Real Stories, Real People: Co-occurring Disorders
Robert
For a while, Robert was sleeping behind two buildings in a paper box and eating from the trash. He was picked up and taken to the dump and wasn't sure if he was going to the shredder.Homeless for almost 10 years, Robert left home at fourteen. His father beat him severely and locked him in a closet, often for days at a time. He didn't attend school because he had too many bruises.
Drifting from job to job, he started drinking to take away the pain. Eventually, his whole life revolved around alcohol and he ended up homeless. A local mental health center got Robert off the street and diagnosed him with schizoaffective disorder and alcohol dependence.
Today, thanks to the Mental Health Center of Denver, Robert is living independently with his dog, Buddy, and is working to complete his GED.
A true story from the Mental Health Center of Denver, Colorado
James and Jane
James has a co-occurring disorder. His wife and daughter were killed in a tragic accident a few years ago. After their death, his mental illness and addiction worsened and he hit bottom. James also had to endure a bout of cancer and reoccurrences.
Eventually James started receiving treatment at Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority (JPHSA) and credits the agency for giving him his life back. His cancer is currently in remission, and he is a very well respected advocate for those with mental illness.
“Jane” has struggled with mental illness for years. She also has been a consumer at JPHSA for several years and also credits the agency for saving her life. She has been active for the mentally ill.
James and Jane met while in treatment. They evacuated together for Hurricane Katrina…and fell in love.
Jane is currently employed at JPHSA as a driver while James remains a well known advocate for mental health at the local and state level.
They have announced their engagement and will be married in a few months.
A true story from Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority, Metairie, LA
Nicholas
It has been an incredibly long and painful journey for “Nicholas,” 21, and his family, but today Nicholas is living proof that with the right treatment and support, it is possible to recover from a crippling mental illness and substance abuse.
Although Nicholas most recently has been seen at Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network as an outpatient since the spring of 2005, his struggles with what ultimately would be diagnosed as a severe form of schizophrenia began in high school. With trouble escalating at school and home during his sophomore year, it was clear something was terribly wrong with the straight-A student. It was the beginning of a journey that would result in periodic months’-long hospitalizations for Nicholas in no less than six facilities across the Denver metro area.
The disturbing memories that shadow that path bear witness to the severity of his illness.
“I believed I was Jesus at one point,” he adds, shaking his head. There were times when Nicholas was hospitalized that he had to be placed in a locked room because he was so out of control. His bizarre behavior included trying to eat cereal with a toothbrush. And there were days that he was sure "Elizabeth" wasn’t his real mother. Even so, she came to see him all the time, refusing to give up hope.
Nicholas was lucky to have the unwavering support of his mother and 15-year-old sister. Nicholas’ closest friends are now his mother and sister, whom he credits for helping make his recovery possible.
Because he also faced issues with substance abuse, Nicholas was referred to ADMHN’s Aquarius Center, which effectively treats adults challenged by chemical dependency and mental illness. “Nicholas is doing extremely well,” says his clinical case manager. “I’ve seen him really mature during the time we’ve worked together. He is determined to get his life back on track.”
Nicholas’ active partnership in his recovery combined with his personal strengths and resolute spirit has made this success possible. He is diligent about taking his medications and remains drug-free.
He is looking forward to resuming his studies and meeting new friends at Arapahoe Community College in the spring and eventually hopes to transfer to a four-year school to finish his degree, possibly in criminal justice.
A true story from Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network, Denver, CO
Leon
Leon thinks his drinking first got out of control in 1978 — the year his first wife left for good with their four children. Over the next 25 years, his life was littered with brushes with the law, hospitalizations, incarcerations, and another failed marriage.Leon, who is bipolar, says his illness could cause him to spend $1,000 an hour in a manic fit to being so depressed he couldn't leave his home for weeks. Alcohol helped him feel better for a while, but he didn't like who he had become.
After several tries at becoming sober on his own, Leon was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. The people who worked with him made two things very clear. "I had to stop drinking, and I had to take medication for my bipolar disorder," Leon said.
After being sober for four months, he made amends with his former wife and their daughter. Leon's mood swings have stabilized, he recently celebrated his third anniversary of continuous sobriety and he has gone back to school to become a licensed drug counselor.
A true story from the Austin Travis County MHMR Center, Texas
