My psychologist, Dr. J. Mark Pratt, says "What you do most is what you
do best." Certainly, full-time paid employment takes up most of my time,
and I am so grateful for that. Coming in close second, however, is
mental health treatment. Appointments with psychiatrists/psychologists,
mental health support groups, obtaining required blood work from the
lab, filling pharmacy prescriptions, going to church, reading
literature, and praying/meditating. Also common is doing volunteer work,
helping friends and family with tasks, and listening to them when they
are troubled. These activities give me positive thoughts that I am
contributing to society and help keep me away from the negativity that
has been a hallmark of my mental illness.
Thus it has become a life that I truly believe is one worth living. In
the early stages of recovery (the late 1990s) I did not share this view.
But I survived those tumultuous days and have now entered into an
expansive place where peace, even joy, is a common experience.
The psychiatric and psychological treatments that have made this
possible cost my mom, Gwen, a lot of money. Although, I have been able
to remove this burden from her more recently. It occurred to me that if
I could write a book delineating the various aspects of my treatment
program, I could share these helpful concepts with others, virtually for
free. That is the spirit in which this book is published, and I hope you
can utilize it for increased mental health and well-being!
