Problems at the Core

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Both our political parties have

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significant structural and functional problems. They each contain a group that believes  the purpose of politics to be ideological warfare, and they each contain a group that believes politics is a tool to serve their interests. Since the groups within each party are not compatible with one another, there is a struggle within each party that mirrors the struggle between parties in oddly complementary and paradoxical ways. 

We might call the two groups Selfish Toadies (ST) and Cultural Fanatics (CF).

There is a cycle of dynamic dominance between the two groups in each party. Currently, the Republican party has seen the rise of more and more ideological cadre, with the STs trying to co-opt the message of the CF's for their own purposes. In the Democratic party, liberals are gradually taking the role of spoilers, again with the STs trying to co-opt the CW message for their own purposes. The Obama administration is largely STs at this point. 

Across parties, the struggle is between CFs in the Republican party and STs in the Democratic party. The current political instability is not just between the parties, but also between the components within each party. Any stability that occurs either within or across parties will be immediately undermined by the other inside "enemy" or the other party. This general instability will not change any time soon, especially with the economy crashing and the growing deterioration of the health care system, local infrastructure, and the fragmentation of allegiances in every part of the political fabric. In a phrase, everyone, in multitudinous and shifting groups, is struggling for the "soul" of “their” party.

The national political system is no longer capable of solving any major problem. The two parties view vetoing effective action by the other as the only predictably useful political strategy, and within the parties, the components view vetoing the other component in the same way. Joe Lieberman is kind of the poster child for this approach to a political career.

As the whip cream on the sundae, the Supreme Court has now allowed a far greater use of corporate funds to promote political agendas than at any time in modern history. Spin and insults are standard competitive tactics used by corporations to undermine competitors. Therefore, we will be spending far more money to create an incompetent political class than we have in the past. 

Needless to say, the extra money  will not produce better political results.

What to do?

Recent Recovery Links

#RecoveryMI: VOCAL,A Voice for Mental Health Recovery http://bit.ly/4T6cTh

#RecoveryMI: New inpatient unit based on recovery http://bit.ly/6qxNiJ

#RecoveryMI: New Book Shares Stories of Recovery from MI http://bit.ly/5aRAkx

Emotions and Recovery

From Gerald Butler…..

1/8/2010

Possibly one of the greatest lapses in the system of treatment has been the failure to acknowledge that our emotions are the same as every other human being.

     If someone feels as if they were treated disrespectfully at a business they are patronizing the average person would no longer utilize that company. It is a natural human emotion to shun environments where one feels mistreated. As consumers we often do not have that option so we must find other ways of dealing with demoralizing treatment. Many of us build walls around our psyche to keep from being hurt and/or discouraged. Building walls is a defense mechanism that keeps us from emotional harm, but it also keeps potentially destructive emotions buried inside and undealt with.

       Having an illness does not mean we no longer possess basic human emotions. Personally, I feel emotions are somehow elevated during the healing process. The desire to feel validated and to be listened to is another vital emotion as it provides a sense of belonging. Emotions play a vital role in how well we do in recovery, however there are times we must suppress certain feelings and/or emotions. The main component to a recovery-centered environment is its ability to make consumers feel safe enough to freely express our emotions.

      It’s no secret; the system of mental health treatment in the U. S. is antiquated and must change. Too often, time and energy is wasted attempting to adapt new recovery models to fit the old system. This can result in the unconscious dilution of the recovery aspects of the new model. As we transform the system, meeting consumers where they are, requires providers who are willing to move from positions of leadership/control to support status. This encourages folks who are in recovery to take charge of their lives and help others who are where we used to be.

       Luckily, we are seeing more providers willing to admit to and change (on a personal level) their stigmatizing views of us. These people are the leaders of the transformed system of treatment.  They appreciate that folks in recovery have a lot to offer a recovery-oriented system so they listen to and learn recovery from us. Transformed providers are busy making changes systematically, opening doors, removing obstacles, and paving new roads to recovery.

     The desire to feel respected is a basic human emotion. The CHARGE recovery-enhanced environment promotes individuality, encouraging consumers to take charge of their own healing processes by, 1) self-awareness: “I am a person, not a disease” 2) providing a transparent, genuine, safe atmosphere that encourages people to utilize their natural talents/gifts as recovery tools. The process of honing ones natural talents also increases self worth.

