First Reformed UCC: Effects of mental illness and discovering help through NAMI
https://frucc.org/
Websters defines illness as a “disease of the body or mind”. But for a number of reasons, Mental Illness has always struggled to be just that: an illness that requires treatment and understanding for those suffering from it. NAMI is a grassroots organization that works to educate and support those struggling with many devastating mental illness conditions. Below is the story of how our family, while dealing with the devastating effects of mental illness, discovered NAMI, and the difference it made in our lives.
Sometimes life knocks the breath out of you. That is how we felt when our family member started showing signs of mental illness in 2008. Like a lot of folks, we had no experience with such an illness and didn’t know where to turn.
Our first steps were to follow the typical path when dealing with a health issue. We began with primary care physicians, trying to figure out what had happened, why and what we could do. Always in our minds was nagging guilt… “What did we do or not do that could have caused this?” Medical doctors referred us to psychologists and psychiatrists. Since there are no lab tests that can confirm a diagnosis of specific mental illnesses, the mental health professionals we encountered used behavior observation and oral discussion with the patient to form their opinions. Since our experiences previously had been in the world of traditional tools…lab testing, Xrays, EKG, etc., this was shocking and frustrating. While this was going on, our loved one’s behavior was becoming even more erratic to the point we were starting to live in fear of
what might happen next. And our rollercoaster ride was just beginning. There were calm times when medication was properly balanced and their old self would return. But there were times when, feeling better, they stopped taking the medications. During these times the symptoms of the illness would not allow our loved one to live with us or even on their own. This led to homelessness, multiple involuntary hospital commitments and jail on several occasions. We had never experienced anything like this before and we retreated into ourselves, cutting off many relationships and moving through life as if in a dark, endless cloud. Our own mental health began to suffer as we began to exhibit signs of depression and PTSD.
Most of those we did share our situation with offered sympathy but they were unable to really understand what we were going through or how to help. Just by chance, one dear friend told us of a group that a friend of hers had discovered, NAMI, The National Alliance on Mental Illness.
After connecting with NAMI our first realization was that we were not alone; that many others were going through circumstances much like ours. Additionally, we discovered that NAMI offered a variety of services and tools for those dealing with mental illness and its effects.
These included Family Support Groups and Family to Family (an 8-week educational program.) The Family to Family course included techniques for dealing with the mentally ill that involved extensive role-playing along with education about common medications, their impact on brain function, and side effects. Additional instruction educated us about different types of mental illnesses; bi-polar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, schizo-affective disorder, PTSD, just toname a few. Discovering NAMI deepened our understanding and helped us become better supporters as our loved one continues to live with mental illness.
We only wish we had found NAMI sooner. So now, by becoming advocates for what NAMI can provide, we hope to help others avoid the embarrassment, confusion, guilt, and shame that we went through.
When we moved back home to Davidson County in 2019, we approached our pastor at First Reformed United Church of Christ, Elizabeth Horton. Rev. Horton was very supportive of working to bring NAMI services to Davidson County. A group of church members and others in the community met via Zoom to determine the best and quickest way to do this. We eventually decided our best course was to join NW Piedmont NAMI which served Forsyth, Stokes and Davie Counties. NW Piedmont NAMI graciously welcomed us.
Davidson County residents have access to the full range of NAMI services. Visit https://naminwpiedmontnc.org// to see what is offered. Meetings are currently online, but when we return to in person meetings, First Reformed UCC will host local meetings at 104 E Center Street, Lexington NC.
If you have questions about NAMI services and how they may help you or someone you know, please email NAMIDavidsoncounty1@gmail.com . YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
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