Featured Story: Gena's Story
As night falls, I take a few moments to reflect on the happenings of the day and try to put things in their proper perspective. You see, as director for Volunteers of America North Alabama’s mental illness programs, it is my responsibility to see the needs of each person are met. To do this, I need to get to know each person participating in our program. This process starts days before they enter one of our residential programs.
Sitting in my chair reading the chart on Gena, I realize she is one of our most intriguing people. When Gena came to us, she had been working on her doctorate in molecular engineering and was active in extracurricular activities. She had been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder in1993 and, subsequently, with schizo-affective disorder. Her first breakdown came while working on her master’s degree in microbiology at a local university.
Gena told me about her first break. “I was on a full scholarship provided by NASA, working at another local university, operating a cleaning business and was very active in my church, working in the nursery a lot of the time. I realize now that I was trying to be superwoman! My first break came very unexpectedly. In fact, I don’t know exactly what happened. I just know that I woke up in the hospital being told I had had a nervous breakdown.” It was then that bi-polar disorder was diagnosed.
Gena gave herself about one year to get adjusted to her medications and “heal” before returning to school to finish her degree. Her advisor strongly recommended she not try to come back, but Gena felt she had a handle on everything.
“I managed to complete the requirements for my master’s degree in 1994 before I had another breakdown,” said Gena. However, shortly thereafter, her second breakdown came, leaving her to start the process of healing again. “I felt like I was healed. I didn’t take my medications. I had not surrendered to my disease, nor was I respecting the disease.” After this breakdown, Gena realized she was going to have to give herself time to heal before she could make the commitment to work on her doctorate. Three years into this healing process, Gena suffered another breakdown. Issues at home with her family and friends contributed to the breakdowns. “We were not all working together to conquer this beast!”
Two years went by. “I felt I was really prepared to begin work on my doctorate,” Gena said. “My support system of friends and family was finally in place. I was offered a scholarship to work on my doctorate and accepted the challenge. A year into the work on my doctorate proved that I was not ready.” Gena suffered the fourth breakdown, and it was a devastating one. Gena now had been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and schizo-affective disorder. Unable to finish work on her doctorate, Gena once again began the struggle to get her illnesses under control.
A couple of years into her recovery from the last breakdown, Gena’s mom urged Gena to seek a life of independence. Knowing they would not always be there for Gena, her mom knew that Gena had to take the steps necessary to get control of her illnesses and begin a life on her own, living on her own and pursuing the dreams she has always had―to become a microbiologist.
In talking with her therapist, Gena expressed her desire to begin living an independent life, taking care of herself physically, mentally and financially. The therapist suggested Volunteers of America’s program for individuals with mental illness and within a couple of weeks, Gena was with us.
With the independent living arrangement Gena has through Volunteers of America, Gena is currently taking the time necessary to heal. The structure of the program gives Gena the amount of support she needs at this time in her life. Yes, she wants to continue to work on her doctorate, but she has learned that she must take a lot of small steps to get there.
“Each break takes about six to seven years to recover from,” Gena said. “I never allowed myself the time to completely recover. I felt at different times that I was ready to move forward and then I found that I wasn’t. Volunteers of America provided me the safety net I needed to resume independent living. Each breakdown following the first was brought on due to my inability to realize that I must have structure in my life where my medications are concerned. I must take the medications prescribed to me and I have to take them as prescribed.
“With the help of the staff from Volunteers of America, I am now in an independent living arrangement. Disability benefits are now in place to allow me the time to heal. I have also finally come to accept and respect my illnesses and have found that a healthier diet, exercise and recreational activities are important in everyone’s life. The one thing that I have learned through my experiences with Volunteers of America is that even if you do not accept your illness, you must respect it. Missing and not taking medications correctly can lead to a chemical imbalance that can bring about another break just as easily as overloading yourself with responsibilities. I have learned to tell myself that I can not be Superwoman―and believe it.”
Mental Health
Volunteers of America empowers people with chronic or severe mental illnesses to thrive in the community and to successfully manage their illness through crisis counseling and “hotline” programs, case management, day programs and drop-in centers, transportation residential care and supported independent living.
Volunteers of America North Alabama provides a wide range of residential services for those individuals who are seriously mentally ill. Residential programs attempt to meet the needs of the individual by providing traditional “group home” placements to crisis residential to long-term semi-independent living. Our goal is to provide a stable living environment and comprehensive training to ensure stability in the community.
