S.A. eLetter (11-15-10)

[John P.]

Greetings S.A. Family on the Internet,

With all the holidays coming up, this week we’ll publish as
abbreviated edition of the S.A. eLetter. Further below are links to
all 40 parts of our series on Stress Management.

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--S.A. Step Two

Below is a description of step two in S.A.’s six steps.

Step Two – I CHOOSE…

I choose to be well. I take full responsibility for my choices and
realize the choices I make directly influence the quality of my days.
Many people with schizophrenia don't realize that they have choices
bearing on their illness. Senior members of SA try to encourage new
members to fully grasp their choices. The primary alternative is a
conscious decision to get better.

To choose to be well may involve cooperating with a psychiatrist or a
psychotherapist, listening to what they say and adhering to their
advice. Another choice maybe to recognize the need to take the
medication that helps so many people with schizophrenia. To choose to
be well may also require the patient to acknowledge that, at some
point during his or her recovery, there may be setbacks and re-
hospitalization may be necessary.

The decision to be well may mean different things to different people.
A person with schizophrenia in the “back wards” of a state psychiatric
hospital is no more responsible for his or her illness than others and
he or she may be so overwhelmed with symptoms (such as voices) that
personal choice is limited.

Yet, SA encourages such a patient to make the best of his or her
circumstances, to make choices that would influence the quality of his
or her days. This might involve avoiding behaviors that would lead to
the patient being placed in seclusion in a locked room or to being
placed in restraints. We encourage behaviors that would lead to
granting of special passes to the patient, such as a grounds card,
enabling the patient to get out of the ward and into the sunlight.

One of the principles of Schizophrenics Anonymous is that, although we
may not be responsible for symptoms, we are responsible for our
responses. For those ready to accept the responsibility, comes the
satisfaction of having increased control on one's own life and
future.

SOURCE S.A. Blue Booklet (program text, first published in 1989)


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--Stress Management Series Prior Editions

Below are links to all 40 parts of the Stress Management Series to
date.

Stress Management Series I (Parts #1 to #16):

http://groups.google.com/group/choose-life-project/browse_thread/thread/584aa4af7b45c502?hl=en

Stress Management Series II (Parts #17 to #29):

http://groups.google.com/group/choose-life-project/browse_thread/thread/f240f7bad9902a81?hl=en

Stress Management Series III (Parts #30 to #40):

http://groups.google.com/group/choose-life-project/browse_thread/thread/e0f98e3ce6dafc7f?hl=en#

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Bye for now, and everyone have a great couple of weeks.
--John P., member of S.A.

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For more information about
Schizophrenics Anonymous.:
The new S.A. website is at:
http://www.sardaa.org
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For the Google information group for S.A.:
http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous
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For the Yahoo discussion group for S.A.:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous
NOTE: Earlier editions of the S.A. eLettter and the Schizophrenia
News
Links are posted at the Google information group for S.A. (link given
above). Also, the S.A. eLetter will come
to your e-mail inbox when published by signing up at the S.A.
Information Group at Google.
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Fact Sheet Information about Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective
Disorder--
* National Institute of Mental Health--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml
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* Mental Health America ( formerly the National Mental Health
Association):
--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/schizophrenia
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* National Alliance for the Mentally Il
--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedP...
--description of schizoaffective disorder:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedP...
(Organization now called National Alliance on Mental Illness)