How To Advance Civil Rights For Bipolar Patients

Hi, all. I am looking for thoughts from you all about how to move the ball forward in advancing human rights and civil rights for all of us. Obviously, it is different in different countries. Any input greatly welcomed.

I hate to be pessimistic, but I think it's going to take a high-profile incident like what happened to George Floyd, only with a mentally ill person as the victim of police brutality. I think we're going to have to protest in the street just like people are doing right now.

Where I live there have been 2 men that I know of shot and killed by cops. The men were mentally ill. No one did anything, certainly no protests.

Advocacy helps at least a bit. Literally contacting congressmen/women with short stories or concerns. NAMI does a lot of advocacy work, but any of us can. Some small progress has also been made by congressmen who were personally touched by mental illness. I have Patrick Kennedy in mind, and there were others.

If you know of an incident, each time you find out about an incident----write: a letter to the editor of the local and major newspapers, call or email your local representative, your congressperson and your senators. Get a few friends together or stand alone in front of your state capital/police department to protest. Ask the editors of a good local newspaper or magazine to do an article on this issue. And USE the ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act) when you need to at work and in the community.
Also, find out if anyone in your mental health system is actively working on this (you may be surprised). -----------and remember, it takes t-i-m-e and it will be frustrating but also rewarding. Do some research and do a presentation at schools/etc...
[these are suggestions----but some of the necessities to making change]
And remember, an anti-lyncing act was dismissed in the US in the past and took ?how many years?a century or more? to Pass.

I think the message needs to be clear and brief. It needs to resonate with us and with those whose hearts we need to change. For the change to be lasting it should hold everyone's perspective in mind. Even those we percieve as the enemy. You need to understand the fears and heart of 'other' properly if you wish to ask them to change. Empathy for all positions and perspectives is a must. Otherwise, someone feels left out or demonized and they become the next group who needs advocacy in the future.

Any movement should add value for all and the value should be evident. It should not seek to further the victim/victimizer narrative. It should seek to empower everyone to create the kind of world we want to see.

Change of the heart is not forced. It does not judge. It is neutral. It is an energy that radiates outwardly and welcomes others to entrain with it unconditionally. The mind follows on its own over time.

We would need to be willing to be and exemplify the change we wish to see and be accountable when we are not able to do this. Mistakes are expected, but denial sets a movement back by miles instantly.

The movement would need to be established before some politically appetizing tragic event occurs because if you wait to go that route your cause is taken over by politicians, news agencies and others looking to capitalize on your pain. The top down approach has failed consistently throughout all of history. True force of change lies in equality and you cannot find that in a pyramid that always points one direction or another.

We need to tell our own story. It starts with coming together here. It starts with being brave even if we are triggered. It starts with understanding each other and holding open hearts. Hypocrisy is an instant movement killer.

If we truly embody and become the change, others will notice. If enough mental health patients did this, practitioners would inevitably see. Family members would catch on. Communities would benefit. Momentum toward greater balance would take form. It starts with us.

We appear to be a mostly agreeable group here, but the thoughts behind the posts often carry judgment and divisiveness due to our own fears. Our PMs would tell a much different story than what many are willing to openly share about their judgments of others. I am not saying anyone has acted improperly by expressing their opinions quietly. I am asking us to look at the truth of our own divisions without judgment.

A united movement requires us to always hold the truth that we are all in fact children of the same source. We stem from the same creator no matter how great our differences are. Furthermore, we all know what it is like to live not being able to fully trust ourselves mentally and emotionally. We know how it feels to be judged and in far too many cases judged without the love or empathy we deserve as humans. It is a bond we share and perhaps we could all be willing to use those common threads to begin to trust in each other more. To unite. To help each other change our hearts. To help each other begin to connect to the common spirit in us all. To help us heal our minds. To help us use our bodies for the change we wish to see.

Trust is the essential first step. It allows for connection. It is the very framework of teamwork. It requires an open heart.

Another thought? We need a much more progressive government and president. Unfortunately, that is not going to happen at the very top in the near future, no matter who is elected. Hopefully, it will increase in other government positions. Depending on the man on top, many more progressives could at least influence "the top".

Hmm. Well, I am not sure how that works for some of my/our opponents. I am, of course, totally in favor of empathy. Of course. But, let's just say that somehow, some way, I got a meeting with a safe, impartial arbitrator and the detectives who tortured me. Me showing real empathy for them, which I do have, would I think likely result in them responding with something along the lines of: "F*** of and die, you piece of sh**." Or concepts to that effect. They view themselves as victim-saviors and their inner rage knows no limit. So, my expression of empathy is exceedingly unlikely to matter to them. They just want to kick *** and kill people and then tell the world that they are fantastic, savior-victims, suffering mightily for The Cause.

