Can someone be to crazy for NAMI?

Question

No one else could relate to being abandoned by their parents, and watching their adopted mother nearly killed at 8 by my stepfather.

And then I asked what this "mens only" meeting was about later in the week, just politely making sure it wasn't some kind of homosexual thing. And the administrator got offended like he was g*y. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't showing up for some g*y singles, because I am not g*y. Not that I have a problem with those kind, it's just not something I want to show up for.

I'm wanting to be a volunteer at NAMI if I can. I'm majoring in Social Work. I'm supposed to have Borderline Personality Disorder, and I know most people can't stand people with that disorder

I honestly just want to help. But I'm a blabber mouth and admit everything from my past.

Answer 1

Hi, I'm sorry about your experience at the NAMI meeting, but I would not give up on groups altogether, there are many different types out there.  I'm wondering if you have gotten treatment for your BPD?  DBT is the best treatment for this illness and consists of group meetings which might be more helpful for you.

As far as helping others, it's great that you are going to school to do this.  It is important to make sure that you are being taken care of before helping others so that you can be there for the other person completely.  

Good luck!

Answer 2

Your desire to be a volunteer with NAMI is an honorable one.  There are many "men only" organizations and check out any number of them until you fine one you're comfortable with.  

Perhaps one of your college professors can get you in contact with a NAMI employee.  Never mind being BPD, we all have challenges in life.  Your saying you "honestly just want to help" says it all.  It won't always be easy once you start but hang in there.

Start with a college prof, probably NAMI is in the phone book.  Your hospital emergency room may have the name and phone number of a NAMI person.  

Once you start talking to a NAMI person about what you want to do, be prepared to be interviewed a lot and it may come to be that they won't want to join them.  You'd have to be with a NAMI person all the time until they believe you're ready  to "solo" and that may be after you graduate from college.  It takes time.

Work at slowing down being a blabber mouth, same for admitting things about your past.  Remember being a NAMI person means you listen more than talk.  Nonjudgmental, accepting, and quiet.