(10) Words of Wisdom

When I made a follow up phone call to the social worker about her visit, she admitted to me that the forced psychological and social evaluation necessary to put Alfred on services which he claims he does not want, would be so stressful for him that it would probably do more harm than good, and she even went so far as to advise against it! So here I am stalled and right back where my folks were after Alfred had been released from the hospital with a diagnosis in 1999 . They could do no more, now in a different time, in a different age, I believe I can do more.

The SW told me that, I am Alfred's social network.  Here in lies Alfred's route home, here in lies the one community in recovery message, how to get that message to Alfred, and I thought one way to build a stronger community support system would be to organize a NAMI family-to-family class so families having a mentally ill family member can more easily talk about the challenges they face with their mentally ill loved ones, learn more about support systems, medications, and the world of the mentally ill.  The SW said I could call her anytime.

Recovery in a changing season is NOT about anonymity and shame anymore as it once was when Alcoholics Anonymous ruled, it is now about compassionate, empathic people helping, pulling through, looking into the others eyes showing them their shining face, giving them hope for healing and acceptance,  a newer, brighter, lighter day, hope right here now in the mountains, calling in the winds right here in our beloved homeland, on this planet, on this earth there must be a way.