Nami Manual

NAMI Family-To-Family Education Program

Open Your Mind Compiled and Written by Joyce Burland, Ph.D., National Director

NAMI Family-To-Family Education Program Second Edition ©NAMI, 2001

The Family-to-Family Education Program is sponsored by a charitable

contribution from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Otsuka American

Pharmaceutical, Inc. Coming together in partnership with NAMI

to enhance human life.

NAMI Family-To-Family Education Program 11/02

Class 1: Introduction to Family Education

Table of Contents

I. Nuts and Bolts: Basic elements of organizing a family education class; the pre-course family visit; course description; group process Skills for our model of peer family education; specific leader attributes that help in teaching family education; principles of helping families through trauma.

II. Outreach Strategies: Planning for success; local notice/poster; sample outreach letters; sample newspaper ads and press coverage; deadline schedule; strategies for outreach in rural areas (which are useful in any area).

III. Technical Timetables and Tasks: Work schedules for Contact Teachers; preparation of local and state course handouts; sample handout pages; record keeping tasks; specific tasks for Program Directors and Teachers.

IV. Curriculum In Family Education

Class 1 Introduction Special features of the course; learning about the normative stages

of our emotional reactions to the trauma of mental illness; our belief system and principles; your goals, for your family member with: mental illness; understanding illness symptoms as a “double-edged sword”.

Class 2 Schizophrenia. Major Depression, Mania, Schizoaffective Disorder Diagnostic criteria; characteristic features of psychotic illnesses;

questions and answers about getting through the critical periods in mental illness; keeping a Crisis File.

Class 3 Mood Disorders, Borderline Personality Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Dual Diagnosis Types and sub-types of Depression and Bipolar Disorder, diagnostic

criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder, Panic, Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder; Co-occurring brain and addictive disorders; telling our stories.

Class 4 Basics About the Brain Functions of key ‘brain areas’; research on functional and structural

brain abnormalities in the major mental illnesses; chemical imbalances in the brain; pathophysiology of brain cells and neurogenesis; genetic research; infectious and developmental “second hits” which may cause mental illness; the biology of recovery: NAMI Science and Treatment Video.

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Class 5 Problem Solving Skills Workshop How to define a problem; sharing our problem statements; solving the problem; setting limits.

Class 6 Medication Review How Medications work; basic psychompharmacology of the mood disorders; anxiety disorders adn schizophrenia; medication side effects; key treatment issues; stages of adherence ot medications; early warning signs of relapse.

Class 7 Inside Mental Illness Understanding the subjective experience of coping with a brain

disorder; problems in maintaining self-esteem and positive identity; gaining empathy for the psychological struggle to protect one’s integrity in mental illness.

Class 8 Communication Skills Workshop How illness interferes with the capacity to communicate; learning to

be clear, how to respond when the topic is loaded; talking to the person behind the symptoms of mental illness.

Class 9 Self-care Learning About Family Burden; sharing in relative groups; handling

negative feelings of anger, entrapment, guilt and grief; how to balance our lives.

Class 10 The Vision and Potential of Recovery Learning about key principles of rehabilitation and model programs of community support; a first-person account of recovery from a consumer.

Class 11 Advocacy Challenging the Power of Stigma in our lives; learning how to change

the system; meet and hear from people advocating for change.

Class 12 Review. Sharing and Evaluation Certification ceremony; Party!

V. Course Forms: For teachers’ use only.

VI. Glossary: Psychiatric Terms and definitions.

VII. Bibliography: Using your local library; Reference Lists.

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1. One of the important things we are modeling in Class 1 is “being comfortable” with self-disclosure. Be sure to take time to think through what you want to say in your “self-introduction”

on page 1.1. We are also modeling how to limit the “Saga”: Do not let yourselves go over the 2 minute time restriction here.

2. The second main job to do in Class 1 is to draw your class into the course. This we accomplish through our hospitality and warmth from the minute people

arrive until the “Thanks and Goodnight!” at the end. You might want to imagine that you are having this gathering in your home, where consideration and concern for “the guest” would be the order of the day.

