Connected Care Weekly
Weekly recap of technology updates worth watching in the world of serious mental illness
The Secret Strength of the Invisible: What Caregiving in Silence Taught Me
It started with an email. A friend wrote to me recently, not with news or a question, but with a quiet truth: *“I’ve felt so lonely in the most crowded places.”* She wasn’t talking about being alone. She was talking about being unseen — present, but invisible. And as I read her words, I realized […]
Recovery versus Recovering. State versus Process.
Why does recovery have to be the ‘goal’ in schizophrenia, when it may be unattainable?
Shame on You, Eric.
I recently streamed the Netflix limited series, “Eric” and came away pretty ticked off. First, they managed to make Benedict Cumberbatch look terrible in his portrayal of the father, Vincent. I never formally thought of myself as a Cumberbitch (sorry, apparently that’s a real thing), but it was hard to see him look like that. […]
And Yet, Another Uphill Battle: Navigating Medicaid for Adults with Serious Mental Illness
For caregivers of adults with serious mental illnesses (SMI), obtaining necessary support through Medicaid can feel like an insurmountable challenge. Despite Medicaid’s crucial role in providing health care and long-term services for people with disabilities, the process of securing and maintaining eligibility is often fraught with obstacles. Why is this journey so difficult and what […]
Navigating Mental Health Hospitalization Effectively
Hospitalizing your loved one is a heart-wrenching, hand-wringing, complicated event. On one hand, you are desperate for them to get treated (properly…a blog for another day). On the other hand, it is a dynamic that most of us are not familiar with. And, in fact, when a loved one (LO) with mental illness is hospitalized, […]
Caregivers are Pariahs, Right?
Abso-freaking-lutely-NOT As a caregiver for my loved one with schizophrenia, I’ve faced countless challenges—most of which stem not from the condition itself but from the interactions with healthcare professionals. I never imagined that trying to support someone I care about could make me feel like a pariah. Yet, that’s often how I feel when I […]
The Terrible “Joke” called Coordinated Care
Summary:
A caregiver recounts the challenges of managing care for a loved one with schizophrenia in the fragmented US healthcare system. Navigating disjointed healthcare, stigma, housing crises, and inadequate support services takes a toll. Accessing mental health professionals, medication management, and long-term care remain persistent struggles. The caregiver emphasizes the need for integrated, comprehensive care and support.
Caregiving for Any Severe Illness can be Difficult, but the Complexities of Caregiving for Schizophrenia is a Unique Challenge.
Caregiving for individuals with severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia presents unique challenges. The unpredictable nature of symptoms, lack of insight, stigma, behavioral and emotional challenges, complexity of care, potential for relapse, and impacts on family dynamics make it especially demanding. Understanding these challenges is crucial for providing appropriate support to caregivers and reducing stigma.
Understanding Schizophrenia Through ‘The Matrix’
In the iconic science fiction film “The Matrix,” viewers are transported to a dystopian world where reality is not what it seems. As protagonist Neo grapples with the choice between the red and blue pill, we’re drawn into a narrative that blurs the lines between perception and reality. But what if I told you that […]