So, I am just not sure how that would work. It is difficult for empathy to reach those who are incapable of experienceing it. To me, the only thing likely to move such persons off such deeply held positions is force. People don't seem to know or remember this, but the United States killed more people on a single day of conventional firebombing of Tokyo than on either atomic bombing runs. And yet, even after Nagasaki, Hirohito still refused to surrender--for days!!! He was a complete psycho and normal, rational human brain processes that apply to the rest of us did not mean anything to this complete nutjob. I believe some of those responsible for human rights violations against metnally ill persons are of the same general moral and neurological makeup.So, for these people, I just do not see love and empathy as having any meaning. For them, this is weakness. They understand power and force. That is their language.

But maybe I am missing something. I am sure I am..

It can be helpful if we look to countries where civil rights are greater for the mentally ill. Definitely not a Russia or China. But some western and Central European countries, yes, but even the best of them aren't perfect. At least in many, health insurance is a right and they don't have to choose between buying medications and other core living expenses.

Do not assume an open show of empathy requires you to interact directly with your aggressors. It does not. If they engage you directly, sure... Go ahead.

I am suggesting though that we internally consider their potential points of view and honor them equally with our ow a d change ourselves accordingly.

The people who abused you have already judged you. They hold deeply seeded beliefs. Perhaps they require interaction with another who is mentally ill or maybe they experience it for themselves before they change. Focusing on their change is not the goal of my suggestion. Creating it within and radiating it is. We cannot control others. I don't expect all to agree with that. It is one idea of many, but I struggle to put much energy into all of the same strategies that fail continuously.

The beliefs you describe about the capabilities of others defeat your purpose before you begin. If you cannot believe that they hold the capacity for change, why do you expect them to change their beliefs about you? We can only create what we are willing to do first ourselves and believe is possible in others.

Consider the physics of the force you suggest. What does it do to bring people closer? What happens in your own mind when you feel forced to swallow a position that does not resonate? You instantly repel.

Imagine you are magnets. If you both are at a position of hate and distrust and belief change is impossible there can never be a meeting. The force will always repel. However, if you flip your polarity to acceptance, you can attract the other side. You can generate flow and change.

As is probably obvious by now, I am extremely conservative on most foreign policey matters, so, there are "conservatives" who actually care deeply about these issues because they/we have our caring rooted firmly in the Constitution and its protection from attack. And make no mistake, what we are seeing right now is most assuredly an attack on teh Constitution and our democrary by authoritarians who believe the Russian and Chinese systems are all, like totally groovy and stuff.

So, it may ultimately be an unlikely coalitieon of extreme progressives and extreme conservativew who, together, make this happen for our nation. That would likely get it done, becaue it would represent a ton of Americans overall.

Well, amen on the health insurance front--it is a big part of the problem. Look at me--I provided quite a bit of free care over the decades, but when I got in a bind, becuase I currently support a large number of people, and there was not enough money left over for me to buy very expensive insurance, i must go without. And I need it. But what am I going to do--not let the children have coverage? Of course not. parents sacrifice for our kids.

The first step is joining organizations like NAMI, PAIMI and DBSA. It's like the old story, a single stick is easily ignored or broken but gather many sticks into a bunch it is harder to ignore or break. Join your voice with others. All of them can be found online.

For people who have overall and fundamentally "normal" human neurological capabilities, I completely agree 100% with everything you say. The problem is that there are, in fact, sociopaths and psychopaths--those who meet full criteria for antisocial personality disorder in their ranks. These folks have been carefully studied and it is clear from good fMRI studies, many of them now, that, when faced with experiencing the pain or emotion or suffering of other human beings, their brains do not fire--at all. Nada. It is like showing them a photo of a chocolate bar--wait, no, people love chocolate. It is like showing a photo of a not cool-looking rock. The same neuorlogical response occurs. Nothing. Nothingn at all. Their brains do not have that capability, neurologically, anaatomically. Chemically. It just seems to be completely absent in these brains. For whatever neurodevelopmental reasons, genetic, environment, whatever.

Now, here is where it get s absolutely illuminating. If we show these same people images imagining their own personal suffering or pain or harm, their brains fire furiously. They are on fire! Why? Because their entire brain focus is on what? Themselves. They only care about their own, personal experiences. The experiences of other human beings do not even appear to occur in these brains. YTes, they can see with their eyes a person who is on fire, but there will be zero emotional response to that event. None. They are not capable.

So, for this type of Hitler, Pol Pot, in my personal opinion, also, Trump, individual, how do we "reach" them? Because, ultimately, they do have to change their behavior. We cannot have any more George Floyds in this country, or else, all this hyperbolic talk of civil war could well actually go down. So, they have to change, but they refuse to change. What I am saying is that, their not changing right now is not an option many of us in America are willing to accept anymore. There has been too much torture and too much murder.

