JANE SAYS .. chapter16

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Chapter 16 !!!!!!!!!!!!

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JANE SAYS ~ Let Us Rise Above

SPEAKING OUT ON MENTAL ILLNESS – The

Evolution of Recovery (to begin again…)

18 Wednesday Dec 2013

POSTED BY MARISSA K. VARCHO IN RECOVERY

≈ 3 COMMENTS

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Community, Faith, Health, hope, Humanity, Life, Meaning, Mental disorder, mental illness, People, Personal,

Reflection, Struggles, Thoughts, Truth, Video

INTRODUCTORY MATERIALS:

Nelson Mandela once said, “it always seems impossible until it’s done.” I’ve found this to be

true time and again, in my struggle to overcome mental illness in recovery.

My name is Marissa Kristina Varcho, I am 32-years-old, I am an attorney licensed to practice law

here in my State of Ohio, and I live with and struggle to manage what’s been termed a “mental

illness”, known as Bipolar I Disorder. Basically, this means that my mood is never static, but

always manically high, depressively low, or otherwise rising into mania or descending down into

the depths of depression. To be less clinical, what this means is that my head is most often filled

with infinite thought, which builds and builds upon itself in layers best described as a web, and I

often get stuck in thought because the web gets sticky and thick and difficult to navigate through

on my own. Recovery then, I have found, is in large part knowing when I have gotten stuck, or

recognizing that my thinking is leading me to a place where I will get stuck, and thereafter

knowing this means it’s time to get some help.

Now, as an introduction to recovery, I would like to note that I do not really even like the term

recovery in a sense. “Recovery” to me, sounds like success achieved; but in my experience,

recovery is more about resiliency. For me, recovery is the evolutionary process of learning how

to overcome inevitable setback in both of two ways:

1. Cultivating a self-directed effort towards (a) identifying life goals and (b) setting into motion

action to achieve them; as well as

2. Working always to develop and strengthen “resiliency” – meaning, the ability to (a) pick ones’

self up off the ground after failure, (b) accept the failure and make amends to anyone else

unjustifiably harmed during its process, and then finally (c) let go of the failure and let it be

part only of your past as you move on forward to creating the present.

In specific regard to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary’s definition of “recovery” in the form of a

noun, it describes “the return of something that has been lost or stolen.” For me, growing up with

mental illness in this stigmatic and discriminatory American society, has meant losing grasp on

the ability to cultivate each of the following:

1. Hope for a better future filled with opportunity;

2. Self-confidence;

3. A belief that I possess external worth; and

4. A sense of belonging within my community.

Accordingly, recovery, for me, is about finding the courage to search for these missing items, the

pieces upon which finding, will hopefully restore me from this broken state into a human being

once again whole. Perseverance is at times difficult, facing a future with its conclusion unknown,

fearing there may be no worth left for me in the end. Which brings me back to Mr. Mandela, who

once also said he’d “learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The

brave [wo]man is not [s]he who does not feel afraid, but [s]he who conquers that fear.” And so I

battle on…

said:

VIDEOjournalno15

RELATED:

http://thecultivationofbeauty.com/2013/07/16/starting-the-beginning-from-the-end-what-to-

do-when-people-run/

http://thecultivationofbeauty.com/2013/07/08/on-the-search-for-light-finding-the-truth-in-

humanity/

thoughts on “SPEAKING OUT ON MENTAL ILLNESS – The

Evolution of Recovery (to begin again…)”

1. Ken Jones

December 18, 2013 at 6:51 pm

I believe “recovery” is different for each and every person on the journey. For some

it may mean the pursuit to be rid of symptoms. Others it may mean to avoid in

engaging in the “medical model approach”. For others it can simply mean finding

away to come out of being so isolated. I personally believe that “recovery is a process, a

journey not a trip and should always be defined by the individual.

just my 2 cents

Ken Jones

REPLY

said:

said:

[Edit Comment]

2. Eli


Awesome post. We need to cherish those positive moments, which reflect our true value. I’mwondering if you would benefit from facilitating a group on mental illness via meetup?Groups can be a great resource. At times I go to group meetings and they help immensely, inaddition to the community they create.

REPLY

[Edit Comment]

Kyrielle Adelshine


Thanks. I think I would and actually have before. I’ve just been very overwhelmed with thejob search and overcoming all of the internal implications (like questioning of self-worth). Ineed to get on a schedule here soon for sure…

REPLY

[Edit Comment]

Blog at WordPress.com. Customized Chateau Theme.

