Hello world!

Welcome…           Family2Family4MD  is a Blog for those who have taken or are taking NAMI’s free 12-week Family2Family Education course in AA Co.   

AS ONE OF your Co-Teachers for F2F, I am so proud of you for wanting to know more about brain disorders. Please do not underestimate your courage.  I applaud your willingness to be an UNPAID CAREGIVER for your loved ones when mental health issues arise.  AND… I also encourage you to hug yourself often and spend some time just doing nothing but listening to the sounds around you.

BY THE TIME we do start to seek education about the mental behavior of our loved ones (biological problems in the brain), most of us are already exhausted, confused,  frustrated, and sad.  We were not prepared for this. Our solutions for coping are based on “normal,” rational behavior.  In Family2Family classes we learned, however, that mental illness rarely appears suddenly.  Even though we probably didn’t recognize the symptoms as they appeared over time, think about what our loved ones have been going through, as they struggle with changing realities.  

Because medical care in this country is typically focused on physical ailments, families are forced to fight for adequate care for those with sound bodies, but injured minds.  The stigma of mental illness among legislators, professionals, employers, employees, and others often translates into inferior services for and the criminalization of the mentally ill.  In essence, the budget cuts for mental health services indicate that the public and policy makers are okay with afflicted families and loved ones providing  free mental health care.  BUT we are the PUBLIC… so we must not be silent.  We must raise our voices and march to our State Houses and legislators to say – it is not okay for us (family members of the mentally affected) to subsidize the national health care system; it is NOT okay for the mental health needs of our loved ones to be met with insufficient services.  We have a voice because of NAMI!

SO WELCOME!  I’m glad you are here.  My intention for this F2F BLOG  is to allow you to educate others about what it is like to be around mental illness; we must destigmatize brain disorders.  Telling our stories is a way to do that.  

Remember our Family2Family motto – YOU CAN”T KNOW WHAT NO ONE HAS TOLD YOU!  

Pass the word!  AND… let’s get the word out that treatment works and that, in most cases… mental illness is treatable!  We need to remind others that the refusal of treatment by those with mental disorders, is itself a sign of the disease itself.   It’s neurological, not DENIAL!  Who doesn’t want treatment when hit by a car or physically injured in other ways?

As Family Members…  we have a lot of educating to do.  From the evaluations we get after each F2F class, it’s obvious that you appreciate the FREE education and support programs provided by NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).  It’s healthy to give to others… so let the dialogue begin.  

Be sure to check out all of the pages at the top of the F2F Blog and the links on the side.  And, of course, feel free to leave your suggestions and comments (anonymously, if you prefer).  Just click on COMMENTS.

Here are a few questions to get us started.

QUESTION #1:   What prompted to you to take F2F; how did you find out about it?

QUESTION #2:   How has you life or attitude changed or not changed since F2F?

It’s Only Time… as Enya sings above, before we educate more and more of the world about mental illness!