3. Be sure in the Warm-up Activity that you don’t lose time. You need to move through each section of the class without bogging down in any

one place. Keep the lecture sections going, and rev the energy up after the break. Your local Support Group Facilitator will attend the first half of Class 1 to meet participants and inform them about the Support Group meetings. At the end of the Warm-up Activity introductions, you will introduce him/her, which will also take a wbit more of your time.

4. On page 1.16, we urge people to join NAMI. Be sure to bring your state or affiliate membership forms to Class 1, and keep

them out on the reseource table for the duration of the course. Anytime, in any class, when you feel it is appropriate, tell your group how valuable NAMI membership is, or disclose how much it has meant to you, personally, to be a NAMI member. Don’t wait until Class 11 to promote membership: Help your class understand how important this is as you go along.

Teaching Notes



5. In this new version of the course, class participants will sometimes have the actual lecture text in their Class Handouts, so they can easily “follow” what you are saying. Your Leader Notes will tell you to cue your class when this occurs. In Class 1, the

lecture text is included in Class Handouts 4, 6 and 7. Don’t be concerned if you see the class reading a handout while you are lecturing. Letting the class follow the lecture this way gives participants relief from “just listening” to lecture material.

6. Regarding the contract: We want everyone to hang in for the whole course. The contract is clear except for emergencies, or essential prior commitments,

we want class members to stay together, and attend every class.

7. If you don’t have a support group in your area, tell the group you might want to stay together after the course and start a Support Group.

Technical Notes

1. Call your local Support Group facilitator early so s/he can plan to attend Class 1. (Also, set the date for the Facilitator to attend the Class 12 Party).

2. You will need to set aside time to put the Class Notebooks together prior to Class 1. Each notebook will contain the Title Page, Table of Contents,

Acknowledgements, Library Access Page, Bibliography and Glossary.

3. Be sure to prepare: Class Handout #5: Support Group Information (page 1.21); fill in the correct dates and names on your Course Schedule (Class Handout #9,); xerox the number of copies of these handouts you will need. (Samples of these 2 pages are included at the back of this section after the Support Person Job Description).

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4. Get material together for your Resource Table. In Class 1 you should have NAMI brochures, your affiliate brochure, back issues of NAMI Advocate, back issues of your

state newsletters, etc.

5. TIME: Get set up early in your class location. Start promptly, no later than 5 minutes after the hour. Be sure to limit the length of time group members take during the “Goals” exercise, page 1.11. We have added a chart here so the class can

“see” the 4 points. Keep them on track by referring them back to the chart points. Ask for their help and cooperation, aif you ened to, so you can finish on time. We want families attending the course to be our “partners” in making the course work.

6. Note that most Agenda titles are now “announced” in the Transitions in the lecture.

7. At the end of class, pass around the “Class Sign-Up Sheet,” so you will havethe name and telephone numbers of class participants. (Be sure to list your R/S person as a class member). Add any “newcomers” therough Class 3 to the list. This will be your reference “calling list.”

8. Each week be sure to post the Our Belief System and Principles chart you make in Class 1.

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Technical Notes



Agenda

I. Welcome

II. “A word from our sponsors”: NAMI and our NAMI State Organization

III. Special Features of The NAMI Family-To-Family Education Course Curriculum 3 Essential Dimensions of Serious Brain Disorders Giving you “A Feast of Facts” Developing emotional understanding and insight

IV. Learning About Feelings: Normative Stages Of Our Emotional Reactions To The Trauma Of Mental Illness

V. Warm-Up Activity: Class Introductions Information About Our Local Support Group

(break: 10 minutes)

VI. Our Belief System and Principles

VII. Making a Contract

VIII. What Are Your Goals of Independence, Or Healthy Dependence For Your Ill Relative?

IX. Understanding Illness Symptoms As A “Double-Edged Sword”

X. Homework handouts and housekeeping.

Thanks & Goodnight!

