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| September classes and events |
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| NAMI Barrington Area family support group. Tuesday, September 12, 7 – 8:30 p.m. (No charge, no reservation needed.) Call Trowby at 847-382-6015 for our new location.
NAMI Barrington Area Family to Family class. For families of adults with brain disorders. Sunday night group starts September 17. Thursday night group starts September 21. No charge. Registration required.
Patty Duke will discuss her life with bipolar disorder Tuesday, September 19 at the Janet Wattles Center annual meeting in Rockford. Social hour begins at 5:30; 6:30 dinner; community award ceremony 7:15 and Patty at 8. Tickets are $45 Register online or call Denise Noe at 815-720-4913.
NAMI Northwest Suburban Chapter family support group meets the third Wednesday of the month (September 20) at 7 p.m. Alexian Brothers, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 114, Arlington Heights (no reservation, no charge). Call Star at 847-899-0195 if questions.
Care Centers Inc. Behavioral Health Symposium, Wednesday, September 20, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Skokie. Keynote: "Psychopharmacology for Mental Health Professionals," plus “Medication Skills” or “Motivational Interviewing” breakout. $25 per person. Call Maria by September 15 to reserve your space: (630) 323-6389.
NAMI Barrington Area Visions for Tomorrow class. Starts Thursday, September 21 at St. Francis Church in Lake Zurich. For caregivers of children 5-18. No charge. Registration required. For information call Sue at 847- 922-5710 or Lori at 847-902-7921.
New advances in the treatment of mental illnesses, with an 'ask the doctor' session. Thursday, September 21 at 7 p.m. at McHenry County College, Room B166-167. With Dr. Chandra Vedak, Medical Director of Centegra Behavioral Health. Sponsored by NAMI- McHenry County, 815-444-9991. No fee, no registration.
NAMI Northwest Suburban speaker meeting Wednesday September 27 at 7. Candidates for the state legislature will speak. Alexian Brothers, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 114, Arlington Heights (no reservation, no charge). Call Star at 847-899-0195 for details.
NAMI McHenry County 5K Walk Saturday, September 30, 10 a.m. Celebrating National Mental Health Awareness Week. At Veteran Acres Park in Crystal Lake. Registration required - no fee. 815-444-9991.
Lizzie Simon speaks at the College of DuPage. Saturday, September 30 at 1 p.m. Ms. Simon is a funny, smart, and talented bipolar survivor who knows how to communicate to those who are in desperate need. If you'd like to learn more about her, visit her website. For reservations call NAMI DuPage 630- 752-0066.
What every parent needs to know. Saturday, September 30 at 11 a.m. at the Schaumburg Township Library. Know the warning signs and symptoms of depression, mental illness and suicide–the 2nd leading cause of college student deaths. Call the Elk Grove/Schaumburg NAMI chapter at 630-529-3037 for information. Limited seating.
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| October classes and events |
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| Cooperative Family Solutions Workshop. Presented by Barbara Grace, the Grace Center, P.C. Wednesday evenings October 4, November 1, 8 and 15, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Fee: $90.00 (no one will be turned away who is unable to pay). Call 847-382-3232 for details.
Northwest Suburban Chapter annual fundraising dinner Wednesday, October 4, 2006, 6:30 p.m. at Lou Malnati's Pizzeria at 85 S. Buffalo Grove Road (just south of Lake-Cook Road). All you can eat pizza, salad, mostaccioli and dessert for $20.00 per person. Raffle and door prizes. Call Star at 847-899- 0195 for tickets.
Bipolar disorder in children, teens and adults, presented by the Elk Grove/Schaumburg NAMI chapter. Thursday, October 5, 7 p.m., Schaumburg Township Library. Seating limited. Call 847-352-6708 for info.
NAMI Barrington Area family support group. Tuesday, October 10, 7 – 8:30 p.m. (no charge, no reservation). Call Trowby at 847-382-6015 for our new location.
NAMI Northwest Suburban family support group meets the third Wednesday of the month (October 18) at 7 p.m. Alexian Brothers, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 114, Arlington Heights (no reservation, no charge). Call Star at 847-899-0195 if questions.
NAMI Northwest Suburban speaker meeting Wednesday October 25 at 7. Tentative topic: special needs trusts. Alexian Brothers, 3350 Salt Creek Lane, Suite 114, Arlington Heights (no reservation, no charge). Call Star at 847-899-0195 for details.
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| Family-to-Family Education Program |
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| Our NAMI Family-to-Family classes will begin soon. This is a unique opportunity to attend a series of 12 weekly classes that will help you understand and support adults over 16 with mental disorders while maintaining your own well being. Due to increased demand, we’re offering two sessions starting Sunday evening 9-17 and Thursday 9-21. There is no fee for this course, but please register now as we are filling rapidly.
