OUR STORIES
NAMI NJ features people with mental illness, family members, providers, researchers, advocates and all members of the mental health community who fight the battle against mental illness every day. When confronted with mental illness, you and your family may have a story to tell that celebrates an everyday hero who stands up against mental illness. Share your story of hope to provide inspiration and comfort to others. You may be amazed at how your sharing will impact others, just like those who felt compelled to share below and inspire us all. If you would like to have your story featured, please contact us at [email protected].
Lorrie’s Story
My faith brings me peace; it tells me that we are not in control of everything but with the help from God we can get through the suffering and through our suffering we can help others. By accepting our suffering and reaching out to those close to us, and other people who are placed in our path to help us, we can find the strength and courage to continue to fight for our loved ones who deserve to have the best quality of life that they can have. If I didn’t have my faith, I wouldn’t know what to do. Read more…
I think my purpose in life is to get rid of the stigma that surrounds mental health, worldwide. Mental health is no different than cancer, lung disease, or diabetes. It’s actually bigger than all three combined because of the fear and stigmas that exist behind mental health. One of the things that I would like to see changed is awareness. If people could just listen to others without judgement, that would be a huge accomplishment. There’s no shame or guilt having a mental health disorder, but the stigma and bias shame all of us. Read more…
I signed up for the NAMI Family-to-Family course in 2012 and it was the beginning of my healing. I cannot describe the comfort I felt to sit in a room with other caregivers/family members who were suffering from the same stress, pain and heartache. Over the course of twelve weeks, I gained hope and began to feel empowered. Armed with knowledge about mental illnesses, medications, stigma and advocacy; I began the latest chapter of my life. Read more…
It was fall of Freshman year of college and I received the text message that would change my life forever. It was the simple words from my Mom of “call me when you get a chance.” Instantaneously, I knew something was wrong. After getting off the phone with her, I learned one of my family members was hospitalized for psychiatric purposes. Since that specific day, there has been numerous hospitalizations, medication changes and countless other programs that were completed. Read more…
My mom was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, my dad was a successful entrepreneur, as well as a heroin addict, my 21 year old daughter has a diagnosis of bipolar schizo-affective disorder, and my 3 year old son is diagnosed on the autism spectrum. The beginning of my experience with mental illness started when my mom was hospitalized. I was 12 when she tried to set our home on fire, along with many odd things she’d do that we, her children, didn’t understand. Read more…
I have always been a generally upbeat, social, and intelligent person. As a child, I loved going to school. My teachers agreed that I was an excellent student and had no problem making friends. They also told my parents about some other observations during parent-teacher conferences. I was always asking my teachers if they thought I was sick, asking them to feel my head for a fever when I was fine, or if they thought my heart was beating too fast. At home, I would go through brief periods where I would cry all the time for no reason and not eat. Usually, the episode would subside and I would be back to my happy self. Read more…
My friends noticed a change in my demeanor before I did, asking why I was so “touchy” all of a sudden or why I was “breaking down” in the middle of the day. This was the beginning of a nightmare for me (of course now I call it a challenge) and the end of my pursuit of a chemical engineering degree.
I was 20, in my junior year, when I had a psychotic break. I have lived with schizo-affective disorder for 32 years now. My disorder manifests schizophrenic and bipolar symptoms. It has been a challenge to live with, but I constantly rise to meet it. I have no choice if I want to live. Read more…
Twelve years ago as I was sitting in my office I received a phone call from my daughter Tanya, who was at the time was a senior at UCLA. I was surprised by the midday phone call from my daughter. “Hi Mom,” she said. “My psychiatrist wants to speak with you.” Tanya handed the phone to the doctor. I didn’t know what to expect; I didn’t even know Tanya had been seeing a psychiatrist. That the doctor told me that she had been seeing Tanya for over six months. That Tanya was going to withdraw from school and come home for treatment. That Tanya had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
When mental illness first occurred in my family and I didn’t know what to do, a friend suggested NAMI for support. Not only did my local NAMI affiliate offer support, but support with compassion, and education about mental illness to help me understand what was happening in my family. As a result, of such care, I have supported my affiliate, and NAMI NJ. It has been a fulfilling experience, watching the programs and opportunities for expressive arts expand. Read more…
My name is Mike Jones. I am a NAMI New Jersey Board member and the Veterans Committee chair. My family, like very many others, lives with mental illness. When I finally discovered NAMI, I took the Family-to-Family Education course, and quickly went on to become a Family-to-Family teacher myself. I now actively participate in local, state, and national level efforts to educate, improve services, and reduce stigma, not only for my family, but also for fellow veterans, military, and their families. Read more…
On a beautiful sunny day in 2012, I gathered my family and we went to our first NAMI NJ Walk. The spirit of that day clarified what I had felt since joining NAMI NJ in 2011 – community. It is this community that you experience when your loved one attends a support group, a teacher attends a workshop, a family receives a list of resources for their loved one, or you attend an art exhibition. All of this and more is NAMI NJ. Read more…
I am an African-American woman born and raised in Elizabeth, NJ. As I count down to graduating from my MSW program in May of 2014 I think back to the journey that led me here. Growing up I understood many of the issues that my family and other families within my urban community were facing, including mental health. While in college my younger brother was diagnosed with ADHD and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. It took my mother and family members by surprise, but we immediately began searching for services to assist him. Read more…
I am an Indian American born in New Delhi and raised in New Jersey. My sister has struggled with schizophrenia and a co-occurring diagnosis of bipolar disorder for most of her adult life. It has been a turbulent roller coaster ride – from having to deal with stigma to her transition to independence. Being of South Asian descent, where mental illness is not spoken about openly, it was difficult for my family to comprehend why this was happening, what is to be done and how to cope with all this. Read more...