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I. To prepare ahead and have ready for Class 1 1. Have name tags labeled and ready; have pens and 3 x 5 cards at hand for warm-up exercise; have all 3 charts ready. 2. Decide which Co-leader will pair with a student if you have an uneven number of course participants. Be ready to introduce yourself if you have an odd count. 3. Have course notebooks labeled with each person’sname. Have extra notebooks for walk-ins. Have Class Sign-Up Sheet ready. 4. Have all Class Handouts you have prepared (#2, #5, #9) copied.

II. Arrive early to prepare meeting place (chairs in a circle, or grouped around table), make coffee, tea, set out cookies, etc. Have all charts ready Put out materials on your Resource Table (State Newsletter, Local Newsletter, NAMI Advocate).

III. Distribute Class Notebooks, Nametags and Class Handouts as Participants Come In

IV. Introduce Local Supoprt Group Facilitator

V. At End of Class Distribute 1. Homework Handouts for reading after Class 1 2. Class Handout #9: Course Schedule 3. Get names and numbers on the Class Sign-up Sheet.

Introduction to Leaders

Materials Needed Checklist3”x 5” cards & pens

Name Tags

Easel with pad; Big marking pen

Clock

1.5” Course notebooks for participants

Class Sign-Up Sheet

Materials for your Resource Table

Coffee Maker

Coffee cups, napkins, plastic spoons

Coffee (De-caf)

Cream, sugar, sugar substitute

Cookies, cakes



(Co-Leaders stand at door to greet participants as they enter. Give out class handouts, notebooks and nametags. Start class 5 minutes after the appointed hour.)

I. Welcome We want to welcome you to the opening class of The NAMI Family-to-Family Education

Course. We are very excited that this day has finally come and we can be together, family to family, for this new learning adventure.

Orientation to the meeting space: Directions to phones, rest rooms, etc. Discuss the duration of each meeting (2.5 hours with a 10-minute break for refreshments), and the need for a prompt arrival, so we can get started on time.

Introduction of both leaders: (Take no more than 2 minutes per Co-Leader) 1. Introduce yourself by name. Tell them briefly why you chose to train and become a family educator. 2. Establish your “emotional” credentials: Self-disclose about the most difficult

thing you’ve had to come to terms with, the hardest thing you’ve had to deal with regarding mental illness in your family.

II. Who We Are & What We Do We call this part of tonight’s program “But First, A Word From Our Sponsors.” This

course is taking place because of the help of two key organizations: The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and our state organization, NAMI Missouri. Let’s take a moment to tell you about each one.

NAMI was founded in 1979. Since that time, Nami has grown into the foremost national advocacy organization for persons with brain disorders that cause mental illness, and advocacy organization for persons with brain disorderst aht cause mental illness, and their families. Over the years this revolutionary family and consumer movement has significantly influenced research and treatment policies made at the highest levels of national government, and its local affiliates have provided a haven of support and understanding for thousands of family members seeking to help their loved ones.

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CO1 goes first and covers

both points.

CO2 follows immediately.

Talk about yourself and

your feelings, not your

ill relative.

NO SAGAS!

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(Leader Note: Direct Class to Handout #1: NAMI Mission)

On your handout NAMI is described as “the nation’s voice on mental illness.’ That’s absolutely right: today it is hard to imagine a world withouth NAMI’s vigorous and effective public advocacy. Later in the course we will tell you about one of NAMI’s current and most visionary goals, The Campaign for the Mind of America.

The program you are starting today (tonight) is now offered in 46 states, the District of Columbia, Canada and Mexico to relatives, partners, and friends of people strugglign with mental illness. Over 100,000 people have graduated from Family-to-Family; it is the flagship peer education program sponsored by NAMI’s Education, Training and Peer Support Center. But that’s not all! In addition to this program, trained consumers are now teaching other consumers in the NAMI Peer-to-Peer Recovery Course, and are joinig with family members to teach the NAMI Provider Education Program to line staff at public mental health agencies.