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| Visions for Tomorrow Education Program |
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| NAMI Barrington Area will offer the Visions for Tomorrow Education Program on Thursday nights, September 21 - December 14, at St. Francis Church in Lake Zurich. This 11-week course is offered for caretakers covering a wide range of brain disorders common in school age children.
There is no charge for the course, but please register now as space is limited.
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| Consumers corner: Madness Revisited |
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| by Stephanie Larson
My friend Dan is caught between two women: he is dating Amanda but has dated Heather. Amanda is comforting, stable, white-picket fence perfect but dry and stale. Picture her in black and white. Heather is Vibrant Color. She paints life with her lovable personality and enthusiasm, though she always seems to use Dan to clean her brush out. She treats him horribly but he can't resist helping her. So Dan is caught. Will he choose the stale yet consoling Amanda or the untamed yet depressed Heather?
Now apply this situation to bipolar consumers. Amanda represents what medications bring us and Heather is what I wish to stay, what I've longed to visualize as my own, not my illness.
This testimony—"Madness Revisted"—is something I've searched for. When its author, Sky W. asks "Why can't I just be myself" I can assimilate because I've shared these same bitter thoughts. I’ve seen myself as perfectly healthy when in all reality, I've been ill. It's hard for me to write this because I like being ill so much better. The highs are more massive and toe-swirling; at least I cry even though the lows are drastic.
Bipolar is not the only illness highly affected by the personality change in meds. Even though you begin to feel better, I noticed, in myself, I didn't feel natural anymore. I felt synthesized, bland and well, yes, stable. There was something missing: the spark, the enthusiasm of life that drove me forward. I'd try and do something exhilarating but I would feel nothing; a little desensitized to everything. I'd talk about it with my friends because we all go through the same thing. But we knew we have to choose Amanda.
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| Family focus: Coming home from the hospital |
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| When your family member returns home from the hospital, it is important to realize that he or she is not “cured” and can not simply resume a normal life. Discharge from the hospital indicates that your family member is improving and is no longer a danger to self or others, but this is just the first step towards recovery.
It's not a hopeless situation, however. There's a lot you can do to aid the recovery process in the short term and in the long. You might start by reading this short article. We cover the stages of recovery, some basics of medication and side effects, and what to do if a crisis occurs.
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| Legislative Update: Forums put legislators and NAMI members together |
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| by Hugh Brady There are three Legislative Forums coming up of interest to anyone hoping to see legislative reform in Illinois in the mental health arena:
Kane County Governmental Forum - Geneva, September 21 at 6 p.m.
North Shore/Far North Side - Evanston, September 27, 2006 at 7 p.m.
West Suburban Mental Health Legislative Forum - Oak Park, October 11 at 7 p.m.
Each of these forums allows citizens to meet with legislators and candidates during the election season (when it is quite easy to get their attention) and express their needs. NAMI will have a presence at each with the idea of advocating much needed reforms. Your presence at one of them will doubtless be enlightening and perhaps very helpful.
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| Grace Notes |
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| My name is Dr. Barbara Grace and I live and work in Barrington. I am a clinical psychologist who specializes in family issues, and I am the mother of a 44 year old consumer who lives with me. As you are all aware – it is quite a ride!
In this column I plan to address issues we have all faced or are facing such as: behavioral management, self care, interfacing with the mental health system, choosing a psychiatrist, parenting, emancipation, and many other topics. I welcome suggestions from you and would love to have you email me about topics that you would like me to write about.
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| Join NAMI |
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| We hope you’ll join NAMI and support our advocacy for the mentally ill. The cost is only $35 (adult and spouse) or $10 (for consumer). If this cost will create a financial hardship, we have a limited number of open door memberships available at a reduced fee.
If you don't wish to join right now, but you'd like to receive our free newsletter, simply use the "Join our mailing list" button in the gray column to the right or send us an email (see below).
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| Emergency numbers |
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Local police/ambulance: 911
State police: 847-294-4400
Crisis team, Alexian Brothers, Hoffman Estates
(24 hour): 847-755-8140
State suicide hotline: 800-784-2433
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Who we are
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| NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation's foremost grassroots mental health organization. We are dedicated to improving the lives of people living with serious brain disorders that cause mental illness and to improving the lives of their families. Founded in 1979, NAMI is active in all 50 states, Canada, and Mexico with over 1100 local chapters across the country. Our mission is one of education, support, self help, advocacy and research.
NAMI Barrington Area is a new NAMI chapter located in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. We are a dedicated group of people hoping to help you or someone you love on the path to recovery from mental illness.
NAMI Barrington area chapter formed |
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