I first walked into a NAMI meeting in the fall of 1997. New to peer groups, I found the education and support I needed. I also found something more, a role in systems advocacy. I was instantly introduced to the culture of advocacy. The opportunity to move into an advocacy role clicked with me. I think it was enhanced by a holy day talk I had heard a few years before. The gist of the Rabbi’s sermon was “we all have busy lives, and spend time earning our livings, and taking care of ourselves and our families. Little time is left for helping our communities. But it is how you spend that little piece that matters so much.” Read more…
My wife and I live in Atlantic County, NJ. We have two adult sons and enjoy being grandparents of two healthy little boys. Neither she or I can identify any family history of mental illness, however our youngest son suffers with a severe mental illness and was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2010. We searched for help and found NAMI NJ. Both of us have been active with NAMI Atlantic County for over five years. Because of NAMI, I’m giving back, “to balance the weight and burden of supporting my loved one who suffers”. Read more…
Having a child in the first place is a beautiful blessing. Having two children is even better. Having your wife and two children always close to you and there for you is absolutely irreplaceable. It’s a feeling of warmth and security. This past summer during moments of need my wife, my daughter and son were there at all times, when most needed. Read more…
Submitted by Richard Friedman on February 28, 2013
Sometimes you miss silver linings in the moment, but once you step out of the darkness of your mind you can see them. They are directional messages and lessons that aid you in your journey. I suffered from significant and persistent depression, anxiety, and sleep disorder for a year after the sudden collapse of an 18 year marriage. The storm clouds were dark, indeed. I felt hopeless and alone, and somehow had to find the strength to care for my daughters, who needed me, during this time. I was lucky to have a supportive family and a strong network of friends and a loving community to help during those dark days when I was unsure of what was next. The storm clouds have passed and the silver lining is this; I am a role model to my girls — that one can rise like a phoenix from the ashes. I am proud to say I have managed to find a new career working for a non profit that helps women and girls navigate conflict and enhance their communication skills. I was able to find a new home after months of worries of where we would land. I have embarked on a new relationship with someone that is rich and rewarding in ways I would not have imagined possible. The journey will always have challenges. The trick is to remember that it is the darkest clouds that lead to the brightest sunbursts.
Submitted by Amie Herman of Maplewood, NJ on March 04, 2013
My silver lining came off the heels of a massive crash and burn point in my life back in 2008. I was hospitalized after experiencing crippling major depression and anxiety and it took at least one year from the summer of 2008 to feel like I had climbed out of a deep dark pit. My personal life was in upheaval with the breakup of my marriage and my disillusionment with my career as a nurse. This was truly a dark cloud without any lining. A flash came in the summer of 2009 when I answered and advertisement offering a masters degree in nursing in exchange for a 3 year service commitment in the US Army. It’s now 2013 and I am proud to extol that the silver lining that had been so elusive for so long carried me to where I am right now. I am a soldier, an officer and a mental health practitioner. I service the men and women who protect us every day addressing their silent wounds.
Submitted by CPT Evan Bragin PMHNP-BC, Army Nurse Corp, on February 26, 2013
I have had a mental illness to live with since about 1979, as the result of a head injury that I had in a car-bicycle accident. The illness had been very difficult to live with for many years, but now I am doing much better, and I am on the right medications. The “Silver Lining” of my illness is, although it has been difficult, I would not have been able to know all of the wonderful people in my life now, all of my friends, my job, many wonderful people in my life. My mom has even been able to make some good friends, as the result of the path that my life took, which I am very glad about. God Bless.
Submitted by Marc Stolzer on February 25, 2013
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