I simply cannot believe the lack of care that exists for those suffering with SERIOUS mental illness (SMI). It’s unforgivable. The ignorance and misinformation surrounding psychosis and anosognosia is unbelievable. The refusal of “professionals” to listen to distraught and desperate families causes irreparable harm. Lives, families and communities are destroyed. Families try for years/decades to get help for their loved one who has been “stolen” by a brain illness. Loving, kind, intelligent people have had their lives devastated by the merciless grips of psychosis. Coupled with anosognosia, psychosis is so difficult to overcome. It’s nearly impossible to find hope, much less help.
Unlike “biggies” such as cancer, autism and dementia, psychosis carries no empathy from society or the “medical world.” We’re told, “he’ll have to ask for help himself,” “there’s nothing we can do unless he hurts himself or someone else,” “we can’t talk to you” etc. Really? Our loved ones have a BRAIN ILLNESS. If properly treated, they CAN RECOVER! Time wasted with misinformation only causes further damage. How is it possible that families need to find help on social media instead of through 911, 988, emergency rooms, crisis hotlines, police departments or doctors? How can the United States have gotten to this? In the 1950s and 1960s, society and governmental agencies recognized the need for treatment for those suffering with SMI. They built long-term hospitals. They invested time and money into helping those with SMI. Today, those with SMI are left in the streets or “housed” in jails with no treatment. Yes, there were problems with those hospitals, but instead of fixing those problems, we closed them. How insane is that?
What needs to be done? Address SMI. That would help millions. Expecting families who have been traumatized themselves to educate “professionals” and government agencies is absurd. Waiting for society to be further impacted is irresponsible. When meaningful recovery is possible with optimal treatment, why not make sure services are available?
What challenges me the most? Trying to overcome the hurdles put in place by “agencies” to get [medicine] and optimal care for my loved one. What drives me? Knowledge that meaningful recovery is possible, and psychosis is much more tormenting and terrifying for our loved ones than it looks like from our point of view. Such suffering should be stopped as soon as possible.
What worries me? The damage caused by those ignorant of the ramifications of psychosis and anosognosia that continue to block treatment for those who suffer from it. What do I hope for? That those in power in this country wake up to the crisis exploding around us. Society and “agencies” need to understand that the problems that plague us are NOT what we see in the news. Those are the results of NOT treating SMI. The problems are psychosis and anosognosia. They are treatable! Let’s focus on helping those who suffer from SMI.
