My psychologist, Dr. J. Mark Pratt, says "What you do most is what you do best." Certainly, full-time paid employment takes up most of my time, and I am so grateful for that. Coming in close second, however, is mental health treatment. Appointments with psychiatrists/psychologists, mental health support groups, obtaining required blood work from the lab, filling pharmacy prescriptions, going to church, reading literature, and praying/meditating. Also common is doing volunteer work, helping friends and family with tasks, and listening to them when they are troubled. These activities give me positive thoughts that I am contributing to society and help keep me away from the negativity that has been a hallmark of my mental illness. Thus it has become a life that I truly believe is one worth living. In the early stages of recovery (the late 1990s) I did not share this view. But I survived those tumultuous days and have now entered into an expansive place where peace, even joy, is a common experience. The psychiatric and psychological treatments that have made this possible cost my mom, Gwen, a lot of money. Although, I have been able to remove this burden from her more recently. It occurred to me that if I could write a book delineating the various aspects of my treatment program, I could share these helpful concepts with others, virtually for free. That is the spirit in which this book is published, and I hope you can utilize it for increased mental health and well-being!

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