      Since July the Recovery Band and the ‘Visions of Recovery Community Choir have played for many community based organizations. We have established and nurtured working relationships in the community. CHARGE has adopted the ‘Visions, Mission, & Values’ of the Michigan Recovery Council and an Addendum to the IPOS from ‘Project Doors’ in Lansing. We have utilized our talents in the fight against stigma. We even did a spot on T. V. thanks to NAMI. We long to be role models of recovery, encouraging others to do the same.   The cool thing is that despite not having a place to work out of, we have done these things and more on our own.

     Primarily, we are asking to be allowed to share what we have learned with others in a recovery-centered environment, designed and run by consumers for consumers. We enthusiastically seek leaders willing to view us as partners in transforming the system of treatment in the U. S. 

Gerald Butler

Certified Peer Specialist

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Judi Chamberlin has Died

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Dear MindFreedom News list,
I received sad news this morning from several good friends of long-
time mad movement activist Judi Chamberlin in Massachusetts.
I'm sorry to provide this news to you all by e-mail, but last night
Judi died at the age of 65. I send my support to Judi's relatives and
friends, and everyone who admired and loved her.
Many were aware that she was in hospice for some time. True to the
amazing passionate and practical person she was, Judi had a hospice
activist blog you can find via Google at:
     Judi Chamberlin hospice blog
Judi has been a good personal friend of mine since we met in Mental
Patients Liberation Front in 1976, and she has been a unifying leader
with so many organizations in our mad movement, including for many
years on the board of directors of MindFreedom International.
Judi has sometimes been called the "grandmother" of the mad movement,
beginning with her pioneering work for empowering alternatives for
mental health consumers and psychiatric survivors with her book "On
Our Own: Patient Controlled Alternatives to the Mental Health
System" (1978).
I'm sure there will be information and remembrances soon about this
remarkable heroine and human being. While she was alive, Judi's
friends and relatives held a celebration of her life this past 20
August 2009.
When we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. on his holiday tomorrow, 18
January 2010, let's also remember all late leaders for a nonviolent
revolution in all justice movements, including Judi Chamberlin.
MAD PRIDE, JUDI, MAD PRIDE!
In support,
David W. Oaks, Executive Director
MindFreedom International

Three Winners are Rethinking Mental Health - RWJF

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The winners of the Rethinking Mental Health: Improving Community Wellbeing competition are boldly transforming the field of mental health by: building bridges from traditional healers and community leaders in Bhutan to providers of modern psychiatry; creating student-run chapters of mental-health awareness groups on college campuses throughout the United States; and training clinicians to treat depression and epilepsy in post-conflict Liberia.

 

The three winners emerged from a field of more than 340 inspiring solutions submitted from 42 countries. The Changemakers community voted on the Web site for the three winners from a group of 12 finalists, selected for their vision, impact, and unique approach. The winners are:

1. Rebuilding Hope After War: Mental Health and Community Recovery, Liberia

2. Active Minds: Empowering Students and Changing the Conversation about Mental Health on 300 Campuses, United States

3. Promoting Mental Health Treatment in Traditional Bhutanese Society, Bhutan

Three Winners are Rethinking Mental Health – RWJF

OCD Diaries: The Power of Sarcasm « THE OCD DIARIES

BuzzNet Tags: Recovery,sarcasm

The author explains why humor wrapped in sarcasm is one of his favorite coping tools — even though the edge of the knife can be too sharp at times.

“If you can’t say something good about someone, sit right here by me.”

The quote is from Alice Roosevelt Longworth, eldest daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt. She was 96 when she died in 1980, and I can’t help but believe that part of her longevity was her legendary sarcasm.

For me, sarcasm is a mental release that allows me to see the humor in some of life’s bigger challenges. Of course, the danger is that sarcasm can sometimes slide into outright rudeness, and I’m sure I’m guilty of that at times….

OCD Diaries: The Power of Sarcasm « THE OCD DIARIES

Graduation

Yesterday was graduation day from WRAP, the peer counseling recovery group…..

I remember how I felt during the first session.  It centered on hope and empowerment.  I didn't have hope, and I didn't want empowerment.  I had run up the white flag of surrender, defeated, dejected and spent……

I remember how I felt during the first session.  It centered on hope and empowerment.  I didn't have hope, and I didn't want empowerment.  I had run up the white flag of surrender, defeated, dejected and spent……

http://howintheworlddidigethere.blogspot.com/2010/01/graduation.html

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I3 Detroit: Imagine, Innovate, and Inspire

3 Detroit is a collaborative environment for people to explore the balance between technology, art and culture. We feel the best way to create this environment is to bring like mind people together that share a common passion for technology, art and culture.

