Sitting here reading updates about Ray Sandford receiving another forced ECT treatment leaves me feeling sad and concerned, and outraged all at once. Ray does not want his ECT treatment, he can speak and communicate these wishes...so why is this barbaric treatment being forced on him? According to MindFreedom's website, Ray has been forced to have an individual, a person be an attendant with him every time he leaves his care facility since the protest against his treatment started. He is not a prisoner, he is a human being.
I see a window in my mind
one that holds my dreams
a place where i can look
a place i cannot go.
~
i'm going to see my daughter today. somehow i feel it's not too different. life in this system is very hard and difficult, it's easy to lose yourself. for me, as a mom it's hard to imagine this agony to be inflicted upon anyone. where are the answers? they aren't medications or shock treatments. they aren't efficacious, if they were my daughter and Ray would be out living their lives today and we wouldn't ever know who they were. Ray has a story, my daughter has one. i write about one of the worst things imaginable. dignity is lost to a person in the mental health system, and I am talking about group homes.
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6 comments:
Thank you for expressing what I feel.
I hope your daughter is fine.
dignity is lost to a person in the mental health system
it's a godawful reality and people don't even see it staring them in the face most of the time...that is what I don't understand...and the only explanation is that the people in the system, by and large, have, themselves, lost their own dignity.
"What does it mean to be called crazy in a crazy world?" that's a quote from the beginning of Madness Radio that Will says...I think it's an important thing for us to contemplate.
peace stephanie.
Dear, Dear Stephany,
I cannot imagine how you cope with all you must. I do not know how your beloved L. does it, either. And Ray? :(
I cannot imagine anyone being forced into ECT treatments in the U.S.; yet, we know it happens. If it can happen to Ray, it may happen to anyone at some point in life.
If L. can end up so misdiagnosed and so hurt by psychotropic medication, this, too, can happen to anyone at some point in life.
People like to think these fates are reserved for others, for the "them," not the "we" or "us" Yet, we are all one. And...we are all human and can end up in the places these souls have been forced to live, both physically and psychologically, too.
I have seen many hurt by certain meds and misdiagnoses. I have seen many placed in horrible housing situations. (I have seen a few decent housing situations. I have seen a few seem to do better with certain meds; yet, no cure and horrible long-term side-effects.)
You are one of my heroes Stephany! I have worked in the field of psych. for many years. The majority of parents do not advocate for their ill children. (I am not passing judgement upon parents for not advocating, I am just citing my observations from over the years. I think there are many obstacles to effectively advocating for others within this arena. You are one of the super bright, committed and courageous souls, very effective in helping sweet L. in any way you possibly can!:)
I am very happy you each have one another.;) At the same time, I am very, very sorry for what you and your darling daughter have had to endure.:(
You and L. are in my meditations/prayers, as is Ray.
Thanks for sharing so much with us. We need to know what does go on for people! We need to find ways to help those needing help now. We also need to discover just how to prevent further heartbreak and tragedy... for so very many people.
We should be able to do so much better by every soul requesting help. I do not so quickly refer people for any form of med-related help, as I do not trust many of the doctors and the Nurse Practitioners currently prescribing. There are far too many "off-label use" prescriptions these days! (There'a also too much misrepresentation going on by the pharma companies!) It is all very frightening!:(
I hope you had a good visit today with L.:) I have been thinking of you both today--all day-- for some reason. Maybe it is simply because my heart goes out to you both?
Please continue to take care!;)
hopeful heart
thank you all for such thoughtful, and thought provoking comments, it really is wonderful to have support.
my daughter didn't speak any words today. i took her out and went in a store. while in the store i was rambling about what she might like, (candy bar, etc) and when i said "donut" she smiled and leaned over and put her head on my shoulder, i took that as a yes. i pretty much know what she likes and when she is not responding, i pick something out, toss it in the handbasket and keep talking. i went through the self check out line today, because the lines were too long and she gets crowded with ppl in back of her in line. then she ate the donut and wrote me a note ..."thirsty".
you know, some days, it feels very big, enormous to me, i get globbed up with worrying about how and when and whys. the walks i take help me keep that from taking over my head.
i see her tomorrow too, it's allowance day for her, and she knows i'm going to be there.
(just got back from there and taking the walk...and hey, i'm losing a few more pounds)
The mental health system is so bad, with little signs of getting better. However, I have to keep hoping, it is all I have.
What is happening to Ray is so wrong. I had no idea about this.
I hope your visits with your daughter go well. She sounds like a beautiful person.
I so know what you mean about loosing yourself. I need to work on this.
XXXXXXX
I've had ECT but it was my choice. I dont regret it but I feel that its much more damaging then they say and that no one should ever be forced into such a thing. Ever
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