it is easy to see how people are misdiagnosed for years. And:
“Mental disability is not a scandal — it is an illness. And like physical illness, it is treatable.”
- President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health (from the NAMI Web site)
We need more advocates for the mentally ill, because often they cannot speak for themselves.
Think of the people you know, either in your family or among your friends, whose lives have been touched by cancer. Maybe your own life.
Then think about those you know who have a mental illness. Don't know anyone? Maybe you know someone who's depressed. That's a brain disorder; an imbalance of chemicals.
I'll bet everyone knows at least one person, maybe two. And if you don't know about their brain disorder it might be because of the stigma that still exists.
"An estimated one in five American families is affected by mental illnesses such as major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder.
"Without treatment, people living with mental illness may face unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness and suicide."
Join me in making an effort to advocate for the mentally ill - femminismo

80 degrees in Athens, Ga., 49 in My Hometown

SHIVERING, that's what's going on here in Oregon, as fall - clamoring for its three months of fame - has announced itself.
Farmers are wrapping up harvest time and putting things to bed in preparation for Ol' Man Winter.
On Tuesday I got my hair cut and then went driving in the countryside to see if there wasn't something to photograph. I was working with a different camera and having fits with the automatic settings on it and the setting sun. (No, I didn't turn any dials on the sun.) This photo is what I came up with. I also caught some sheep in a pasture, but they weren't too receptive to having their photo taken. None of them turned out well. (Not the sheep; the pictures.)
So, anyway, what was I saying? I'm cold, I guess that was the gist. And I don't like to be cold. But I did enjoy being in this small valley close to the Coast Range hills. These hills go on for many miles and separate us from the sea. If I could get high enough I would be able to see the ocean ... but then, couldn't we all.
I got an e-mail from an artist friend, Roderick Smith. He is absolutely an amazing painter. I actually own one of his paintings and I wouldn't mind if he got the adulation he deserves, because I consider this painting an investment in my spiritual life. Click on his name to go to his Web site.
He sent me a photo of a painting he did on some rusty tin he found. I asked for and got his permission to show this to you. Here is "Obama."
On another note, I want to let you know - or remind you, if you already knew - that this week in October is Mental Health Awareness Week. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, focuses its attention on many aspects of mental illness. For those who do not personally know me, I want to tell you I have a brother with schizophrenia. He takes his medications regularly and for that we are very thankful. There are many mentally ill persons who are either distrustful of medications or have no one to help them - no family, no friends.
My brother is going through a rough time right now, with "flashbacks" plaguing him. His mind keeps running hurtful episodes, of times he would rather forget, over and over through his brain and he is powerless to stop them.
He has been talking to himself more often, and on public transportation he has noticed people changing seats because they don't want to sit by him.
He has a part-time job, receives some Social Security Disability, and Medicaid helps with doctors and prescriptions, but there are many things he has to do without. One thing he doesn't lack, however, is support from family. It's time for our nightly phone call now, and almost time to leave for yoga. I'll say goodnight, now, until next time we visit - femminismo
Oh! p.s.!! Check out this French blog for my Mona Lisa - "Scary Mona" - a collage I did. I was so happy to loan her out.