The community is run by it’s members through voting. All founding members have worked together to create a set of by-laws that all members and non-members are required to follow. The goal is to provide a safe and fun community environment.

We hope to continue to become a community resource by hosting various classes including but not limited to electronics, programming, crafts, Photography, cooking and all other skills that members or others are willing to share. We want to create an environment that promotes learning in a fun non-traditional format.

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/

Mental health in background of upcoming political campaigns

Political candidates are no longer ducking mental health issues as if they disqualified them from office. In Portland, Oregon, a co-founder of Mental Health Association is entering the city council race. And in Minn., the Star Tribune reports the Democratic candidate for governor, Mark Dayton, acknowledged a history of depression. They join a handful of other politicians who have stepped forward, despite stigma and discrimination, to acknowledge their own treatment or that of a relative.

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/

"This Emotional Life" Series

Thanks and a Hat Tip to Stephen Bateson....


This 3-part series represents what television does best. It opens a window into real lives, exploring ways to improve our social relationships, cope with emotional issues, and become more positive, resilient individuals. Hosted by Daniel Gilbert, Harvard psychologist and best-selling author of Stumbling on Happiness.


http://www.pbs.org/thisemotionallife/home

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!"
GrandCentral: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/

A Moving Forward

by Gerald Butler

1/3/2010

        Remodeling is just about complete at the CHARGE space at the Russell site and we will begin operations from there by the first of the year. The list of consumer volunteers has grown to about 30 and we will begin to prepare for a grand opening. We have been using this down time to expand our community out reach and collaborations. The ‘Visions of Recovery Community Gospel Choir’ has been particularly busy since we played the Fort Street Church Open House. Pattie Charleston and I took the choir to the ‘Noel Night’ festivities in Downtown Detroit to see the Rackham Symphony Choir show and meet some of the choir members. They are as just excited as we about our collaboration for the concert for in March.

     At least one of the Rackham Choir members will be working with the Visions Choir between now and the date of the  ‘Concert for the Homeless’. CHARGE is proud to be invited to provide the entertainment for the ‘After Glow’ of this event. The Visions Choir united with Reverend Riggins and the Detroit Rescue Mission for ‘Gospel Night’ at the Russell Center. They also sang at the Detroit Central City Dual Recovery Christmas party where they encouraged consumers to find the rare leaders in the system willing to help us take charge of our lives. Personally, I consider myself lucky because I had positive leaders in my life since the beginning of my recovery journey.

Whether done consciously or unconsciously, providers often set up boundaries that distinguish the consumer from the provider. (Michigan Department of Community Health ‘Issue Paper’ 2009)

        Many providers tend to think of us in this manner, “Look at all the wonderful things I am doing for MY consumers”. Those who distinguish us in this manner are well intentioned. However, just as a loved one can enable another’s addiction, when (even unconsciously) consumers are perceived as incapable, that is how we are treated. This treatment can cause folks to lower their faith in the system and trust in their own ability to take charge of their recovery. A parent who runs alongside a child learning to ride a two-wheeler has to let the child take over at some point. The system of treatment in the U. S. has grown to the point where it should be encouraging and supporting consumer-run, recovery-centered programming. To date, efforts to have a genuinely consumer run entity working within the system have either been unsuccessful or at best, resulted in strained relationships. For the partnership to flourish both sides must have an appreciation and respect for one another. Hopefully, we can make it work with Adult Well Being.    

        I realize that the system does not recognize me by my accomplishments but merely by my illness. So I figured I’d strive to be the best possible recovering consumer. The first thing I had to do was to learn to listen wholeheartedly to what other consumers were saying. Next, I had to confront stigma I had regarding others and myself. I began to view each consumer by their potential, not by their illness. There are literally thousands of consumers who could benefit significantly from being in an uncomplicated, transparent (it is what it is) safe environment run by Certified Peers. Unless and until this occurs no one, not even consumers, will ever know our true capabilities and talents.        

 Gerald Butler 

Norman DeLisle, MDRC
"With Liberty and Access for All!
GoogleVoice: 517-589-4081
MDRC Website: http://www.copower.org/
LTC Blog: http://ltcreform.blogspot.com/
Recovery: http://therecoveringlife.blogspot.com/