Recovery from Mental Illness, 1990s, by Robert Box
From MemoryArchive
Who: Robert Box What: Recovery From Mental Illness When: 1990s Where: New York, New York
I am a paranoid schizophrenic who also suffers from depression and generalized anxiety disorder. What happened to me could happen to anyone.
My dad died in April of ‘91, and by the fall I entered college for the first time (full time) and also worked a full-time and a part-time job. Less than a year later I was mentally ill and homeless.
While homeless, I did not beg for money, food, or anything else (except cigarettes). I also did not harm or want to harm anyone. My brother and a friend had heard about my condition and where I was, and after hours of searching took me to Bellevue Hospital. I was, obviously, very sick and needed care. During my in-patient status, which lasted for three months (where I was scared most of the time), I became a model patient, often giving information about myself to new students studying to become doctors. It was during my stay in the hospital that I became zealous about my recovery.
I was released to Brooklyn F.E.G.S’ Apartment Program and began attending Bellevue’s C.D.T. (Continuing Day Treatment) program. Once I was able to (while still in the C.D.T.), I returned to college part-time (without much success). I then worked as a liaison patient advocate, and then for the first time in three years, as a staff person in the Social Work Department clothing area. During this period I moved on to supported housing and graduated from the C.D.T. While continuing to work a half-day/five times a week at Bellevue, I started classes at Howie The Harp Peer Specialist Center and eventually graduated from there. Working part-time at Bellevue, as usual, I started an internship at the P.R.F.I. (Puerto-Rican Family Institute).
After a couple of months, I began working at P.R.F.I. only for eight hours a day/three times a week. I worked in various settings including shelters, residences, intensive supportive, as well as supported housing. I was hired full-time to do G-DOC or supported living, providing counseling and advocacy for these clients. After a year at P.R.F.I., I stopped to handle a personal matter in my family. This was January of 1998.
By the fall, I was back in John Jay College (Legal Studies major) part-time. Also in the fall of 1998, I moved from East Flatbush to Boro Park, where I live now. In the spring of 1999, I signed up for classes but could not attend due to surgery on my right foot. With the help of F.E.G.S’ staff and my now official fiancee, Flora Gomez (I finally bought the ring), I completely recovered after almost ten months. I have been for the past year preparing to return to college to study political science (either at Brooklyn or Empire State) in January 2001.
I thank my wonderful brother Michael and his fiancee, my lovely and always supportive fiancee Flora, the programs and schools I have attended, Risperdal and Effexor, my peers, my country, myself, and my Higher Power for bringing me to this point. Recovery is possible; I have only once had to be hospitalized in my life for mental illness and I stand, as well as many others who have or are recovering, as proof that it is possible
Reproduced with permission from New York City Voices, where you will also find more information about recovery.
