Denise Nichols: The Elememts of Recovery

Our NAMI speaker for the May 21st meeting was Denise Nichols, a long-time friend of NAMI and provider of services in Butler County. She is now a counselor at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton. Denise discussed the elements of recovery and highlighted getting sleep, having a schedule and exercise as three important components. Also she believes everyone with a mental health diagnosis should have an "advanced directive", a document that clearly states how one wants to be treated, by whom and with what in the event of a serious decompensation in mental health status.

This document gives control to the person with the mental illness and helps family members and doctors know how to proceed according to the patient's wishes. Also for people with bipolar illnesses, it is important that a close friend or family member recognizes the first signs of decompensation and takes steps to avert disasters. Often times, one of the first signs is a person going for days with little or no sleep. With an increased manic state there is tendency to abuse credit cards, some people willingly give up the cards, especially if that if one of the conditions of the advanced directive. This alone saves untold grief and depression for the person once the manic state subsides.

Denise said that a good doctor who finds the right medications plus a trusted therapist are imperative to a successful recovery. Putting together all these pieces can take a lot of time but the payoff is worth the investment.