S.A. eLetter (1-9-11)
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John P.
Jan 9, 2011, 4:21:38 PM1/9/11
to Schizophrenics Anonymous
Greetings S.A. Family on the Internet,
As part of our review of the Schizophrenics Anonymous program, below
is the descriptive wording associated with S.A. Step #5, as found in
the S.A. Blue Booklet:
Step Five I understand....
I now realize the erroneous, self defeating thinking contributes to my
problems, failures, unhappiness, and fears. I am ready to have my
belief system altered so my life can be transformed.
Negative thinking can kill our aspirations to become whole persons.
This is especially true if the negativity is erroneous and needlessly
self critical. Below are four examples of self defeating thinking. We
believe that these ideas, and others like them, prevent us from
integrating ourselves into becoming balanced human beings.
1) I'm no good. This idea leads us to believe that we are not worthy
of love and happiness. It is so generalized that it doesn't allow us
to see the many favorable qualities that we possess.
2) I have no abilities. Sometimes we fail at various endeavors so
often that we reach the conclusion: "What's the use." Or, we may say:
"I tried, but I can't." While it's true that we all have weak points,
each of us has something to offer the community; we all have some
talents to be valued.
3) I can't get well. For many persons, the symptoms of schizophrenia
have been so persistent that it seems that these symptoms will never
go away. At Schizophrenics Anonymous we never give up when it comes to
recovery, although it may mean different things to different people.
For some members, recovering may mean the ability to hold a demanding
job; for others, it may mean the acquisition of grounds privileges at
a state hospital. If each person in these circumstances is doing the
best that he or she can, then they are equal in our eyes. More will be
said of this in the chapter on recovery.
4) I have no future. When a person with schizophrenia is robbed of
employment, relationships, and living arrangements, despair is often
the result. Any of these trials would upset the average person; we
have the additional burden of symptoms and stigma. Part of the answer
is not to give up too soon. After finding ways to adjust to our
circumstances, perhaps by identifying options previously not
considered, life becomes worth living again.
Although there are no easy solutions to the problems associated with
schizophrenia, developing a positive attitude can bring some new light
to an otherwise dismal situation. Many joyful moments are the result
of a life transformed in this fashion.
SOURCE: S.A. Blue Booklet (program text)
----------------------------------------------------------------
--Stress Management, part #42
Relieving Stress through Creativity
Some research suggests that stress can be reduced by creativity.
Intuitively this can make sense. Let’s say you are ruminating about a
problem that isn’t so big but is causing you stress anyway. In other
words, you are thinking about it and thinking about it, and it is
making you frazzled. Stress is getting the best of you.
Let’s say further, that you decide to start working on some creative
project instead of ruminating. As your mind becomes absorbed in the
creative effort, you focus less on the problem, you worry less, and
eventually you aren’t frazzled anymore. Creativity will have relieved
you of stress.
Creative efforts come easiest when your mind is in a state of mind
called “flow.” During flow, a person “becomes completely unaware of
self, loses track of time, and is totally absorbed in what he or she
is doing.”
During this state of flow, it is easy to imagine that all those little
neurotic problems we worry about would fade away. The kind of “bent
out of shape” stress they cause us would dissipate.
The really neat thing about this state of mind called flow is what is
happening in your brain while you are in it. When you are in flow
your brain releases dopamine. This is a brain chemical that produces
feelings of well-being. So as you are being creative, you are getting
little bursts of dopamine. The reward system in your brain is making
you feel good as you proceed through the creative process.
Instead of being stressed, you’re having feelings of well-being.
Learning to be more creative can be an exercise in “novelty seeking.”
In pursuing new experiences, we are building new cell pathways in the
brain that can help us. And as we develop these new brain cells, it’s
becomes easier to tap into a reliable means to reduce stress and feel
better.
SOURCE: Some data from the Harvard Medical Advisor news column—
November 2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Website of the Week
The International Center for Clubhouse Development
“ICCD clubhouses are founded on the realization that recovery from
serious mental illness must involve the whole person in a vital and
culturally sensitive community.”
The organization’s website:
http://www.iccd.org/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Our Suffering in Perspective
The suffering of schizophrenia patients is real. And other people
suffer too. We wish to also recognize the struggles of other
suffering people. For instance:
Hunger in America
Some 55 million Americans went without food because of a lack of
finances during the twelve months prior to September 2010.
That is about 18 percent of Americans being without adequate food.
SOURCE: Gallup Healthways Index, Food Resource and Action Center
We do not suffer alone.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Quote of the Week
“Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will
pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.”
-St. Augustine (354-430), Roman era theologian
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bye for now, and everyone have a great couple of weeks.
--John P., member of S.A.
