| One of the major stigmas of mental illness is the idea | | | | issues, and his belief that "you help others no matter |
| held by some, that people with mental illnesses are | | | | what, even if it is to your own detriment", would kick in. |
| somehow different than "normal people". In fact, there | | | | Thus, his boundaries as store manager would collapse. |
| are some who would say that the medical model we | | | | He felt powerless to change these impulsive actions, |
| have developed, actually inadvertently promotes that | | | | and often attributed them to his troubled childhood |
| idea just by treating people with mental illness in a | | | | family issues. |
| condescending fashion -- that somehow mental illness | | | | Jim was clearly very proactive in his journey towards |
| is less than physical illness -- less important, less painful, | | | | wellness, and although he had considerable insight into |
| and therefore perhaps not worthy of the same | | | | his problem, it was the unconscious patterns that were |
| attention. | | | | tripping him up. After a few sessions using |
| It is my belief that self-empowerment is critical in all | | | | Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and hypnosis to |
| illnesses, mental or physical. When we are | | | | help him re-pattern some of his old unconscious |
| self-empowered, by accessing the resources that we | | | | responses to stressful situations from his past, he |
| have within, there is automatic propulsion towards | | | | began to see things in a different light. In addition to |
| optimizing our well-being that is actually a | | | | that, training in relaxation and self-hypnosis through my |
| self-perpetuating phenomenon. | | | | CD "Learn to Unwind and Enjoy Your Life" (see |
| Jim (name and other identifying details have been | | | | below) was instrumental in empowering him and |
| changed) was 48 when he first came to see me, | | | | settling down his inner mind. Listening to the CD on a |
| struggling for several years with depression, addiction, | | | | regular basis helped him to keep his mind quiet, to the |
| and ADHD. He also had poor concentration and | | | | extent that he is now able to function at his optimal |
| "continual chattering of my inner mind" with some | | | | level. |
| impulsive and "annoying behaviours". When I first met | | | | He is no longer a patient, and 3 months and 6 visits |
| him it was clear that Jim was "on a journey", as he put | | | | after my initial consultation he wrote, "...while my |
| it, towards tackling his condition. He had already done a | | | | journey to wholeness is nearing completion... and |
| number of things to tackle what had been, and still | | | | although I still feel the need to reach out to many who |
| was a very difficult mental health problem. In addition to | | | | have not even started this journey...I now have the |
| the ADHD, there were still remnants of depression. | | | | patience and insight to wait for the right time. I have |
| Originally a teacher from the East Coast, suspended | | | | learned to consider what is in the best interests of all |
| for impulsive behaviour, he was now a store manager | | | | parties". Recent follow-up suggests that he has |
| in North-eastern Ontario. Jim wanted to be able to | | | | maintained these positive changes. |
| handle routine situations without becoming anxious, but | | | | We all have the resources within to heal and move |
| scored high on an adult ADHD screening examination. | | | | forwards in our life journeys. Finding those resources |
| This anxiety and impulsivity sometimes manifested | | | | can sometimes be a challenge. Jim looked and found |
| itself at his work, as he would feel compelled to help | | | | those resources, and reaped the benefits. Mental illness |
| customers coming into the store with their own mental | | | | is a challenge, but it is a challenge that can be won. |