Now, a word from our second sponsor: NAMI STL is our state alliance, which consists of ____ affiliates across the state. (Introduce your affiliate here). Our work is closely linked to NAMI’s advocacy goals, and to the support and empowerment of families. Class Handout #2 is our NAMI _____ Mission Statement. Bringing you this course is a prime example of our commitment to family education.

(Leader Note: If you have special funding sources in your state, be sure to acknowledge them here)

(Transition:) Now to the next item on our Agenda. We want to tell you about the special features of the curriculum we will be presenting to you in the 12 weeks of this course.

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III. Special Features of the NAMI Family-To-Family Course Curriculum

Because mental illnesses are disorders of the brain, we need to be grounded in some key concepts, which are fundamental to all illness processes. We call these basic illness concepts, and we will be discussing two of them in class tonight.

The first concept concerns how to “view” the illness experience. So much of what we read and hear about dwells only on the medical aspects of serious illness–how symptoms are treated, what medications work best, etc. It’s easy to forget that there are other dimensions just as curcial: seroius and persistent illness affects people’s hopes and dreams, and it occurs in a social environment, which responds well or badly to their disability.

We believe there is no way for us to understand the complexities of coping with serious brain disorders without integrating the medical aspects of our relatives’ illness before the emotional and social consequences of this experience. Therefore, the course will cast a wide lens, exploring the biological and environmental dimensions of brain disorders. To make this clear, we have organized the topics in the curriculum for you along these 3 essential dimensions “bio-psycho-social” view of illness.

(Leader Note: Direct Class to Class Handout #3. )

Process Note: Orient the group to the 3 columns, reading only the top line of titles down the page.Then read each column down starting with the “Course Focus” and ending with “Classes.”Then read “Note” at the bottom and return to the lecture below.

Covering all these topics means that this course will offer a tremendous wealth of factual information. Don’t worry about getting overwhelmed: each of you is looking for specific things to fit the circumstances that you are personally dealing with. We will provide a “feast of facts,” and you will take from it the “food for thought” you need most. We trust absolutely that you will know best what is important for you.

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Notice one other thing: The majority of classes in the course relate to topics in the middle column—to the subjective feelings of family members and to the lived experience of those who suffer from mental illness. This emphasis on emotional understanding and insight, of our relatives and of ourselves, is a theme we will return to again and again.

And, for our last class, we will have a Class Party to celebrate the experience we have shared together.

(Leader Note: Stop and ask for questions/comments from the class about the curriculum)

(Transition:) Let’s turn now to the psychological/emotional dimension (which we call “Learning About Feelings”), and talk about the normative stages of our emotional reactions to the trauma of mental illness.

IV. Learning About Feelings: Normative Stages Of Our Emotional Reactions To Trauma

Having a brain disorder strike someone we love in our family is totally traumatic. It imposes an overwhelming burden of stress and anxiety upon our lives. Because we are dealing with trauma, we need to learn about the impact these devastating mental disorders have on our emotions. The principle of recognizing and caring about our feelings comes from a model of family education called Supportive Family Training, developed by family member professional Sheila LeGacy.

We know we have many reactions to mental illness when it strikes someone we love. We rarely get a chance to talk about these feelings with people “in the system.” But with other family members we can talk about our reactions. We can disclose how we feel, how the stress of care and chronic worry affects our lives.

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From literally thousands of conversations between family members in support groups, we know we experience intensely painful feelings and reactions to mental illness, like:

(Leader Note: ask participants to suggest some feelings they have experienced.)

Process Note: Write feelings down on pad as people suggest them. Use list below for “coaching.”

What separates us from a lot of traditional thinking in the mental health field is this: We believe these reactions are prefectly normal responses, given the catastrophes we are trying to adjust to: (Just look at all the traumatic emotions up on the board)! We believe that we have a right to our feelings, and that we need to understand and express them. So let’s spend some time learning about the predictable stages of our emotional reactions to mental illness.

