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NAMI is the National Alliance on Mental Illness, a community organization. They foster education, advocacy as well as support for both people with a diagnosis of a MI and family & friends. It also has a database to find available support groups by state. If you can find one near you, awesome, if not there may be groups available run by other orgs. I would call a local crisis line for more info, perhaps they could help.
As a peer, someone with a MI diagnosis, I attend NAMI Connections most weeks. I like to go because everyone there understands. It's run by trained peers, not by doctors or therapists. It's a safe, gentle, respectful chance to check-in with people every week. Even in a deep depression, I try to get there because if I do, then at least I did one thing that week, it cuts down on the isolation a bit, and it's good for me to hear other people stories & how they're doing.
Here's why I love my group. I hope all of you can find a support group (whether NAMI or not) that you can benefit from.
NAMI'S Principles of Support
- We will see the individual first, not the illness.
- We recognize that mental illnesses are medical illnesses that may have environmental triggers.
- We understand that mental illnesses are traumatic events.
- We aim for better coping skills.
- We find strength in sharing experiences.
- We reject stigma and do not tolerate discrimination.
- We won't judge anyone's pain as less than our own.
- We forgive ourselves and reject guilt.
- We embrace humor as healthy.
- We accept we cannot solve all problems.
- We expect a better future in a realistic way.
- We will never give up hope.
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