Tags
advocacy, Advocate, hope, inspiration, mental health, mental illness, mentally ill, psychiatry, psychology, schizophrenia], stigma, writing
Recently I did an interview with a writer who was working on a piece about schizophrenia. The writer asked me, “Do you have any role models?”
I said, “Yes, I do. Elyn Saks is my role model.”
“Why is Elyn Saks your role model?” She asked.
“She has schizophrenia, but she is intelligent, successful, and living a fulfilling life. She isn’t amazing because she has schizophrenia she is amazing despite having schizophrenia.” I said.
Elyn Saks is successful by anyone’s standards. She has ties to two major universities (USC and UCSD) she is a lawyer and an accomplished writer. Anyone that looked at her resume would have to agree that she has impressive credentials. When comparing Elyn Saks with anyone in her field, she shines. These reasons and others are why she makes a remarkable role model for people with schizophrenia. We don’t lower the standards for her because she has schizophrenia – the standards are extremely high, and she meets and beats those standards.
She is a role model I can look up to, and admire. Her story is one of inspiration and hope. She also takes her treatment seriously which is essential for anyone to make it to my list of role models.
Today I read an article by a woman who markets herself as an advocate for people living with schizophrenia. Unfortunately, I think she could be a powerhouse in terms of advocacy, but she is too sarcastic (making stereotypical jokes about not killing people). She is also too harsh (always quick to swear). And the biggest problem is that she doesn’t take her treatment seriously (which in my opinion, disqualifies someone from being a true advocate).
I don’t want to be like the woman I just mentioned and miss the mark in terms of advocacy. I would like to be a source of inspiration and hope like Elyn Saks. I want to be an advocate who is living successfully in every area of life including relationships and work. I want people to look at my life and feel like if I can do it, they can do it, too.
I hope in my lifetime to make an impact on stigma. I hope to make a difference for the people who will receive a diagnosis of schizophrenia in five years, ten years, and so on. I want the fear of being found out or discovered to end. I want the hostile work environments where jokes about mental illness are common to stop. I want all of us to be more educated, compassionate and have a better understanding of the reality of people with severe mental illnesses.
It is unlikely that I will ever accomplish as much as Elyn Saks, but I hold her out in front of me and keep walking toward her because some day the distance between us may seem more like meters instead of miles.
I’ve come to know some amazing people who give me tremendous hope for my younger daughter…Elyn Saks, Brandon Staglin, Bethany Yeiser and you are among them. :)You are a shining example of compassion and possibility.
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Thank you!!!! That means a lot to me. 🙂
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You are definitely one of my role models as well as Elyn Saks. I hope to be just as fortunate as both of you in experiencing meaningful relationships as well as pursuing my dreams.
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This brought tears to my eyes. I hope all of your heart’s desires come true!!!! 🙂
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You already are a magnificent role model!
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Thank you for your kind and supportive words!!! 🙂
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I used to work in a psych unit. I don’t talk about work on the internet, largely because I could cause my employer distress. But also because of my need for confidentiality. Fat Beggars School of Prophets operates largely in anonymity.
That said, I encountered a lot of street-homeless people in the psych hospital. A lot! But we had one of them develop physical illness and die after a few weeks in the ICU. That patient had no next of kin. That patient had no home. And yet, that patient was beloved by our staff. I will not give the name or even the gender of the patient away on the internet, not even in death. (My apologies to Project Mayhem.) Instead, I will call this prophet: Agent Deep Cover – Jesus moved into a difficult skin!
Agent Deep Cover was one of the most mentally afflicted people I ever met. The voices, the mood swings, the delusions – all more intense that I had ever seen. Agent Deep Cover could go into fits of rage on some occasions. But more often than not, especially after the staff spent many long days and nights winning Agent Deep Cover’s trust, Agent Deep Cover would entertain us with the most precious smiles, laughs, and hilarious dances. I cannot reveal any details, but I will say our good times were uncommonly good!
Then Agent Deep Cover died. Agent Deep Cover qualified for indigent burial services. But our staff mourned. We took time off work to attend the memorial. We got some flowers, one staffer sang, another’s uncle was a pastor who led prayer and gave a meditative message, and the nurses even pitched in and bought a head stone. But it was the cheapest funeral I ever attended, and absolutely none of Agent Deep Cover’s family were located or came.
We did not print up those little memorial cards like you get at most funerals. I keep a Kleenex tissue in a baggie. Sometimes I look at it. Sometimes I look at this photo. Then I give Agent Deep Cover to Jesus – for he has gone ahead to his Father’s House to prepare a place for Agent Deep Cover! (John 14:2).
I thank God for those nurses. I thank God for the love Agent Deep Cover enjoyed at our psych ward. But I would’ve really loved to hand off Agent Deep Cover (and those in similar circumstances) to the living breathing Body of Christ – the church! I want to see what Jesus does with them there. There is a party in heaven – the only place appropriate for the joy we shared with Agent Deep Cover. But we can’t have that (this side of the Age to Come) if that church house door remains closed to the homeless.
I long for the day that the church opens the door between heaven and earth. You know … at the place where heaven and earth meet, there is a party. Agent Deep Cover lifted the veil for a moment and showed us what we have to gain when we open that door.
“Behold!” (Jesus says) “I stand at the door and knock. If you open up, I will come in and eat with you…” (Rev. 3:20).
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I am glad that the person you wrote about was surrounded by care at the end of his/her life. We all need love and care. The church I go to opens its doors to the homeless in many ways. It is the most authentic church I have ever attended. Thanks for sharing your story.
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Thank you for being a role model for those of us with schizophrenia!!! I really enjoy your blog,it has helped me a great deal.
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Thank you!
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