Denial; Fear; Guilt

Sorrow; Grief

Disruption of family relationships

Exhaustion of spirit and resources

Confusion

Frustration

Depression

Apprehension about the future

Co-Leader Activity

Suggest some of these words to keep the process going.

Difficulty accepting the illness

Sleeplessness

Shame; Anger; Rage

Isolation

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(Leader Note: Position Chart #1: “Stages Of Emotional Response” so everyone can see it.) You all recognize that mental illness has had an enormous impact on your lives.

What you may not know is that you tend to respond to this trauma in characteristic and predictable ways. Many family members and family member professionals have written about this “emotional response cycle”we all go through. It is such an important aspect of our course that we will go over it now in some detail.

(Leader Note: Direct class to class handout #4: “Predictable Stages” so group can follow lecture.)

If you will look at your handout, you’ll see there are 9 separate stages of emotional reactions involved in coming to terms with mental illness in a family member. We’ve made a chart of this process, which we will be referring to throughout the course. Let’s go through the 9 emotional responses first, and then return to the “needs” in each stage.

(Leader Note: Read the titles and descriptions of the 9 stages of emotional response from the handout. Return to the lecture below to read “points.”)

There are some important points to emphasize here:

1. None of these are “wrong” or “bad.” They are normal reactions everyone experiences when struggling to cope with serious illness and trying to deal with critical disruptions in their lives.

2. This process is ongoing–for most of us it has taken years. The process is also cyclical; we will start it all over again every time our relative has a relapse, or suffers a serious setback.

3. Different family members are often at different places in the cycle, which is why we sometimes have difficulty communicating with each other and agreeing on what to do.

4. This developmental account is not about expectations. This is a human process that you do your way. If you know where you are in it you can be gentler with yourself. We think it offers hope to see that we do progress through pain and grief to acceptance.

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5. As you get to know each other better in this class, you will begin to recognize these stages and emotional reactions. In this way, “old timers” help “newcomers”; we inform each other, we validate our feelings.

Process Note: Ask Class, “Do these stages look familiar to you?” Get class reaction to the “predictable stages” concept.

FINAL POINT: It is vitally important for family members to learn about these emotional responses because where we are directs us to what we need in any

given stage of the cycle. For example, look at what we need when going through the hard times of dealing with catastrophe.

Read needs, pointing at chart, stage 1.

By stage 2, we are full of emotion and have a different set of needs. We need to “sound off,” learn to cope, learn all about the illness.

Read stage 2 needs, ditto.

And by stage 3, we are getting it together. We need to restore the balance in our lives; we find purpose in advocacy and action; we help others. As you go through the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Course you will find the course material specificaly relates to these various levels of family needs. That is why feelings are at the center of all that we do, and why “learning about feelings” is a cornerstone of the course.

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(Transition To Warm-Up Activity:) Well, you’ve been sitting for a while and we want to move you around a bit. It’s time for class introductions, and we have a special way for you to do this.

V. Warm-Up Activity

(Leader Note: put up chart #2: “Topic List”; then read the following instructions.)

1. We will ask you to team up with a person in the class you don’t know.

2. We want you to do a short interview with each other, tlaking about what you’re interested in, what you do, what you like, etc. At the end of your visit together, we will ask each of you to introduce your partner to the whole group. You’ll have 3 minutes apiece for interviewing each other.

3. We have only one rule we will ask you to follow: You’re “not allowed” to talk about your relative who is ill.

4. We’ve posted a Topic List for you to follow. Leader read topic list chart. We want you to say good things about yourself and “crow” a little; after all, you

don’t have to be modest when somebody else is introducing you!

5. This exercise is not a memory test. If you want to, take notes about your partner on your card. Also, if you forget anything in your introduction, your partner can “prompt” you. So, let’s have fun.

6. If you know your neighbor, move to a chair where you can interview someone you don’t know. I’ll tell you when the first 3-minute interview is up.

(Leader Note: ask people to take a mintue apiece to introduce their partners. A word of welcome from the leader, and applause, should come at the end of each introduction.)

