Whoever keeps a pet will understand unconditional love. A dog or cat doesn’t judge your weight, your race, your clothes or your mood. We need to be giving ourselves and each other the same unconditional  love. No stigma less illness. Pauline

I am Vera Ramos, live in Boca Raton, Florida. I need to speak out.
Our love and dedication, knowledge and determination as parents will make the difference in the lives of the mentally ill. I have two sons diagnosed with schizophrenia and thanks to NAMI helping me, my sons have a stable life. They live with me and I dedicate my life to helping them. They would be dead or in jail if it was not for my intervention. I urge every family to help their loved ones with mental illness. This is the only way to help stop the horrible tragedies like Newtown and many others in our Country! Thank you. Vera.

Surrounded
Clean air
Oxygen
Soak it in
It is free
Let this sink in
We are free
I do not have to ask
I do not have to say it again
All we have to do
Is think it is possible

And we will see
________________________
Pluck out the anxiety
Hold it
Accept it
Because it knows not who or what
It really wants to be
Erase the uncertainty
Turn it into a seed
Plant it
Breathe deep
Release
Automatically

We are free

Love only a four letter word can come out strong in many ways
The first love should be you, only you in an unconditional matter
Love is like a chain, a chain that forms relationships
Relationships that forms into emotion and feelings
When you love yourself unconditionally
Love has a way of growing like red roses
It expands it expresses and when you find your true love,
Its like your red rose has that glow and sheen,
Only your true love can see and grow to love you even more
Love brings friends that bring color in your life
These friends can range from pinks to yellows
Whatever makes your heart desires
Then there’s another side of love, which can be tough and raw
These are like thorns as you learn pain and sadness
However do not take these thorns personally
They can teach you many lessons and opportunities to grow
Like rotten relationships or friends that are not good influences
Don’t forget that there are also good thorns that are meaningful
These are like acquaintances who look to you but often are shy to say so
Then we can’t forget about the talks our support would give us
So when love grows within us,
It expands, it expresses into the branches of a rose bush
Each branch represents an individual who makes a difference in our lives
This could be a school teacher, a friend, a therapist, or anyone you want
Soon this rose bush will be so full of love that just when you least expect it
There will be new born buds forming on these branches waiting on you
Are you ready to love again unconditionally…I am!

I posted this on my page, It’s okay to love yourself, in hope that I could help people with scars from self injury to feel less insecure and to open up their freedom. I was directed to this page because an admin from NAMI called it “inspirational.”

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My name is Vince. at first sight like most people you can’t tell by looking at me, but that’s the first mistake made by family, friends, co-workers. What does a person suffering a manic episode look like ? Reality. Until you accept your condition, there can be no true inner peace, treatment that is meaningful, therapy, medication. It took me until 50 years old to ACCEPT I’m different. REALITY - I lived and exhibited a bi-polar lifestyle, choices, substance abuse of every variety, sexual dysfunction, and partner, after partner which was made easy with a world wide military lifestyle. Crash and Burn, and finally on the 3rd extreme episode, cheating on yet another partner, anger, hostility to anybody and everybody around me, I wound up in a State Hospital for 10 days. REALITY.
Wife forgave me yet again ! Why. Who really knows, understands love. Last straw and went and was treated by multiple MH professionals and finally diagnosed Bi Polar Manic I, extreme, borderline personality disorder, PTSD, borderline schizo. Quite an eye opener ! I embraced it like a slap in the face. I rebelled even more, and anger, hostility towards closest to me - felt my pain, shame, agony. However, I did accept therapy with my wife, VA, civilian psych, etc. I also chose to add religion to our life for clarity. I know, religion is touchy, but has saved my life, marriage, and allowed me to regain the trust from my children, family and friends. A small price to pay for acceptance.

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Unconditional love is the key to helping a love one deal with a sudden mental health breakdown. Showing them that they are not along, no matter what happens you will be there to support them daily. A mother love runs deeper then any other love. You gave life to this person so how can you not hurt when they hurt you feel there pain they are your bone of bone  flesh of your flesh til death due you part. The love of a mom is for life no matter how old your son is, a mother will always be supportive in the good times and the bad times. This is happening to my son daily.      

 My son started experiencing mental changes at the of 24. As his mom I did not know what was wrong with him. he never gave me any problems he was such a happy and caring young man  He played ball in school he was MVP in middle and in high school every one loved him dearly.  After high school he attended MVS with a full football scholarship. He had to come home due to his grandfather was dying  2011 after dad pass he was on his way back to school when 18 wheeler hit the car he was in and he was injured for months and would not return to school plus he was hurt by the lost of his grandfather who lived with us than after that the school lost there accreditation so he could return on his football scholarship. 

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Thirty-two years ago my talented, smart and handsome younger brother David left for college.  Six months later, he was in a veteran’s hospital (our father was a Naval officer) where he was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

He had become increasingly alienated at his college.  Without the unconditional love and understanding of a nearby family, the quirkiness in his personality - which had sometimes set him apart from his contemporaries - took a sharp left turn. An obsessive interest in mushrooms (an interest which had succeeded other obsessive interests) led him to experiment with psychedelic varieties, and this - coupled with his social and emotional deficits -  knocked his fragile psyche off-balance.

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My mother suffered from schizophrenia and depression my whole life. She tried to commit suicide and take me and my sister with her. It was hard I loved her so much and witnessed her suffering it broke my heart.  When she was on her meds you would never have known she had a problem. …she was my rock stable and loving!  I miss her our conversations most of all her unconditional Love!