A Spark of  Hope

I was diagnosed with a mental Illness at age 19. I am 39 now. In the beginning when the doctors were trying a variety of medications on me, I frequently visited a drop-in-center. As I think back on it now, I remember that many individuals at the facility were living with severe and persistent mental illness. Some were higher functioning than others, but I began to interact with a few of them. In the early stages of my mental health issues, I was unable to engage in a meaningful conversation with anyone. My affect was flat, my eye contact was poor, and I expressed my emotions rarely. It was an accomplishment to simply play a game of scrabble with a group of people.

The point is that I was empowered by my peers at the drop-in-center and it didn't occur via any complex interventions. The drop-in center was a place for people with mental illnesses to go to find even an iota of meaning and purpose in their lives. It was a spark of hope for many of us. Soon I found my calling in life - to help others who were like me. What a long road it has  been, but I have come a long way. Maybe someday you can use your success with recovery from mental illness to help others who are struggling.
 

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