Are you saying that if we simply model the right things, the right conduct, in our own lives, eventually, these neurological deficits in these individuals, some of whom run nations and police forces and armies and secret police and stuff, that they will somehow heal their broken brains? I wish I could see that, but it is difficult fo rme to do so. But, I am totally and completely open to learn new ways to thing and operate. I am probably missing a lot here.

In terms of strategy, you are talking about targeting the smallest population that would take the greatest possible effort. If we ran a business together I would encourage you to consider targeting those who represent the portion of the masses who would take little effort to shift them a little while also strategically targeting a few powerful people who are the most likely to be compassionate to your cause.

The ground level people then affect those who did not change at first bit by bit over time. The powerful people start to weild their influence and shift those who were initially less sympathetic.

In my mind, we are hypothetically discussing trying to raise awareness on a mass scale so that the kinds of crimes that are all too commonplace now are no longer overlooked like they are today.

A Hitler only has a home in a certain kind of disempowered setting. Empowering those who have been abused is a must. This would take a lot of time and effort, but from a strategic setting a must is a must, so you also begin here. If your own base cannot stand on its own, change will not last.

I agree with you that there are outliers who will choose not to change. The existence of those people should not dissuade us from approaching things with a different tactic unless it is proven that there is no way to create the world you want while allowing the outliers to coexist. I do not believe we are there yet. Sociopathic behavior does not just appear out of nowhere. It is fostered in an environment that allows for it.

Empathy is the ability to feel others. It is a wonderful quality, but prejudice and filters based on past experience often shape our perspectives and keep people from moving forward. Sometimes we think we know what others feel when in reality our own fears are simply being mirrored back at us.

For me, and I can only speak for myself, it is valuable to try to step back from what I think I can feel when presented with oppositely polarized minds. It is helpful to go within and just radiate what I want to see and hold faith that a person who stems from the same creator has the capacity to change and morph over time as I have. I also respect their free will. My path and beliefs may not add value to their experience. If they choose not to shift, so be it. I do not allow them to force my mind either. I offer them the same respect. They have their own history. I do not view them as broken because they differ.

I do not believe any effort to advocate for the mentally ill will change or reach all people. I do not believe it should have to. However, as I change myself, it is my great hope it can change others one person at a time. It is my hope the value in it becomes clear and people choose to change because people see the alternative only fosters more pain and strife. In turn, they then change the lives of others and so on and so forth. The ripple effect is powerful given the right circumstances.

For example, I kept an open mind and heart when I worked with my doctor after I became ill. I heard horror stories, but I trusted and I followed while also taking the time to learn about his world and his craft. I then became able to better advocate for myself while showing an appreciation of his responsibilities.

Over time, he shifted course and gave me greater latitude. I took the extra time he spent with me to learn more and more from him. He took the time to learn what I was doing to help myself. He shared later he had a client with very similar circumstances to mine. He said he is going to suggest some of the things I'm trying to see if they can help.

To me, that is the kind of effect that is lasting. I am not a world leader. I am not a politician. I am one voice, but I am using it to shift my world. I used it to advocate and hopefully reach the lives of others for the better.

We have so very much we can do at a grass roots level, but many do not take action because we feel shifting the pyramid structure is hopeless. The pyramid exists because we believe in it. The numbers lie at the bottom and the bottom can choose to shift the geometry at any time. Holding back our message because the minority with 'power' may not agree is a valid safety strategy, but the root of their power comes from the ground level and fear is what holds the bottom down.

I see your point, I really do. I agree that some may not hold the frame of mind to properly see the value in change. Imagine the revolutionary war though. They faced similar challenges, but they went for it anyway. Eventually, the support came.

What is PAIMI?

Protection and advocacy for individual s with mental illness.

I was on the board of the Texas organization for years. Every state has one. And they have spots for a peer representative. They are the organization that looks into legal rights of mi hospitals, schools and apartments protecting people from abuse. Their number is required to be posted in every mental health hospital

Okay, I see what you are getting at, I think. I helped run a small, public laser company for several years. Our strategy was that tugboats pull boats and so we went after the tugs. That was largely my job and it worked extremely well. But there was not the same level of institutionaal and philosophical resistance in that work that there is with abuse of mentally ill people. I do agree with you that power does have to be ceded by the masses in order for it to be succesfully taken from them. So, maybe the power I am referring to will come from this ground floor you describe. i can certainly see that. Thank you again for your thoughts and input--I really appreciate it.

I have loved this discussion. I really appreciate the way we can respectfully swap different perspectives and look for the truth in each of them without rejection. Open hearts. Open minds.

I think everything you've said is also true and represents legit challenges to overcome. A strategy for an initiative this large would need to be multifaceted and everyone would need to co create the solution doing the piece they feel passionate about and called to do.

There are a lot of great ways to move this forward in the thread you started. Like the business you ran. Your target may have been the tug boat, but there's room for someone else to target the shipping vessels and for someone else to get after the cruise liners. We are all a best fit for something. There is no 'big' or 'small' when people people unite.