Oh yeah the therapy dog my daughter has met at 2 different psych hosp units was the best. She loves that dog. She loves her own dog too. I think pets are nurses when they need to be. Our husky dog does body slams, and runs like hell, digs pot holes, and makes me laugh when I need it. When my daughter was home very psychotic, he layed at her feet, and you would think he was a trained therapy dog. Like he knew what he needed to do. Then there is my oldest daughter, who thankfully has a cat that gave her a recent reason to want to stay alive. I love that cat.

I couldn't find a place to post this, but wanted to get the story onm here for the weekend, to possibly take away some anguish that some, like me feel, after hearing tragic news in the media. I this 2003 story somehow uplifts someone today.
http://www.centralmaine.com/news/stories/030503bipolar_.shtml

This is a positive, and inspiring story in the news that I saved from 2003, since there are not too many positive stories depicting someone with mental illness as a hero; yet we know heroes are among us everyday.
There is a need for more stories like this one, to help stop the stigma of mental illness in the media, in society and neighborhoods. A column in a newspaper with weekly positive stories, showing people with mental illness making a difference and making this world a better place is needed. There are many Unsung Heroes among us, my daughter is one of them. Many days that she wasn't feeling good, she still went and did her monthly packing of pet food for Senior Citizens at the Humane Society, as well as sorting clothes and bagging food at a Food Bank for the last 6 years, her choice, her love for others, she has a heart of gold. Being in a relapse now, she is missed greatly where she helps others. Besides being missed at home, this kind and gentle spirit is suffering from the darkest part of mental illness right now. The worst part for me, is seeing news events on the news channels, that emphasize "the person had a history of mental illness", "had been a patient at Western", or comments from neighbors regarding the McDonald's murder this weekend, "he was loose last summer". Oh my God. So having a history makes you an instant monster, and the media loves to dish this shit out. My daughter now will have to beat down those stories to survive in the community. I hope she gets well soon, so she herself can come back and kick some ass, and get on the news for the good things she does behind the scenes for others. I am tired of hearing mental illness and tradegy in the media.It is an outrage to say the least, and an insult, not to cover the good stories, why those good stories are not sensationalized is a real problem.It IS the problem. It fuels stigma.I am so sorry for the loss of the person who died at McDonalds, that is without a doubt horrible. But I truly think, that it is equally as horrible for the person who did it, who now has a judge and jury in the community, and so does his family.

Saturday, May 3, 2003

Boy, 12, goes miles for help

"NORRIDGEWOCK — What started out as a normal fishing trip for a 12-year-old boy with bipolar disorder and a 56-year-old semi-retired educator almost became a tragedy Tuesday.Instead it ended with the two forging a life-long bond and a boy who has struggled most of his life with mental illness becoming a hero. "....(more)....

Thank God for Sammy and Koda.

My dog and cat and birds keep me going, and I am still working on the dog therapists entering Western State Hospital in Washington State.