Larry`s Recovery Story - Manitoba Schizophrenia Society

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Issue 9, November December 2012
Editor: Jo-Ann Paley
This Newsletter is available on the MSS Website at: www.mss.mb.ca
Just follow the link to Newsletters.
Larry’s Recovery Story
Larry, over the years
we have known each
other I have noticed
that you seem more
confident as a person
and happy with the
way your life is right
now. How old were you
when you were first
diagnosed with a mental illness?
Larry Dzioba (pictured
above) has agreed to be
interviewed for this issue
of The Sharing Tree
newsletter.
I first met Larry at the
Freight House when the
Manitoba Schizophrenia
Society used to hold Peer
Support groups there on
Tuesday
afternoons.
Here is what Larry has to
say about his recovery
journey.
That was a difficult
time in your life. How
long did it take for you
to start feeling like
yourself again?
“It took years before I
began to feel more like
myself again.”
“I was 17 years old.”
What has it been like
living with schizophrenia?
What treatments did
you receive at that
time?
Larry shared that he
does experience paranoia.
“I received electric
shock
treatments.
These treatments affected my memory and
I couldn’t remember
anything for a period of
time. I received six or
seven electric shock
treatments over the
years. The reason I
had these treatments
was because I had
stopped taking medication and I went out of
my head.”
“I believed I was psychic. My psychiatrist
said psychosis is a
form of hallucinations. I
am down to one form
of anti-psychotic medication now,” says Larry. “I take Olanzapine
and a mild sleeping
pill.”
“Larry’s Story” continued on
page 2………..
INSIDE
“Larry’s Recovery Story” by Larry
Dzioba..…..…... continued on Page 2
“Peace Pilgrim” ……........…….Page 2
MSS Activities …...…….……...Page 3
MSS H.O.P.E.S. Group ...…...Page 4
Family Support Group ………..Page 4
MSS Holiday Concert …….….Page 4
Partners in Awareness . ....…..Page 4
MSS
Peer
Support
Group
Schedule.………………………Page 5
MSS Women’s Program
Schedule……………………….Page 6
______________________
If you would like to send
something in for this
newsletter please email your
submission to:
[email protected]
or by mail to:
Manitoba Schizophrenia
Society,
100 — 4 Fort Street,
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3C 1C4
Attention:
Jo-Ann Paley, Editor
Page 2
Larry’s Recovery Story
……..continued from page one.
What do you do if your symptoms
start to bother you?
“If my symptoms bother me too
much I make an appointment with
my doctor, play music and talk to
other people where I live.”
Since your first episode you have
made great strides in your recovery. You are a talented mouth organ player and you were very helpful to me when we met at the
Freight House on a weekly basis.
You were encouraging to others
and always there to help with activities and cleaning up after the
group.
You have written poems and had
them published in the “Expressions
2007” 10th Anniversary Edition –
the Creative Works of Authors and
Artists with the Experience of Mental Health Issues, published in
Brandon by the Brandon Regional
Health Authority.
You have even written something
for this issue of the newsletter.
Can you tell me about some other
things that have helped you in your
recovery journey?
“A person needs to think positive
and not negatively. It takes time
before he knows his message and
understands something. It takes
four minutes of no oxygen to kill
the brain. What happens to the
brain with shock treatments is the
nerve cells dry up and become
numb so it looks like a good situation but it isn’t. Meanwhile you lose
consciousness, knowledge and
become impaired and you need a
lot of medication to put you back in
a proper cycle. You need a good
environment to handle your
thoughts freely, so a person recovers better without worry or stress. It
takes an abundance of pills to
bring your brain back in orbit.”
Overall, Larry says he is content with his
life right now. He has a room of his own in
a safe place; he has people to talk to and
has three meals each day at his residence. He visits his brother and family
from time to time. Life is a journey and
Larry has a positive attitude that keeps
him going on the road to recovery.
Interview conducted by Karen Kaplen,
M.S.S. Peer Program Support Worker
“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to
pass. — It’s about learning to dance in
the rain!” — Anonymous
Peace Pilgrim
A selection from a book report
by Debora Haliburton
Peace Pilgrim believed each one of us
has a calling, a special part to play in
the universe. She wrote: “I’ll give you
an example of a woman who had
some difficulties finding out what her
job was in the divine plan. She was in
her early forties, single, and needed to
earn a living. She hated her work to
the extent that it made her sick, and
the first thing she did was to go to a
psychiatrist who said he would adjust
her to her job. So after some adjustment she went back to work. But she
still hated her job. She got sick again
and then came to me. Well, I asked
what her calling was, and she said,
“I’m not called to do anything.” That
was not true. What she really meant
was she didn’t know her calling. So I
asked her what she “liked” to do because if it is your calling you will do it
as easily and joyously as I walk my
pilgrimage.
I found she liked to do three things.
She liked to play the piano, but wasn’t
good enough to earn her living at that.
She liked to swim, but wasn’t good
enough to be a swimming instructor,
and she liked to work with flowers. I
got her a job in a florist shop so she
could earn her living working with
flowers. She loved it. She said she
would do it for nothing. But we use
the other things too. Remember,
she needed more than just a livelihood. She needed other things.