3

Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

Helping with the Anti-Stigma Campaign

Marissa Varcho <[email protected]> Wed, Dec 18, 2013 at 3:10 PMTo: Betsy Johnson <[email protected]>Bcc: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

Hi Betsy,

I was so glad I had the opportunity to see the Anti-Stigma Campaign presentation on Monday! It was very excitingand best of all, as an individual sufferer, very healing to see what NAMI Ohio is preparing to do. I would behonored to be a part of it. Please let me know how I can help.

In addition, I had started doing videos on my one blog Jane Says about being bipolar and related issues just forspeaking practice. This one in particular though, I wanted to show you:

http://janesaysrise.com/2013/11/22/a-shout-out-to-all-the-kids-at-home-on-friday-night/

I made it for the kids. I don't know whether it will ever reach any of them, but I'm very worried about the kids whoare out there alone and suffering. The bullying, the exclusion, all of it - school can be rough on a kid with mentalillness. So whatever I can do to help out, please let me know.

Also, I would be happy to reach out to the Denison University campus in Granville, Ohio where I went to college toassist in coordinating NAMI Ohio's movie night over there. I wouldn't mind speaking either, if you neededsomeone to. Just let me know. Whatever I can do...

Thanks so much,

Marissa

Marissa K. [email protected]://thecultivationofbeauty.comhttp://janesaysrise.com


Helping PAIMI

Marissa Varcho <[email protected]> Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 7:24 AMTo: Geoffrey Collver <[email protected]>Bcc: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

Geoff,

If there's anything I can do to help PAIMI's case, let me know. While its focus in reality may need some slightredirection, the theory-- http://www.disabilityrightsohio.org/paimi-advisory-council-philosophy --is invaluable,and should not be lost in translation. I will do anything I can to help.

Marissa



Helping PAIMI

Geoffrey Collver <[email protected]> Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 7:58 AMTo: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

Good morning, thanks for the offer to advocate. I will be in touch this afternoon.

Sent from my iPhone[Quoted text hidden]


PAIMI re: Lacking Compromise

Marissa Varcho <[email protected]> Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 12:53 PMTo: Betsy Johnson <[email protected]>Bcc: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

Hi Betsy,

I read this article last night in the Huffington Post --

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dj-jaffe/newbill-decreases-mental-_b_4454811.html?view=screen

It talks about the misplaced priorities of PAIMI. Seems the lacking compromise on SB43/HB104 AOT issue is notjust an Ohio thing...

I am going to pick up SubHB104 over the weekend and give it my first thorough read through, and make an outlineof any changes that could be made to strengthen the good it can create. I will let you know early next week what Icome up with. If I don't talk to you before then and you celebrate, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

And, thank you again for everything these past couple of weeks. Your help has been invaluable and is so very muchappreciated.

Sincerely,Marissa



FW: HR 3717

Geoffrey Collver <[email protected]> Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 2:11 PMTo: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

FYI – this is what we shared with our PAIMI Council and some other stakeholder groups. Your thoughts?

I’m writing you today to express grave concern over a piece of legislation in Congress that could have adevastating effect on our ability to advocate for people with disabilities in this state. HR 3717, the so called“Helping Families In Mental Health Crisis Act,” reflects an extremely narrow and radical view of what servicesshould be made available to people with behavioral and psychiatric disabilities, and what activities theiradvocates should be allowed to undertake on their behalf.

The bill in its present form proposes:

· Eliminating SAMHSA programs that have been developed by and for consumers, which are critical supports to ensurethat consumers have a role within the recovery system;;

· Reducing the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) authorization by 85% ($37 million to $5million). PAIMI helps ensure that people with mental illness and other disabilities are free from abuse and neglect and can receivecritical services and supports. These cuts would leave individuals and their families without independent advocates to help with themyriad of issues individuals with mental health conditions face every day;;

· Preventing the Protection and Advocacy system (Disability Rights Ohio) from engaging in class action lawsuits and othersystemic efforts – key tools in initiating significant reform that impacts groups of people seeking services or suffering abuse orrights violations. Similarly, the legislation would prevent Disability Rights Ohio from public policy advocacy. The result: individualsand families will lose their voices in the legislative process and policy makers will lose an important independent resource forunderstanding the systemic changes that protect individuals with mental illness;;

· Reducing the funding for state mental health consumer networks. These consumer networks are vitally important toteach people with serious mental health conditions to stay well and recover.