Process Note: When 3 minutes is up, leader tells pairs to start the second interview. After the next 3 minutes, the leader announces time is up.

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Occupation

Where you live

Something you are especially interested in

Something you are proud of

Some favorite hobbies and pastimes

Topic List for IntroductionsClass 1: Chart 2



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At the end of introductions, introduce the support group facilitator and refer to class handout #5.

Facilitator: take 2-3 minutes to tell about local meetings.

Announce a class break of 10 minutes and refreshments.

Class break: 10 minutes

VI. Our Belief System and Principles Now we want you to know about our belief system and principles, about

how we approach this curriculum as a group of family members.

(Leader Note: direct class to class handout #6 so group can follow lecture.)

1. We will stay on top of the resources you might need: Throughout the course, the information will be made available to you about the community services that you are entitled to. We have asked one of our members to serve as a “Resource/Support Person” for this class for the duration of the course to help with your questions and offer support if you are in any kind of quandary or crisis with your mentally ill relative during this time. I would like you to meet him/her now. Introduce Resource/Support Person In addition, we consider each of you a valuable resource because of your own experience dealing with mental health providers. We hope that you will share these experiences with the group.

2. We have no magic formulas: When times get bad, and we know there is no cure for seroius mental illnes, it is natural to look for “magic answers” to our dilemmas. But there aren’t any. You have certainly done your very best to deal with the intenseand frustrating problems you are presented with. We can try to learn asmuch as possible about braindisorders, and that’s why we’re here.

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Co-Leader Activity

Write bold headings on easel pad as leader reads them.



3. We use empathy as the doorway to understanding: When we actually can grasp the lived experience of our relative with mental illness, every aspect of communication and problem solving gets easier for us. The classes will give you an understanding of what your relative needs in order to function better in the world– and what can be done to encourage improved functioning. As your insight increases, you will know what you can realistically expect from your family member.

4. We emphasize the “universal aspects” of mental illness: All brain disorders involved a profound distrubance of the central nervous system. Many of these illnesses are functionally related, and many symptoms overlap. It’s important for us to be exposed to the “universe” of brain disorders to understand better the range of problems our rleative may be dealing with. So, no matter what diagnosis our own relative has, we canal learn from each other’s experience.

5. We are vigilant “Guilt-Busters”: The blaming of family members is the single, most devastating event in the lives of families of individuals with mental illness. As Ken Terkelson, a leading psychiatrist, has said, “the thought of having brought harm to a lovd family member, intentionally or unintentionally, consciously or unconsciously, causes intolerable guilt” —and, we might add, pain, shame and stigma. In this course, we will focus on mental illnesses as biological brain disorders. We hope you will adopt, and insist upon, this “no-fault” approach.

6. You can’t know what no one has told you: Because of the widespread convention of confidentiality in the mental health field, many families remain in the dark for years about the true nature of their relative’s illness. As you learn new facts in this course, you may feel that it is information you “should have known,” or “should have gotten on your own.” We implore you to remember that you cannot possibly know what no one has told you. None of us knew any of this stuff until someone let us in on it!

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7. YOU are the expert: We honor the fact that you are the best judge of what will work or will not work for your relative. AND no one expects you to becoem perfect mothers, fathers, siblings, children or spouses as a result of taking this course. There will be no pressure to follow suggestions offered in these classes, or for you to share anything against your will. We want you to learn to trust your own instincts and take from this course what you find helpful.

8. Be our partners in learning: The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Course is the first national peer program in America. Thousands of family member graduates tell us that family members often know more than the professionals do about coping with mental illness. As family members, we get on-the-job training; all of us have Ph.D’s from the School of Hard Knocks!

Sometimes we wont know the answers to your questions, but we’ll work together and look them up. It’s not necessary to know everything: What’s important is to know how and where to find the information you need. In this course we want to build a compassionate learning community, where we strengthen one another by being in charge of the learning process.

