Dr. Pat Deegan brings a message of hope to psychiatric survivors |
Originally published in Meftih, June 2005
On May 9, 2005, Dr. Pat Deegan met with about forty consumer survivors at the Parkdale Activity and Recreation Centre to speak about recovery.
Deegan was diagnosed at seventeen with schizophrenia. The doctor prophesied ‘doom and gloom’ for her, saying that she would be on medications and that she would be sick for the rest of her life. She became angry and indignant, thinking, “I am not an illness!”
When Deegan returned home from the hospital, she just sat on the couch, smoked cigarettes and drank coke. She wasn’t motivated to do anything. Nothing at all. Her grandmother would come over every day for about two months and ask her, “Do you want to go grocery shopping with me today?” Deegan always said, “No.”
Then one day without knowing why, she said, ”Yes!” She pushed the grocery cart for her grandmother. This was her first step towards recovery. Deegan went on to further her education and received a doctorate in clinical psychology. Today she is an activist in the American consumer/survivor/ex-patient movement. She travels extensively to promote a vision of hope.
Schizophrenia affects 1% of the world’s population from all walks of life, usually young people between the ages of fifteen and thirty. Different people experience different symptoms. Hearing voices, however, is common to many. Schizophrenia alters the way people think and feel. Perceptions are changed and thinking may be disturbed. This is very debilitating for them and distressing for their families.
Drugs are the most common method used to treat schizophrenia. This is based on the “disease” model where professionals view people with psychiatric illnesses as diseases, not human beings. Professionals are trained to remove symptoms. They are threatened by the model of “recovery.” They find the very idea dangerous and radical, according to Deegan.
The “recovery” model says that “crazy” people are not the problem. We are part of the solution. We can make choices, and we’re capable of self-determination and empowerment. We can regain control over our lives and become responsible for our own unique journey of recovery.
Deegan displayed data from seven longitudinal studies. These studies have consistently found that one-half to two-thirds of people who have been diagnosed with mental illness and institutionalized go on to have a significant or complete recovery.
She told the story of a man had been in an institution for two years. One night he had a dream about his young daughter. In the dream, his daughter cried out, “Daddy, I need you!” This dream was his first step towards recovery.
Deegan described the novel concept of “personal medicine.” Personal medicine is whatever it takes for individuals to get out of bed in the morning and put a smile on our faces. For Deegan, it is important that she can earn a living, be a good mother to her eight-year old daughter and a good spouse. All these things constitute Deegan’s unique personal medicine. She also takes medication to control the voices she hears.
Those of us with psychiatric disabilities need to take the first step towards our recovery. We also need to discover our own unique personal medicine. It may be a combination of medications, work, family, fulfilling friendships, spirituality and daring to have dreams for our lives.
Change, however, is hard. There is always resistance to it. It is necessary to retrain the medical workforce. Medical professionals have never been on the forefront of revolutions. Psychosocial interventions are necessary. Sheltered workplaces have got to go! People with psychiatric illnesses must be integrated within the community.
Deegan’s primary message was one of hope. Each of us with psychiatric disabilities can become experts in our own care.
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