Family to Family

NAMI Shoreline Affiliate, Connecticut shared a post.

2 weeks ago

The Power of Connection. Happy tears here, don't worry. 🙂“I used heroin for ten years. It wasn’t a very good life, as you’d expect. I had my son taken from me. I lost my job at the Fiat factory. I spent all my time trying to find money, find dealers, and stay away from police. I hated myself. I couldn’t face anyone. Then one day my friend’s dog had puppies. I’d never had a dog before, but I always liked animals-- so I told him to give me the smallest and ugliest one he had. The one nobody else wanted. And that’s how I got Joe. Joe was the angel of my life. We understood each other. There was no need for words. He followed me around all the time. He slept next to me on the street. The moment I opened my eyes in the morning he would lick my face. He gave me self-esteem. I was a complete loser but at least I could take care of Joe. I could bring him to the park. I could bring him to the vet. I could raise enough money to get his medication. He’s the reason I was finally able to quit heroin. Because if something happened to me, what would happen to him? So I got clean. It was hard but I got clean. Joe lived for another thirteen years. He got a tumor in 2012 and held on a few more months. I barely survived it. I was able to stay off drugs, but I promised myself that I’d never get another dog. It’s just too painful. But two years ago I found Leica beneath a mobile home. She was all skin and bones. She’d been abandoned. I didn’t have a choice. For the first few months I called her Joe. But I had to stop. Because Joe’s gone. And the name doesn’t really matter, anyway. It just matters that I love her.”

(Rome, Italy) ...

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NAMI Shoreline Affiliate, Connecticut

3 weeks ago

From Celia Finkelstein, TV writer and actor:

"Here is your periodic reminder that depression is NOT A CHARACTER FLAW. IT IS NOT A WEAKNESS.

Sometimes depression means you can't answer emails or respond to texts or do your dishes.

Sometimes it means you are super funny and the life of the party, but you can't get out of bed in the mornings or you weep uncontrollably or you feel numb.

Sometimes you feel great so you go off your medicine and then you feel so low you want to die. Sometimes you wish this passively, like you want a truck to hit you. Sometimes, you make a plan to do it yourself.

Sometimes just breathing feels like climbing Mount Everest.

Everyone's depression is different. The answer is not that you are a fuck up or a loser or you need to cheer up or go to yoga.

You are not broken. You are not lazy.

You are ill.

You need help and care the way a diabetic needs help and care. Do not judge yourself and do not allow others to judge you.

Recovery is a constant process of self-care and patience and hard work. It will not always be easy, but it will not always be hard.

I see you. You are not alone. I am holding space for you. You are allowed to ask for help. You are not a burden and you do not have to carry this alone. People want you to reach out. They do. I promise.

Nothing is permanent." ...

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