(Leader Note: Stop and ask the group questions and comments about our belief system and principles)

VII. Making A Contract

We would like to make a contract with you. It has three parts:

First: We would like you to agree tonight to come to every class for the next 12 weeks. These classes build on each other; being together each time increases trust and continuity. Breaks in attendance affect our learning and our solidarity as a group.

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Second: If you have an emergency and can’t be here, please call and let us know. (Our phone numbers are on the class schedule we will be handing out). There is a lot of bonding that goes on as the course progresses. If you can’t be here, we all want to know that you are O.K., or if you have a crisis, how we can help.

Third: We also ask you to agree to keep the personal disclosures shared in these classes confidential. This is a basic rule of all NAMI groups, and it makes us feel safe and protected.

How does that sound? Do you feel you can make the contract? (Ask for a show of hands, raising your own)

VIII. What Are Your Goals of Independence/Healthy Dependence For Your Ill Relative?

(Leader Note: Put up Chart 3: “Goals”; then read below.)

We would like you to share your goal of independence for your ill family member, to the degree possible for that person. If someone is not comfortable with “independent” goals, tell us your goal of “healthy dependence.”

Process Note: Ask participants to start by: 1. Repeating their name. Ask them to limit introductory information by telling us only 2. Their Relative’s name and their relationship, 3. The diagnosis, and 4. The number of years ill. That way we can get around the circle by closing time.

Keep people focused on the chart topics, so they won’t get into the “saga of the ill relative.”

You may need to be directive: Tell them, “Just to keep the information we are asking for on the chart; we will tell our stories in class 3.”

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(Transition:) Thank you for sharing your thoughts on your goals for your family member. Now, onto our final Agenda topic for tonight—understanding illness symptoms as a “double-edged sword.”

(Leader Note: Direct class to Handout #7 so group can follow lecture.)

IX. Understanding Illness Symptoms As A “Double-Edged Sword”

We want to introduce the second “basic illness concept” which will be important to us in the course. This one has to do with the way illness symptoms overtake us and undermine us at the same time, striking usfrom two sides like a “double-edged sword.”

For example, let’s take a physical illness we’ve all had. When we come down with the flu, a host of new, unwanted symptoms (fever, headache, congestion) well up and engulf the healthy self. At the same time, we are drained by symptoms which take away personal resources we’ve always depended on (energy, will, drive to keep going, etc.).

The more severe illness, the more our healthy self is overwhelmed and the more dependable, resourceful self is diminished. Also, we have no control over the severity of symptoms that attack us, and during the period we are ill, it’s almost impossible to summon up our dependable responses.

Mental illnesses are no different. Except that, because they are disorders of the brain, many symptoms of mental illness are expressed as complex behaviors. When our loved ones have a brain disorder, a host of unfamiliar, unwanted behaviors appear that were never part of their personality; at the same time, many of the resourceful qualities we have always counted on are taken away.

We want to introduce this concept tonight because, next week, we will look at the symptoms of 3 major mental illnesses, which can deeply alter the people we care about. One of the most important insights for family members to gain is to know which added behaviors and diminished responses occur in their relative’s illness, which may look to be under his/her control, but are not. This will help us learn to separate the person from the illness.

CO2: Read bold print to indicate that Handout #7 follows the lecture.

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By the end of the course, you will be able to define very clearly how the “double-edged sword” of illnes symptoms pertains to your relative’s illness. Let’s see if we can picutre this baisc illness concept, looking at some symptoms which are common “early earning” signals of brain disorders.

(Leader Note: Direct Class to Class Handout #8.)

Process Note: Ask class to look at the two columns. Focus them on what is “added” to the person in the left column and

what is “taken away” on the right. Read the heading of the left column. Then read down the text in that column. Next, read the heading of the right column, and read down the text in that column. Ask if they grasp the basic illness concept of the double-edged sword. Let class discuss this.

X. Homework Handouts And Housekeeping

Every week, we will be giving you “Homework Handouts” to read, which will go in your notebook. Some will address material we have covered in class; some will introduce material we will cover in the next class. We really encourage you to set aside each week to go over them at home.

