Wednesday, December 29, 2010

CMHA Winter 2010 Newsletter: Recovery is Possible!

“Recovery involves the development of new meaning and purpose in one's life as one grows beyond the catastrophic effects of mental illness.” As you read this newsletter, I hope you will be as moved and inspired by these stories as we have been in our daily work with our clients. This news letter gives you an opportunity to share in the experience of recovery, and to be able to hear how people can, and do, overcome often huge challenges to achieve their goals and live their dreams, big or small. - Pam Edwards
 
Please click here for the full newsletter.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Borderline Personality Disorder and Recovery, two inspiring personal accounts of the experience of recovery from BPD

CMHA was inspired by the following accounts of individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder.
Below are snippits of their stories with a link to view the rest:

Don’t Call Me Borderline!
This was my initial reaction when I first learned that I have commonly misunderstood mental illness called Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Unlike, Depression, Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder few people have heard of my illness and it is only just beginning to come into the light as far as advocacy and awareness are concerned.
I am among the many millions of people with this disorder (2-3% of the population). Like Schizophrenia, BPD is a devastating mental illness and is usually diagnosed in adolescence or early adulthood. In my case, it struck very young, probably around puberty, but I was not diagnosed until twenty six years of age. For more than ten years of my life I struggled to get well. It has only been in the last four years that I have found true health and wellbeing. I am doing wonderful now!
There were many times when I honestly thought I would never get better...Don't Call Me Borderline

Sarah's Story

Hi, I’m Sarah Moir, President and Founder of Crazy Daisy.  I have suffered from a mental illness most of my life.  I allowed my life to be defined by it for almost 20 years.  I have Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).  It is one of the more stigmatized psychiatric conditions– even within the medical community.  Although there is no cure, recovery is possible.  I have struggled, I do struggle and I will struggle.

The easiest way to explain BPD is to compare it to hemophilia – the slightest emotional scratch can cause me to bleed to death, figuratively.   I feel emotions more intensely, harder and faster then most. They can also last a long, long time.  I can’t just “snap out of it.”

I had a happy childhood and a wonderful, loving family...Sarah's Story- Crazy Daisy

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Drop-In Anxiety Management Group at CMHA!

Great News, Victoria!



Starting in January (exact date to be determined), on Thursdays from 7pm - 8:30pm, Dr. Tom Lipinski (PhD, Licensed Psychologist) will be facilitating an anxiety management group. The group is open to all on a drop-in basis and is free of charge. More information about the group and Tom Lipinski can be accessed through these two posters:




As an introduction to the group, and a resource for staff and the public, Tom will be giving a public lecture on Anxiety on December 16, 2010, in the BRIDGE Centre room at 125 Skinner Street, at 7pm. This is also a drop-in, free-of-charge event.