Science, Health & Tech
Dealing with mental illness
The Pointer
aschl336@uwsp.edu
On Tuesday, April 22 Sociology and Social Work organizations from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point invited Emily Fiedler and Terry Ryan to speak to students and community members about the National Alliance on Mental Illness and their personal experiences living with mental illnesses.
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots organization for people with mental illness and their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI has affiliates in every state and in more than 1,100 local communities across the country. “NAMI is dedicated to the eradication of mental illnesses and to the improvement of the quality of life for persons of all ages who are affected by mental illnesses,” according to the mission of NAMI. NAMI members and friends work to fulfill the mission by providing support, education and advocacy.
The presentation was called “In Our Own Voices: Dealing with Mental Illness” and included stages of “dark days, acceptance, treatment, coping, and hopes and dreams.
Fiedler originally grew up in Custer, Wis. and has bipolar disorder. She attended nursing school in Oshkosh and married after graduation. After 19 years of marriage, it ended in divorce because of domestic violence. She worked as a registered nurse in many states and also became a real estate broker. During Fiedler’s dark days, she lost all hope for the future and tried to commit suicide twice after becoming single and poor. “My life was never in control after my first breakdown at age 38. I consider myself lucky I lasted that long,” said Fiedler.
The first step in Fiedler’s acceptance stage was “[realizing] the things I’ve done to others and forgiveness of others for things that had been done to me,” said Fiedler. As a victim, she had to change her way of relating to people. “I accept myself daily no matter what kind of day I have,” she said.
From being on certain antipsychotic medications, she developed permanent damage to her neuromuscular system, known as tardive dyskinesia. This resulted in involuntary movements of her feet. She has gone through many hard times with violence, paranoia, homelessness and bad medications, but she currently sees a psychologist, works as a foster grandparent at a school system and writes poetry.
Ryan was born and raised in Middleton, Wis. His depression started when he was 17 years old, which led to clinical depression. Ryan stopped getting up in the morning and became hopeless and suicidal. On average, he slept 15 hours a day off and on for about 10 years. He swallowed a bottle of pills and ended up in the hospital. After therapy and medication, Ryan has been able to function and work fulltime. By eating right, exercising and having supporting friends, Ryan is successful at work and school, where he is working on his Bachelor’s degree.
“I have to own my illness. When people talk about a diagnosis, we are taught to say ‘he has schizophrenia, he has bipolar disorder,’ so the illness doesn’t completely define the person,” said Ryan, “Mental illnesses are a biological disorder of the brain. It’s not a weakness,” he continued.
“Taking antidepressants is not a magical pill that’ll just take everything away. It wasn’t something I wanted to hear at that point, but that’s the way it was,” Ryan joked around with his listeners, “I’ve learned that my mental illness is contagious, so if you’re in the same room as me, be careful.”
For more information, visit www.nami.org.
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