We also hope you will read on your own. There is a splendid bibliography at the back of the course notebook you have. There are also instructions about how to get these books and articles through your local library. You will also find a Glossary at the back of your notebook to help the terms which may be unfamiliar.

We are also passing around a Class Sign-Up Sheet so we will know how to reach you by phone in case we ever have to reschedule class. It would be very helpful to know your work number, too, if you have one.

(Leader Note: Ask for any questions.)

Thanks & Goodnight!

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1.14

Class 1: Class Handouts



Class Handout #3: Bio-Psycho-Social Dimensions of Serious Mental Illness Covered In the NAMI Family-to-Family Curriculum (Includes Schizophrenia, Major Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Panic Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)

Biological/Physical (Medical Dimension) Science-Based Knowledge

Psychological/Emotional (Personal Dimension) Psychology-Based Knowledge

Social/Occupational (Rehabilitation Dimension) Recovery-Based Knowledge

Course Focus: Medical aspects of Illness

Symptoms; Diagnosis

Future course of illness (prognosis)

Acute care in critical periods

Medications and medication side-effects

Adherence to medication

Scientific advances in medications

Early warning signs of relapse

Insight into clinical realities of brain disorders

Best medical strategies to maximize recovery

Current research on brain disorders

Course Focus: Subjective emotions and feelings

The inner experience of brain disorders

Normative family responses to the trauma of mental illness

Telling our stories; validating family strengths

Coping strategies used to protect self esteem in mental illness

Empathetic listening and responding skills

Burdens of different relative roles in the family

Handling anger, frustration, and feelings of entrapment

Coming to terms with “shattered dreams”

Self-care skills; keeping our lives going

Value of peer understanding and support

Classes: 2, 3, 4, 6 Classes: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12

Course Focus: Self/Renewal Re-entry into Community

Definition and testimonials of recovery

Principles of Rehabilitation

Sources of system/community support

Restoration of social ties

Long-term care

Increased self-determination

Maximum personal fulfillment and quality of life

Problem Solving Skills (Workshop)

Communication Skills (Workshop)

Challenging negative stereotypes

Advocacy for better services and fair policies

Classes: 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12

Note: These 3 bio-psycho-social dimensions are interdependent 1) No one dimension can ignore the knowledge base of the other two. 2) Focusing on one dimension alone is not sufficient for recovery.





Class Handout #5: Local Support Group Information

Our local support group meets on

Our meeting is located at

We meet from p.m. to p.m. During htis time we will focus entirely on sharing and caring.

The directions to our meetings are as follows:

For information call: Support Group Facilitator

State or local NAMI office





Class Handout #8: Understanding Symptoms of Brain Disorders As A “Double-Edged Sword”

Behaviors you never saw before, which may be added to the person who is ill

Behaviors you always counted on, which may be taken away from the person who is ill

Constant tension and nervousness

Irritability, criticalness, even abusiveness

Unpredictable over-reaction to things

Indifference; inflexible obstinacy

Irrational statements and responses

Obsession with own activities and pursuits; inflated self concept

Forgetfulness and losing things

Uncontrollable sadness or crying

Rudeness and hostility

Fearfulness and hyper-vigilence

Devastated by peer disapproval

Disinterest in sex, or hypersexuality

Indecisiveness

Inappropriate and bizarre behaviors

Wish to be withdrawn and isolated

Ability to focus and concentrate

Insight about what is happening

Pride in appearance and personal hygiene

Capacity for intimacy

Ability to cope with minor problems

Enjoyment of family, friends, work

Ability to exercise self-control

Optimism, faith, belief in the future

Warmth and thoughtfulness in relationships

Ability to appreciate people and accept their help

Pride in taking responsibility

Ability to express joy

Capacity to see another point of view

Emotional resiliency

Willingness to follow a treatment plan when ill

Traumatic changes in a person due to symptoms of brain disorders (mental illnesses)

Traumatic losses in a person due to symptoms of brain disorders (mental illness)

Documents

Nami Manual