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MarFgired CHAZKEINU: THE
PenWsaekiss STIGMA STOPS HERE
MIsrael. The seminary is not an EEI,
iriam,* a 29-year-old stay-at- to receive a type of chizuk they can’t so reassuring to listen to someone
home-mom who lives in find anywhere else. A typical call con- else who has gone through or is cur-
upstate New York, not only has rently going through a similar experi-
bipolar disorder, she is in sists of a speaker sharing her person- ence. The women in our organiza-
al story for about 20 minutes, after
recovery from an eating disor- which other callers respond to what tion can relate to each other and can
der. Elana,* a 37-year-old mother of the speaker said that resonated with communicate off-line as well as
two who lives and teaches in the them. On the last Monday of each between calls and give each other
Midwest, suffers from both bipolar month, a mental health professional needed chizuk. Baruch Hashem, my
disorder and epileptic seizures. joins the call to share general guid- illness has been pretty well managed
Rachel,* a 34-year-old who lives in the ance and encouragement with the with a lot of medication,” continues
Northeast, has bipolar disorder that is callers. Elana, who has had three grand mal
triggered postpartum. What these Although the organization is seizures in the last 11 months. “Due
women have in common – besides young, it has already seen a good to the danger of having a seizure
being challenged daily by their bipo- response to the calls. In fact, it recent- while driving, I haven’t been allowed
lar disorder – is Chazkeinu. ly added a conference call meeting, to drive since last June, the date of
Chazkeinu (which, in Hebrew, on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. EST, my first of these seizures. It has been
means “our strength”) is a new organ- starting June 15th, to accommodate extremely difficult to manage all the
ization that gives chizuk (strength) to those who are available during the shopping, carpools, and errands
all Jewish women, throughout the day as well as those who are in inter- while being unable to drive. My hus-
U.S., who suffer from a mental illness national time zone. (In Israel it will band, in-laws, and friends have been
of any sort or have a family member begin at 8 p.m.) incredibly helpful, but I do miss the
who does. The empathetic support Miriam, one of Chazkeinu’s freedom tremendously. G-d willing,
and positive connections the organi- cofounders, told WWW, “For the my seizures will calm down, and I will
zation provides is a vital component most part, I am able to manage well be able to drive again in a few
in helping them feel safe, understood, with medication and talk therapy. I months.
and uplifted in their struggles. It offers have to be more careful about cer- “There are always down days,” con-
these things through a variety of pro- tain things – like healthy eating and tinues Elana. “At times, I just want to
grams, projects, and networks that sleeping habits – than those who get into bed and pull the covers over
cater to the mental health needs of don’t struggle with the same issues. my head. Sometimes, I do just that.
each individual. In Chazkeinu’s part- Taking good care of myself helps me Sometimes, there is a lot of crying.
ner program, for example, two women maintain my recovery. Chazkeinu is a When I went off my medication to get
reach out to each other on a weekly way for me to be part of the solution, pregnant (I was taking meds not safe
basis just to “check in.” The organiza- and it helps me focus on the posi- for pregnancy) I crashed into a severe
tion hopes to eventually grow to have tives: helping others, reducing stig- episode of psychosis and agitated
a monthly email/newsletter and ma, and moving forward with a depression. There was not much I
retreat for members to meet one meaningful life.” could do. I was attempting to go to
another in person. Elana, another Chazkeinu work each day, but I would just sit in
Miriam, Elana, and Rachel are just cofounder, shared, “This organiza- front of my class and pick at my face
three of a dozen or more women who tion is very important, because it the whole time. I could barely get
call in to Chazkeinu’s conference call, allows women to feel that they are dressed. I went a few weeks like this
each Monday evening at 9 p.m. EST, not alone in their experiences. It is but went back on the medication
102 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
MarFgired CHAZKEINU: THE
PenWsaekiss STIGMA STOPS HERE
MIsrael. The seminary is not an EEI,
iriam,* a 29-year-old stay-at- to receive a type of chizuk they can’t so reassuring to listen to someone
home-mom who lives in find anywhere else. A typical call con- else who has gone through or is cur-
upstate New York, not only has rently going through a similar experi-
bipolar disorder, she is in sists of a speaker sharing her person- ence. The women in our organiza-
al story for about 20 minutes, after
recovery from an eating disor- which other callers respond to what tion can relate to each other and can
der. Elana,* a 37-year-old mother of the speaker said that resonated with communicate off-line as well as
two who lives and teaches in the them. On the last Monday of each between calls and give each other
Midwest, suffers from both bipolar month, a mental health professional needed chizuk. Baruch Hashem, my
disorder and epileptic seizures. joins the call to share general guid- illness has been pretty well managed
Rachel,* a 34-year-old who lives in the ance and encouragement with the with a lot of medication,” continues
Northeast, has bipolar disorder that is callers. Elana, who has had three grand mal
triggered postpartum. What these Although the organization is seizures in the last 11 months. “Due
women have in common – besides young, it has already seen a good to the danger of having a seizure
being challenged daily by their bipo- response to the calls. In fact, it recent- while driving, I haven’t been allowed
lar disorder – is Chazkeinu. ly added a conference call meeting, to drive since last June, the date of
Chazkeinu (which, in Hebrew, on Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. EST, my first of these seizures. It has been
means “our strength”) is a new organ- starting June 15th, to accommodate extremely difficult to manage all the
ization that gives chizuk (strength) to those who are available during the shopping, carpools, and errands
all Jewish women, throughout the day as well as those who are in inter- while being unable to drive. My hus-
U.S., who suffer from a mental illness national time zone. (In Israel it will band, in-laws, and friends have been
of any sort or have a family member begin at 8 p.m.) incredibly helpful, but I do miss the
who does. The empathetic support Miriam, one of Chazkeinu’s freedom tremendously. G-d willing,
and positive connections the organi- cofounders, told WWW, “For the my seizures will calm down, and I will
zation provides is a vital component most part, I am able to manage well be able to drive again in a few
in helping them feel safe, understood, with medication and talk therapy. I months.
and uplifted in their struggles. It offers have to be more careful about cer- “There are always down days,” con-
these things through a variety of pro- tain things – like healthy eating and tinues Elana. “At times, I just want to
grams, projects, and networks that sleeping habits – than those who get into bed and pull the covers over
cater to the mental health needs of don’t struggle with the same issues. my head. Sometimes, I do just that.
each individual. In Chazkeinu’s part- Taking good care of myself helps me Sometimes, there is a lot of crying.
ner program, for example, two women maintain my recovery. Chazkeinu is a When I went off my medication to get
reach out to each other on a weekly way for me to be part of the solution, pregnant (I was taking meds not safe
basis just to “check in.” The organiza- and it helps me focus on the posi- for pregnancy) I crashed into a severe
tion hopes to eventually grow to have tives: helping others, reducing stig- episode of psychosis and agitated
a monthly email/newsletter and ma, and moving forward with a depression. There was not much I
retreat for members to meet one meaningful life.” could do. I was attempting to go to
another in person. Elana, another Chazkeinu work each day, but I would just sit in
Miriam, Elana, and Rachel are just cofounder, shared, “This organiza- front of my class and pick at my face
three of a dozen or more women who tion is very important, because it the whole time. I could barely get
call in to Chazkeinu’s conference call, allows women to feel that they are dressed. I went a few weeks like this
each Monday evening at 9 p.m. EST, not alone in their experiences. It is but went back on the medication
102 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