=============================================
For more information about
Schizophrenics Anonymous.:
The new S.A. website is at:
http://www.sardaa.org
----------
For the Google information group for S.A.:
http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous
------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------
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
----------------------
* Mental Health America ( formerly the National Mental Health
Association):
--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/schizophrenia
--------------------
* 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)
As part of our review of the Schizophrenics Anonymous program, below
is the descriptive wording associated with S.A. Step #5, as found in
the S.A. Blue Booklet:
Step Five I understand....
I now realize the erroneous, self defeating thinking contributes to my
problems, failures, unhappiness, and fears. I am ready to have my
belief system altered so my life can be transformed.
Negative thinking can kill our aspirations to become whole persons.
This is especially true if the negativity is erroneous and needlessly
self critical. Below are four examples of self defeating thinking. We
believe that these ideas, and others like them, prevent us from
integrating ourselves into becoming balanced human beings.
1) I'm no good. This idea leads us to believe that we are not worthy
of love and happiness. It is so generalized that it doesn't allow us
to see the many favorable qualities that we possess.
2) I have no abilities. Sometimes we fail at various endeavors so
often that we reach the conclusion: "What's the use." Or, we may say:
"I tried, but I can't." While it's true that we all have weak points,
each of us has something to offer the community; we all have some
talents to be valued.
3) I can't get well. For many persons, the symptoms of schizophrenia
have been so persistent that it seems that these symptoms will never
go away. At Schizophrenics Anonymous we never give up when it comes to
recovery, although it may mean different things to different people.
For some members, recovering may mean the ability to hold a demanding
job; for others, it may mean the acquisition of grounds privileges at
a state hospital. If each person in these circumstances is doing the
best that he or she can, then they are equal in our eyes. More will be
said of this in the chapter on recovery.
4) I have no future. When a person with schizophrenia is robbed of
employment, relationships, and living arrangements, despair is often
the result. Any of these trials would upset the average person; we
have the additional burden of symptoms and stigma. Part of the answer
is not to give up too soon. After finding ways to adjust to our
circumstances, perhaps by identifying options previously not
considered, life becomes worth living again.
Although there are no easy solutions to the problems associated with
schizophrenia, developing a positive attitude can bring some new light
to an otherwise dismal situation. Many joyful moments are the result
of a life transformed in this fashion.
SOURCE: S.A. Blue Booklet (program text)
----------------------------------------------------------------
--Stress Management, part #42
Relieving Stress through Creativity
Some research suggests that stress can be reduced by creativity.
Intuitively this can make sense. Let’s say you are ruminating about a
problem that isn’t so big but is causing you stress anyway. In other
words, you are thinking about it and thinking about it, and it is
making you frazzled. Stress is getting the best of you.
Let’s say further, that you decide to start working on some creative
project instead of ruminating. As your mind becomes absorbed in the
creative effort, you focus less on the problem, you worry less, and
eventually you aren’t frazzled anymore. Creativity will have relieved
you of stress.
Creative efforts come easiest when your mind is in a state of mind
called “flow.” During flow, a person “becomes completely unaware of
self, loses track of time, and is totally absorbed in what he or she
is doing.”
During this state of flow, it is easy to imagine that all those little
neurotic problems we worry about would fade away. The kind of “bent
out of shape” stress they cause us would dissipate.
The really neat thing about this state of mind called flow is what is
happening in your brain while you are in it. When you are in flow
your brain releases dopamine. This is a brain chemical that produces
feelings of well-being. So as you are being creative, you are getting
little bursts of dopamine. The reward system in your brain is making
you feel good as you proceed through the creative process.
Instead of being stressed, you’re having feelings of well-being.
Learning to be more creative can be an exercise in “novelty seeking.”
In pursuing new experiences, we are building new cell pathways in the
brain that can help us. And as we develop these new brain cells, it’s
becomes easier to tap into a reliable means to reduce stress and feel
better.
SOURCE: Some data from the Harvard Medical Advisor news column—
November 2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Website of the Week
The International Center for Clubhouse Development
“ICCD clubhouses are founded on the realization that recovery from
serious mental illness must involve the whole person in a vital and
culturally sensitive community.”
The organization’s website:
http://www.iccd.org/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Our Suffering in Perspective
The suffering of schizophrenia patients is real. And other people
suffer too. We wish to also recognize the struggles of other
suffering people. For instance:
Hunger in America
Some 55 million Americans went without food because of a lack of
finances during the twelve months prior to September 2010.
That is about 18 percent of Americans being without adequate food.
SOURCE: Gallup Healthways Index, Food Resource and Action Center
We do not suffer alone.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Quote of the Week
“Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will
pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility.”
-St. Augustine (354-430), Roman era theologian
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bye for now, and everyone have a great couple of weeks.
--John P., member of S.A.
=============================================
For more information about
Schizophrenics Anonymous.:
The new S.A. website is at:
http://www.sardaa.org
----------
For the Google information group for S.A.:
http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous
------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------
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
----------------------
* Mental Health America ( formerly the National Mental Health
Association):
--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/schizophrenia
--------------------
* 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)
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