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Is Your Support Group Supportive (4)?

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Mental health support groups can be a vital part of recovery and acceptance of many mental illnesses. Most groups are a wonderful source of support and comfort, and knowing that others experience similar symptoms and feelings is a really important part of the recovery process. However, as we discussed in previous articles in this series, there can be negative aspects to these groups, of which all members should be on the alert for. Group saboteurs are common problem people in any group situation, but even more so in a mental health group, due to the sensitive nature of many participants. … Continue reading →

Recovering from a Breakdown (2)

Today we will continue on from our initial blog regarding taking those first small steps to recovery. In a previous article, I stressed the point about how important it is to do something, even if it is only a small task. I talked about setting yourself the goal of making the bed each day. This can seem like a monumental task to a person who is struggling to survive on a day- to-day basis, and to accomplish that task is a real achievement. Making a commitment to a task such as making the bed has many benefits: 1. There is … Continue reading →

Recovering from a Breakdown (1)

“The longest journey starts with a single step” What can you do when your life is a mess, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong, and you feel you are so far down the slippery slope that you will never see the light of day again? Many people find themselves in this situation. You are certainly not alone. Perhaps your situation has gone on for so long that you have forgotten what it is like to be happy and feel in control of your life. Time has weakened your coping skills and many of your friends and supports have … Continue reading →

Telling People about your Mental Illness

Whether we suffer from depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, an eating disorder or one of the many anxiety disorders, there comes a time when decisions have to be made as to who and what to tell about your condition. Sometimes that decision is taken away from us, as when we suffer a psychotic episode, a suicide attempt, or our eating disorder has become obvious even to the most casual observer. I am often asked by clients how they should go about telling people about their illness and who they should tell. It can be quite a challenge to tell others about … Continue reading →

Is Your Support Group Supportive (3)?

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In previous articles we looked at problems caused by sexual relationships between members of the same mental health support group and also the destructive role of the group dominator. Today we look at the role of another very common factor in support groups: that of the group saboteur. The group saboteur comes in various guises, all of which are destructive. Ann had come to the group suffering from depression, but it soon became obvious that she had considerable problems other than depression. Problems that threatened the stability of the group. An accomplished academic, Ann liked to talk about her problems, … Continue reading →

Is Your Support Group Supportive (2)?

In our initial article on this topic, we looked at the benefits of support groups, in particular those groups for people suffering from common mental health ailments such as depression, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and mood disorders. We also looked at some of the more unhelpful aspects of these groups beginning with the problems that potentially occur when two members of the same group form a sexual relationship. The presence of a couple in the group alters the group dynamic, but the main damage occurs if the relationship breaks up. One or other of the group participants will find it difficult … Continue reading →

Is Your Support Group Supportive (1)?

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Many people participate in support groups for a number of different health conditions. For the most part they play an important role in the recovery or acceptance of that particular medical condition. The fact that there are so many support groups for the myriad of health ailments that plague us is a testament to their popularity and value. This is especially so when it comes to support groups for mental illness. Nothing beats the comfort of being able to talk freely about your depression, your anxiety disorder, your mood swings, or your irrational thoughts. Knowing that you are not alone … Continue reading →

Author Interview — Nancy Oelklaus

Today we are joined by Nancy Oelklaus, who has taken time out of her busy schedule to talk with us about her new book. Thanks for being here, Nancy! Your book is entitled, “Journey from Head to Heart: Living and Working Authentically.” What does it mean, to live and work authentically? When one lives authentically in every area of life, professional and personal, life is simply easier. Situations get resolved with least effort and best results. What this way of life requires is that we become aware of how we’re feeling from moment to moment—that we keep “checking in” with … Continue reading →