· Changing privacy laws in ways that could likely lead to the erosion of protections and may affect therapeutic patient-provider relationships;;

· Promoting the use of assisted outpatient treatment or involuntary commitment;;

· Dismantling SAMHSA through a number of provisions that eliminates or defunds key programs, including the CommunityMental Health Services Block Grants, Peer Support services, and other critical prevention and recovery supports and services.

The bill is based on an extremely narrow and biased viewpoint, that some people with psychiatric conditions

cannot make decisions for themselves and must be coerced and forced into medical treatment, and that any

other program, even those that are evidence based and have had great success (ACT, recovery models, and

peer support, for example) should not be supported by the federal government.

Also narrow is the bill’s view of the PAIMI program as only advocating against medical treatment. In fact, almost

100% of our PAIMI cases are about getting individuals access to services or prevention of abuse and neglect.

People with lived experience and their advocates have stepped up to oppose this bill, including Mental Health

America and national recovery networks. It is critically important that you add your voices to this call. At this

time the goal is to prevent any additional members from co-sponsoring the legislation. The attached flier has

more information about how you can talk about that with your representative.

HR 3717 Alert (00065286-2@xC54DE).pdf

108K



Betsy Johnson <[email protected]> Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 2:28 PMTo: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

Hi Marissa, I hate to think of you spending the holidays reading legislation, but I am happy to review any

suggestions you have for improvement. I am out next week but will follow up with you when I return the

following week. In the meantime, have a wonderful holiday. Betsy

From: Marissa Varcho [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, December 20, 2013 12:54 PMTo: Betsy JohnsonSubject: PAIMI re: Lacking Compromise

[Quoted text hidden]



Marissa Varcho <[email protected]> Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 2:33 PMTo: Betsy Johnson <[email protected]>Bcc: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

Hah...thank you Betsy ;0) I love it though...I promise, it's fun for me. I don't know why, but without a doubt...

Have a wonderful week off! I will catch up with you soon upon your return.

Sincerely,

Marissa

Marissa K. Varcho

[email protected]

http://thecultivationofbeauty.com

http://janesaysrise.com


Friday December 20, 2013 2:36pm !Geoffrey Collver has forgiven me ;0) !Better than any Christmas present I’ve ever received… !All my love to you!!!


FW: HR 3717

Marissa Varcho <[email protected]> Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 3:15 PMTo: Geoffrey Collver <[email protected]>Bcc: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

Hi,

I think I need to read the whole bill. I'm confused by what people and organizations and news articles etc. are allsaying -- it sounds mostly right now like there's just a lot packed in there and I need to sort it all out before I canthink about it intelligently. I'm going to do that this weekend along with Sub.H.B.104 for Ohio. I told Betsy thatand she laughed at me ;0) I assured for her though, my love and affection for legal and consumer mental-healthadvocacy...

I want to fix Ohio's proposed AOT legislation and make it good for our mentally ill, and in doing so create a newmodel for the other states to follow. That would at least go in the right direction for advocating with regard to theAOT provisions in HR3717, whatever they may say.

As for the rest of HR3717, I just have to read it. You know my stance on mental-health consumer advocacy -- it isvital. I would fight to the death to keep it alive.

I'll email you more soon once I've done my homework.

Thanks for all the info,Marissa

Marissa K. [email protected]://thecultivationofbeauty.comhttp://janesaysrise.com[Quoted text hidden]


FW: HR 3717

Geoffrey Collver <[email protected]> Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 3:24 PMTo: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

Well, you should know the same people advocating for H.B. 104 and more AOT are also behind H.R. 3717,which also contains grants to states to expand AOT in lieu of consumer advocacy and peer support services;also, the bill would also essentially prohibit DRO from doing any systemic work, ie., class actions lawsuits orpublic policy advocating.

Thanks for doing your homework.

Geoff

From: Marissa Varcho [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, December 20, 2013 3:16 PMTo: Geoffrey CollverSubject: Re: FW: HR 3717



FW: HR 3717

Marissa Varcho <[email protected]> Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 3:40 PMTo: Geoffrey Collver <[email protected]>Bcc: Marissa Varcho <[email protected]>

Hah ;0) Thank you Geoff. I am for PAIMI and DRO, just so you know. But do remember where my mainallegiance lies - I work for the mentally ill, and hope to god I always will. I have no idea how I'm ever going tomake any money again, nor how I am going to sustain until then. But I'm letting be what will be - so hopefully it'llall work out somehow in the end.

Looking forward to discussing Murphy's Law...lol...what a joke ;0/ Foreshadowing of the most painful kind...



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JANE SAYS .. chapter16