Persons with mental troubles need family to recover

HOLLYWOOD CELEB Catherine Zeta Jones recently revealed that she has been suffering from bipolar disorder. With the admission, mental illness has also come to the limelight.

Closer to home, two women who also suffered from mental illness relate that their recovery has been a continuous, day-to-day affair. Gemma (not her real name) who recovered from bipolar disorder and Pinky Rodriguez, who has had schizophrenia, recently met with Inquirer Science/Health in a meeting of the Bukas Puso at Isip Family Support Group at the Philippine General Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Ma. Rosanna Ejercito de Guzman served as its program coordinator.

Gemma, 34, who took up an AB course in Humanities (specialization on Business Management) and graduated in 2000 and was a manager in the family owned renewable energy development company, was first diagnosed as clinically depressed when she was 15 years old, and then with bipolar disorder II at 19. The manifestations of her condition included uncontrollable shaking of the legs, difficulty in concentrating in her classes and studies, and her refusal to communicate with friends and schoolmates, often staying in the school’s guidance center for prolonged periods.

Contemplating suicide

She even refused to take her medications and often slept for only up to three hours. She would sometimes contemplate suicide. She said she has been lucky to have parents, siblings and friends who provide strong support, unlike other patients who have been left on their own.

Now fully recovered, Gemma stressed that proper guidance, support and medication are important to keep persons like her from having unpredictable mood swings. Gemma advises patients to maintain their own “mood charts” which would record when the medicine was taken, and journal its effects. “It’s actually like a chart that you plot. I also put in there regular activities, daily masses and rosary time. Then I check if I was able to do these on that day. I also record personal highlights (happy and sad moments). I also keep a journal to help me in my sessions with my doctors.”

“My family first brought me to the hospital for mental illness 10 years ago. I brought myself back the following year for attempting to take my own life. Then I was picked up by my family from the streets a year after, because I was not taking my medications. I had been to mental institutions for three consecutive years and changed psychiatrists thrice, my family thought I was a hopeless case,” said Pinky, 42, who has since then recovered.

She had found a doctor, eight years ago, whom she could consider a trusted friend.

No longer ashamed

Among many things, her doctor helped her distinguish possible stressors to find ways to recognize between healthy stress and real stress that could trigger her disorder. Her doctor also worked on her denials of being sick by letting her research as much as she could on her illness. “I no longer felt ashamed, knowing that mental illness is a medical condition and just a ‘chemical imbalance’ that can be treated and managed like other diseases.”

At Bukas Puso at Isip, Pinky understood how mental illness impacted the family network. “Knowing that my family loved me unconditionally, I found myself loving them back by taking care of myself, having a regular sleeping pattern, by being appreciative, by trusting them, understanding them, and listening to them. Sometimes I help out in the chores and in looking after my parents. I help out in our family business through the directions of my elder brother who also acts as my guardian. Or by simply being obedient and living simply,” Pinky said.

De Guzman said the group’s next meeting will be held on June 5, Sunday, at Ward 7, Room 101 of the PGH’s Psychiatry department.