The swimming became her exercise. It fits in with sensible living
habits. The piano playing became
her path of service. She went to a
retirement home, then played the
old songs for the people there. She
got them to sing, and she was good
at that. Out of those three things
such a beautiful life was built for
that woman. She became a very
attractive woman and married a
year or so later. She stayed right in
that life pattern.”
The book, Peace Pilgrim: Her Life and
Work in Her Own Words, was written
by a woman called Peace Pilgrim and
this was an excerpt from this book. The
first copyright date was 1982 and the
most recent copyright date is 2004.
This book was put together by
“Friends” of Peace Pilgrim and this information from it, was submitted by
Debora Ann Haliburton, who has been
previously published in The Sharing
Tree and The Sensitive Scoop newsletters.
Message from the Editor:
We reserve the right to change the
formatting of work received but we
will not change the meaning of any
work submitted.
Page 3
MANITOBA SCHIZOPHREN IA SOCIETY FALL 2012 ACTIVITIES
Members of the MSS Peer Support Group set out
to take photos.
Beauty of the last leaves of Fall
Nursing students, Hannah and Melissa,
joined the Peer Support participants as we
took a few pictures of the last remaining
leaves and wildlife along the banks of the
Assiniboine River and River Walk.
MSS Women’s Group Activities (below) — visit to Studio Central, Potluck Lunch, Halloween Party
We all had fun
learning at the
“Zumba Fitness”
class, led by Jodi,
at Studio Central .
(right)
John, resident chef, teaches us how to make
corn chowder as Ruth, Andrea and Gloria
look on at Studio Central on Sept 20th.
Women enjoy the Potluck lunch on Oct 11th.
Andrea, Marlene and Ruth (above) learn Soap Stone
carving at Studio Central.
Terry
helps
Sheila
(left)
get
ready to
pin the
nose on
the
witch.
Playing the Potato Race game (above)
is fun and entertaining to watch.
“Pin the Nose on
the Witch”
participants (left)
share a chuckle as
Terry hams it up.
Popcorn Balls — a Halloween treat!
Sherri Matsumoto (above) demonstrates how to make a Halloween
mobile at the Women’s Program
Halloween party on October 25th,
2012.
Page 4
for young people living with psychosis and schizophrenia
If you are a between 15 and 30 and are living with psychosis and schizophrenia, H.O.P.E.S. or Hope and Opportunity through Peers, Empowerment and Support might be a place for you.
Every Tuesday, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
4 Fort Street, Winnipeg
Contact: Viola Healey at 204-786-1616
for Schedule and Group Meeting Time
Partners in Awareness
A peer support group made up of interesting dynamic professionals with Schizophrenia. Are you a
working professional looking for a safe inviting environment to share ideas for living a better life with
Schizophrenia? Come join us! Meet new people and share your experiences. Receive support from
those who understand!
Venue: FACES, 4 Fort Street, Winnipeg
Contact 204-786-1616 for more information.
FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP
For families and friends of those experiencing
schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and psychosis.
Fourth Tuesday of every month
Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Venue: 4 Fort Street, Winnipeg
Next two meeting are
Nov 27, 2012 and
Jan 22, 2013
FreeDigitalPhotos.net
For more information contact:
204-786-1616 or [email protected]
Page 5
Manitoba Schizophrenia Society
4 Fort Street
Winnipeg, MB
Phone: 204-786-1616
“Need to talk to someone about your life with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder?”
Then consider attending the
PEER SUPPORT GROUP FOR MEN AND WOMEN
SCHEDULE FOR NOVEMBER & DECEMBER, 2012
Meeting Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM (Unless otherwise indicated)
Date
Activity
November
7
Information on Resources available in Winnipeg
14
Walk to Memorial Park taking pictures if weather permits.
Rain plan — discussion about schizophrenia at FACES
21
Speaker on Housing — to be announced
28
Sharing and Planning
December
5
Holiday Celebration — Potluck lunch (If you can, bring something for yourself
and one other person).
12
Movie Day at FACES
19
Sharing
CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAYS — FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
UNTIL THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013.
26
Coffee at Second Cup on Edmonton St. and Graham Ave., Winnipeg
This is an Optional Activity. We will meet at 1:00 p.m. at the above location.
Page 6
Women’s Program Schedule
November December 2012
Meetings are held on Thursday afternoon from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM at 4 Fort Street (FACES) although sometimes we go on outings.
Any women living with a mental illness are welcome to attend. Occasionally we are out of the office for an activity so please call to
confirm your attendance at 204-786-1616.
Date
Activity
November
1
Writers’ Group – A time to share your writing, get positive feedback and do
some short writing exercises for fun.
8
Arts and Crafts
15
Sharing and Planning
22
Day long event — for more information and to register call Karen at 204-786-1616
29
Movie Day at FACES – Group starts at 1:00 PM to allow time to see the whole
show.
Happy Holidays
December
6
Potluck Lunch — group starts at 12:30 PM — If possible please bring something for your
self and one other person.
13
Movie Day at FACES – Group starts at 1:00 PM to allow time to see the whole
show.
20
Arts and Crafts
CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAYS — FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2012
UNTIL THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2013.
Funded by: