NAMI Week Nine

Wednesday afternoon I attended the ninth week of NAMI Peer-to-Peer Recovery Education Program ©. The class covered the following topics:

• Guest Speaker – Family Member – Steve Pitman
• Four Good Things about Hospitalization: To avoid the upheaval of a hospital stay, with the help of your support system,youcanrecreatethefour good things about hospitalization at home when you need it.
  1. Medical Supervision
  2. Structure/Routine
  3. Support/Others to Talk to
  4. Provision of basic necessities
• Hot Buttons and Triggers
  • Listening to advice and accepting support from relatives can be difficult due to hot buttons and triggers, but doing so is crucial to recovery.
  • Supportive relationships are important for mental health recovery, especially when we are not doing well.
• Working with Providers
  • They work for you – you want, need, and deserve care
  • Demand the best possible care – Ask for Patients’ Rights and Responsiblities. Feel free to ask for a second opinion.
  • Know yourself – speak up, let your provider know how you are unique
  • Be honest – your provider cannot help you without knowing what is going on
  • Be persistent – “the squeaky wheel gets the grease” = self-advocacy
  • Do your homework – Take control. Set the agenda. Make a list.
  • Bring in backup – if needed bring someone to an appointment with you
• Advance Directive – we reviewed a sample Advance Directive for Mental Health Care Decision Making.
• Incarceration – Survival and Preparedness
• Mindfulness Exercise