I have gained strength from doing more on my own, and rebuilding my life. You really can’t plan your life. I also have began to look at my diversionary activities in my wellness tool box. I found Mary Ann Copeland’s WRAP book to be invaluable. I have written poetry since I was a little eight or nine year old girl. I don’t put anything, but my own experiences, but I know from experience that mental illness is really hard. I started to get better when I took WRAP class at NAMI. I have four WRAP certificates of completion. WRAP class is an eight session course offered once in the fall, and once in the spring. I recommend NAMI also. I volunteer with NAMI. Over the years I volunteered with NAMI, and I continue to stay in contact with the friends I made. I recommend the organization wholeheartedly. One of the nicer aspects of being a volunteer for NAMI is that they have quite a few NAMI affiliates throughout the country in North America. It gave me a safe place to volunteer over the years. I formed friendships at NAMI and NAMI gave me social supports. NAMI sometimes offers social anxiety workshops. They used to offer events for special needs children, and a safe space for kids too.