Columns

ON MENTAL ILLNESS: Surviving as a Psychiatric Consumer in Challenging Times

Jack Bragen
Friday July 22, 2016 - 08:10:00 AM

Life as a person with mental illness who doesn't live with parents or in institutional housing, and who isn't supervised, is more challenging than it was in the not so distant past. Economic conditions are harder, and we are seeing fissures and failures in the edifices of society.  

We see in the news that police are committing murder, and that others are murdering police. We see that there is massive turmoil in Europe. There is a madman running to become our President who has a very strong chance of being elected. We see numerous other signs of instability in the world. This is all very disturbing and this has an effect on mental health.  

It is harder than it was in the past for a person with a disability to survive. Society has changed, and more difficulties have come about. In the process of meeting our basic needs, which include housing, treatment, food, clothing, transportation, and so on, more obstacles have risen.  

Proceeding in life in an automatic or a haphazard manner will not work to survive with the challenges that exist for someone with mental illness living on their own. Thus, we have to figure out plans for what will work, and navigate accordingly. This is what must be done unless one lives in a supervised, institutional situation.  

The money I get from the government doesn't go as far, so what little there is of it has to be tracked and planned. Expenses must be anticipated. Spending must be done carefully if at all, so as not to overdraw a measly bank balance. The penalties for overdrawing a bank account, while for most people are an inconvenience, are, for a disabled person living on Social Security, a major threat to continuing to have basic needs paid for.  

Appointments, appointments, appointments. There are a lot of them. They must be written onto a calendar, and kept; or, if not, a call must be made.  

Pets must be cared for, fed, cleaned up after, and kept well--including taking them to see a veterinarian as needed.  

Prescriptions for psychiatric and other medications must be continually filled and refilled. Health must be monitored. Diet must be at least moderately healthy. Doctors must be seen. Psychotherapists must be seen.  

This is living as an adult, which, by my age, ought to be something I am used to. Yet it seems to be something that continually gets harder.  

Many mental health treatment practitioners, often younger than I, presume that I am not really an adult, and that I need to be taught basic skills. This is by virtue of being in the category of mental health "patient."  

It could be insulting when someone who doesn't know me but sees my name on a list of persons to call, presumes to be mentally superior, and assumes that I am a dummy because I have a mental health diagnosis. Yet, it is not a genuine insult.  

Housing for psychiatric consumers has always been an issue. Yet, now it has become a crisis. People who rely on Social Security are very fortunate if they can find a good housing situation, or any housing situation. Once housing is found, any issues with upkeep, neighbors, and property managers had better be addressed. 

In my situation, because I have an anxiety disorder that periodically kicks in, some of the time I have to stop what I'm doing and sit down at home, because of how uncomfortable the anxiety becomes.  

I practice meditation to deal with anxiety and cognitive techniques to deal with delusions. It is essential to remain one step ahead of the delusions, and this entails continuous vigilance. Medication, while indispensable, does only so much.  

I am married--and it takes work to maintain that relationship. From that I get companionship and an ally in life's battles.  

Because world events are disturbing, I have to compartmentalize. I am not yet directly affected by world and national events, but this could change. However, I have to minimize the amount that I become disturbed. I have begun tuning into less television and internet news, even though tracking the news is sometimes essential if I am to write relevant material.  

Keeping mentally balanced is a balancing act. When I find something in my environment has negatively affected me, I have to take time to remedy the mental damage. I do this through "editing" the thoughts, and through other methods.  

Things have become more challenging for me in the last couple of months. However, I find that the process of mobilizing to meet the challenges, paradoxically, has helped my mental health. I feel more grounded, and my thought processes seem more synced to those of most people. (This is not to say that I am asking for more problems.)  

Ironically, some of the people diagnosed as mentally ill are more sensible in many ways, compared to people at large. Yet, if we are doing well, we must guard our recovery against destabilizing influences.