"You can try out life by pretending." - Fred M. Rogers (1972)
Pretending is being something other than your "self." When you have a serious disease such as schizophrenia, bipolar or clinical depression, self is often lost in the characteristics of the disease, and you appear to be someone (or something) you do not want to be.
Pretending is good for children, it is said. Halloween is a special time for all of us to pretend, and we are awarded treats as we knock on neighborhood doors in masquerade. As an only child, I played by myself and played pretend with my dolls. I would be a teacher, a doctor, a nurse or just anything I wanted to be. I especially liked to play dress-up (I am not sure I have outgrown the latter). Back then, I am sure my mother considered pretending as child's play; I believe, in today's world, pretending is looked upon as child development, however.
Pretending should be encouraged with children, so recommends child development specialists at the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media. The center was established in 2003 to carry forward Rogers' important legacy and the healthy development of children and the loving adults who care for them. Rogers called the latter "helpers." The center's initiatives focus on helping the helpers as they care for, educate and raise children.
Pretending can be likened to "walking in someone else's shoes." Likewise, in a sense NAMI, that is the National Alliance on Mental Illness focus. We have several excellent programs that help the helpers who love and support one having a mental diagnosis. Our NAMI Family to Family education class is especially for the "helpers" – the caretakers – mom, dad, sister, brother, friend or anyone else involved in helping that person reach their potential in life.
Family to Family provides an opportunity for any class participant to walk in a loved one's shoes to understand the illness, the medications and more. A NAMI principle is "We will see the individual first and not the illness." These illnesses are only a person's masque of pretense – not their true identity. As a helper, seek to understand your loved one's illness by educating yourself, offer support in their journey of recovery and advocate for them. Dial 211 for helpful resources. If necessary to call 911 in a mental emergency, request that a CIT (Crisis Intervention Trained) officer be dispatched.
Submitted by
Dodie Melvin, Executive Director
NAMI Knox Licking County Ohio
740-397-3088
